I think my turtle is sick? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

Question

i have a 10-11 year old Red Eared Slider... ive had him for 10 years and i know exactly how he usually acts... he is always 'apex predator' when it comes to feeding time... if i pick him up he tries to shred my fingers with his mouth and anything else he can get a hold of me with... he doesnt bask all that much... maybe like 1 hour a day or something... he is very nice to the other turtle in his tank... who is about three years old and is only 1/4 of his size...

yesterday i noticed that he was just kind of floating there not moving much.... today he was basking a lot kind of holding himself on their little rock thingy trying to stay on... there's not much space and he's really big... i put a normal amount of his regular food and he didnt eat any of it... i tried by tapping on the tank, because he usually goes right to my finger and he didnt do anything...

after about ten minutes i picked him up and he was SO EASY TO LOOK AT i was actually kind of scared... i even touched his face and he didnt try to bite me... he's usualy really mean about that... his right ear seemed more sensitive than his left for some reason though...

also could something in his food be making him sick? ive been feeding him Turtle Bites... it's in a yellow container with a black top... the food has a lot of dye in it... it turned his mouth green... and the water... my other turtle is fine though... eating like a champ...

anyone know what could be wrong with him? he's always been really healthy!

Answer 1

‘

Sliders I have two Sliders that are 36 yrs old!! Plus an 8 and 5 yr old.

I have had them in a pond for about 6 yrs now..

They need a good rep light to bask 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D they need to grow. Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Ttheir water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot. They need a good filter system.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily.

They need leafy greens for vitamins.

They can get sick real easy..

****sounds like Respiratory Infections *****

Sliders, cooter, map, painted, yellow bellied and other aquatic species are susceptible to respiratory infections. Many respiratory infections that can affect sliders are mild and easily treatable in their EARLY stages, but there are also some particularly virulent infections that can kill a turtle very quickly without veterinary attention. Sliders usually develop respiratory infections when their tank is too cold. **Symptoms of an infection include a runny nose, wheezing, lopsided swimming (an ailing lung changes the turtle’s buoyancy), lethargy, and a refusal to eat. If you identify the illness in its early stages, you may be able to treat it by removing the sick slider from its quarters into a new, clean tank (especially if you keep multiple sliders, since the majority of respiratory infections are contagious) and keeping it a few degrees warmer than normal. Warmth is the most crucial factor in treating respiratory infections in the home. If the condition persists for more than a few days or worsens, bring your slider to your veterinarian, who will treat the infection with antibiotics.”

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com, for a turtle vet in your city and state

Answer 2

none of us are vets so we cannot answer your questions.  Please see vet immediately.