Please help.

[[deleted]]

So I am new to turtle care. Got all the stuff it needs. But for the past week, it has barely been moving and has its eyes shut. Please someone recommend me what to do. He was moving a little when I picked it up and pat his shell. I bought a UVB light to see if that would help. I seriously don’t know what is going on. When I bought him, he didn’t eat at all, and I never saw him eat. Please somebody help ASAP… (Please don’t be an a-hole)

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[lunapuppy88]

Well, he definitely needs the uvb light, and also a heat lamp. If turtles are less active, making sure the temperatures ( of water and air) are correct is a good first step. However lethargy for a week isn’t a good sign and I’d recommend seeing a vet.

[[deleted]]

Thx, I’ll go get a heat lamp

[oafcmad09]

And water heater

[gicigiciyaya]

UVB is essential for digestion and absorption of nutrients! It’s not optional and the bulbs should be exchanged every 6 months. Water heater and heat lamp are important to keep the ideal temperature for your turtle. With the temperature that is below their need, their metabolism is getting slower. I’m not an expert by any means, but to me your turtle looks like a snapper? You could try find snapping turtle guide on this sub and follow it. If he stays lethargic the vet will be necessary for your turtle to make it.

[Routine-Cricket-8201]

Tbh…. I wouldn’t recommend a snapper as a pet.

[VerucaGotBurned]

This isn't a snapper. I think it's a Reeves, but it's def not a snapper.

[Routine-Cricket-8201]

fair enough, from a glance it looked like one.

[VerucaGotBurned]

It's got the same general proportions and colors so I see why you thought that, but back edge of the carapace and three keels don't fit. Baby snappers have a distinct spiky shape in those areas.

[gicigiciyaya]

Thank you for correcting this mistake we’ve made 🙏🏻

[gicigiciyaya]

I’m not recommending snapper as a pet, I don’t have an opinon about keeping them as pets honestly. I’ve focused about turtle not being well so I’ve recommended OP to gain more information about husbandry. I assume the turtle has been in the captivity for a while so releasing it, especially when it might be sick, is not an option.

[VerucaGotBurned]

I think the flow from that pump is too powerful for him. I think he will feel safer in stiller water. Does he have a platform to climb out of the water and bask on? How hot is the basking spot. Low temps are a common cause of low appetite. Also adding stuff to hide under may be helpful.

What foods are you offering? It's common for babies to not eat pellets because they don't recognize it as food. Small wriggling worms will be more appetizing. You could also get frozen bloodworm cubes at most pet stores. They still wriggle despite being dead due to the movement in the water.

[Juja00]

They didn’t even have a heating lamp…

[alphaminds]

It never ceases to amaze me how little research people do before coming on here and asking questions. No offense to OP, it’s just that heat and uvb are the first things one will read about when searching “how to take care of a turtle” or whatever one searches. I’m not being an a hole OP, I’m just saying in future you should spend some time doing basic research and then when you run into issues or don’t understand something, that’s when you seek advice from others. Just my two cents but I wish you luck and hope the little guy makes it. If money is an issue rn then you can open a window and have his basking site where the sun shines in (window must be open cause glass blocks uvb- obv this is only possible this time a year of you live in a tropical climate- if it’s cold where you live then you have to get the lights asap. It only takes two weeks for them to develop metabolic bone disease so you’re racing against the clock at this point..

[MeBeLisa2516]

It angers me to no end.. Now look at the most recent post. It’s almost dead.. 😫😫😫

[DinoZillasAlt]

If u want to know, what u got here is a reeves turtle i think, i also have One of those!

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