Post by Turtle Rescue UK on Dec 31, 2010 13:24:06 GMT
Below is a message sent to turtle rescue by ERIC SMITH, we have decided to put it on the forum in case anyone else has the same problem, the answer was by Wayne Rampling who runs Turtle Rescues main rescue & re-homing center.
Question...
Nice to know that I'm not the only one who is trying to help unwanted turtles!, I also take in unwanted turtles but don't re-home them as I have two large ponds one being over 30 mtrs in length. I have done this now for two years and have over 30 adult yellow/red eared turtles. Recently I have taken in a large female but she can't sink and floats only, I found out that she has bean like this for a year now. I found out that it may be a respiratory problem and she doesn't eat very well I am going to take her to my vets but I wondered if you have come across this and is there an easy solution? any help would be helpfull....Eric
Answer...
hi Eric,
thank you for your e-mail regarding this.... OK the floating is caused by an infection in the lungs / respiratory and will need some antibiotics from the vet to aid this but with it being so long you may well find it could be beyond a cure but this all depends on what type of infection it is... other things to try first can include bringing her in and putting her in a warm tank with the water slightly hotter than normal around the 27c mark and treating the tank and water with "METHYLENE BLUE" a bacterial treatment that is available from any good aquatic store or from eBay for around £5 please add drop by drop to the water till it goes to a very pale blue colour this will turn back to a normal water colour within a few days and PLEASE ONLY OPEN IT OVER THE TANK, IF SPILT ON YOUR FLOOR IT WILL STAIN. methylene blue is normally used to treat fish with bacterial infections but we have been using it here at turtle rescue for 20yrs as its also fantastic on all turtles & terrapins. the infection effects the lungs of the turtle / terrapin which they use like a submarine uses its ballast tanks to float and sink the infection causes these to stop working correctly and if this does not work then injections will be needed. please feel free to contact me direct if you need any more help with this or anything else on the numbers below,
regards,
Wayne
Question...
Nice to know that I'm not the only one who is trying to help unwanted turtles!, I also take in unwanted turtles but don't re-home them as I have two large ponds one being over 30 mtrs in length. I have done this now for two years and have over 30 adult yellow/red eared turtles. Recently I have taken in a large female but she can't sink and floats only, I found out that she has bean like this for a year now. I found out that it may be a respiratory problem and she doesn't eat very well I am going to take her to my vets but I wondered if you have come across this and is there an easy solution? any help would be helpfull....Eric
Answer...
hi Eric,
thank you for your e-mail regarding this.... OK the floating is caused by an infection in the lungs / respiratory and will need some antibiotics from the vet to aid this but with it being so long you may well find it could be beyond a cure but this all depends on what type of infection it is... other things to try first can include bringing her in and putting her in a warm tank with the water slightly hotter than normal around the 27c mark and treating the tank and water with "METHYLENE BLUE" a bacterial treatment that is available from any good aquatic store or from eBay for around £5 please add drop by drop to the water till it goes to a very pale blue colour this will turn back to a normal water colour within a few days and PLEASE ONLY OPEN IT OVER THE TANK, IF SPILT ON YOUR FLOOR IT WILL STAIN. methylene blue is normally used to treat fish with bacterial infections but we have been using it here at turtle rescue for 20yrs as its also fantastic on all turtles & terrapins. the infection effects the lungs of the turtle / terrapin which they use like a submarine uses its ballast tanks to float and sink the infection causes these to stop working correctly and if this does not work then injections will be needed. please feel free to contact me direct if you need any more help with this or anything else on the numbers below,
regards,
Wayne