Female ornate DBT, general lethargy, refusal to feed, but active in
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My female ’03 ornate DBT is acting strangely. Tank conditions are as follows”She has always been housed in brackish water, typically in the 15%-30% strength seawater. More dilute when younger. Housed for approx 18 months in 60% strength(20 ppt) but now back down to 10 ppt. No regular access to freshwater. Growth has seemed regular. Current carapace is . Tank substrate is crushed coral/shell mixture. Diet is mix of freeze-dried krill and turtle pellets. Sometimes frozen squid/shrimp.Lethargy began this winter. Tank was on cool side (upper 60s) with no heater. After heater placed and salinity cut, this DBT became very active. Also, weekly freshwater drinking bath started with several hours spent in temperature appropriate aged freshwater tank. Fed vigorously for approximately 2 months, then shutdown.Turtle spends all day on turtle dock under UV flourescent light. Often head down and eyes closed. No eye swelling. Shell without deformity and solid, always. Usually, there is significant body fat in leg apertures of shell. Looks thin now. Currently co-housed with 3 younger DBTs, ’07 or ’08. Other DBTs eat vigorously. Behavior of note – while the turtle is generally very lethargic, I often find it swimming about vigourously in the early morning before the lights come on.All relevant advice appreciated. My current plan is to remove from tank and place in 10% strength seawater. Raise water temp to 80. Orally administer vitamins with some thawed frozen food. Is this possibly an egg-bound female? She has been housed alone until this spring. I had not expected her to reach maturity yet as she is ’03, but her size 6″ puts her at the low end of breeding size.Thanks for your help.
So you haven’t seen this terrapin eat at all? If it hasn’t been eating I would get it to a reptile vet ASAP.
— In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, Phil Stevenson
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