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Bubble&Squeek · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:05 AM

I very recently became the owner of two Red Eared Sliders. A friend went on a trip, bought them and now her parents won't let her keep them. Instead of letting them get thrown out, I took them in, only to realize after I said I'd take them that I had absolutly no idea what I was doing. Some frantic research and redirecting my money towards turtle supplies, I'm still working on getting my guys into the best possible housing I can get.
I have never owned reptiles before, so all of this is very new to me and I'm having to learn it all as fast as I possibly can, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I've been reading a lot of info on red-ears lately and have been getting a few conflicting reports on what temperature they like, for their basking spot and their water.
How quickly do they grow? I know they get to be about a foot long, but how fast do they do that? They are only an inch and half long right now. (I know, it's illegal to sell them that small, but my friend didn't know it was illegal and I didn't know how big they were until I saw them the day I got them.)
The smaller one is appearing sick. Lethargic, not eating, not swimming, open mouth breathing and he's rubbing his eyes a little so I think they might be itching him. He's going to the vet tommorow so hopefully he'll be alright. He's perked up a bit since I've got the heat lamp in their tank, but he's still not eating.
I have a few pictures of the little guys, if anyone's interested I'll be happy to show them.
Any advice you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. I need all the help I can get for these little guys.

Slithers · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:17 AM

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/t20...stionaire.html

VenomMike · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:18 AM

I would suggest a RI from too cold an enclosure. What is the water temp now? Open mouth breathing is usually a RI infection. If they are going to the vet tommorow they should be fine....you do have them in water?

CruiserMaiden · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:28 AM

*wave* See... I told you guys I wasnt nuts... here's the other thread I was talking about these guys on - we can use this one though, since they are her turtles

http://redtailboa.net/forums/showthr...945#post265945

Adrya · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:33 AM

Did you get the info I gave to CruiserMaiden about them?

Depending on how they were previously kept, they may have been kept in dirty water and their eyes could be irritated. Possible vitamin A deficiency... you should be able to find some turtle eye drops in a petstore, that has vitamin A in it.

Let us know what the Vet says.

Also, the babies probably have never had the luxury of a basking heat lamp or UV. Room temperature water is fine as long as its not 65 or below. After the vet visit, let them bask under the heat of the spot lamp and they should perk up a bit.

CruiserMaiden · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:34 AM

I printed out the info you gave me and gave it to her - I just took her over a UV light and a 20 gal aquarium and some other misc. stuff for them. I told her that's what the turtle godess says and to do it, and then to join rtb for future reference

Adrya · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruiserMaiden

I printed out the info you gave me and gave it to her - I just took her over a UV light and a 20 gal aquarium and some other misc. stuff for them. I told her that's what the turtle godess says and to do it, and then to join rtb for future reference

LOL

What exactly are the bulbs that she's using right now? If she's only using flourescent UVA/UVB bulbs, she still needs a basking incandescent spot lamp for the basking dock... that is an absolute must for them and they especially need it right now, especially the little one that is sick. I'm tellin' ya, it will do a great deal for that little turtle having that heat. If he basks in the heat for long periods of time, let him to so.

The one that I had saved a couple years ago was doing the same thing.. the open mouth breathing and all that.. it had never had a direct source of heat or anything. The basking bulb did wonders.

I've been keeping turtles for 15 years, and have brought back many babies from the brink of death, do as I say. LOL

Bubble&Squeek · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 03:44 AM

Yeah, I was reading over the stuff she gave me a minuet ago.
I have no idea what they lived in before me and I've only had them three days. I know they didn't have enough water to swim in, filter for the non-exsistant water or any form of a basking light. The water temp's probably closer to 74, though I don't have a thermometer in the water.
They're so tiny I don't know how I will be able to administor medicine to them if they are sick.
How serious is this RI and what does RI stand for?

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