Mary Allen
If aquatic turtles can no longer swim properly, something is wrong. You can find important information about this in this article.
What kind of turtle do I actually have?
It is important that you first know what kind of turtle you own. Now that sounds a bit banal, but in fact, it often happens that the exact species is not known to the owner. This, in turn, is essential: Tortoise species differ greatly in terms of their housing requirements and behavior. What applies to one can be fundamentally wrong for the other, which is why general statements are difficult.
Keeping mistakes are correspondingly frequent: size and design of the terrarium, humidity, temperature, UV radiation, and much more. – all this must be adapted to the needs of the armored carrier. Otherwise, there is a risk of illnesses, because turtles react very sensitively to incorrect keeping.
Turtle swimming problems: symptoms
If you have an aquatic turtle and it changes its behavior, you should pay attention: is it swimming less or not at all, is it staying more on the land part? Does the turtle have diving problems? Does she lie askew in the water when she swims? Does she swim in circles?
You may see other abnormalities: swelling of the limbs or head, difficulty walking, discoloration of the shell, trouble eating, etc.
If you notice something like this, please go to a turtle-experienced vet as soon as possible!
Turtle Swimming Problems: Causes
When a turtle is having trouble swimming, there are a number of possible causes.
The most common is pneumonia. It can occur on one or both sides. In the former, this causes the turtle to lie askew in the water when it swims. Diving problems with turtles, e.g. B. when diving, are observed. Turtles who have trouble swimming can also have poor appetites and become apathetic when they have pneumonia. They pump their bodies to help with breathing, raise their heads, blisters form in their nostrils, and rattling or wheezing can be heard. Pneumonia in turtles is mainly caused by bacteria and viruses, more rarely by fungi. These animals are also very sensitive to drafts, which is why their aquarium should be covered – but in such a way that it is still well ventilated. (Otherwise, too much humidity will cause other problems.) Too low ambient temperature and vitamin A deficiency are also thought to be triggers of pneumonia in turtles. Bacteria can multiply particularly well in poor water quality, so regular cleaning of the aquarium and a good filter system is important.
Problems with the nervous system or musculoskeletal system also cause turtles to have trouble swimming. This includes swimming or running in circles and lameness. Hindquarters paralysis is particularly common. The tortoise can then hardly or not at all use its hind legs. Where this paralysis comes from various causes, e.g. B. difficulty in laying eggs, kidney diseases (gout, nephritis, etc.), or bladder stones.
Other medical conditions that can cause swimming problems in turtles to include:
- Gassing in the gastrointestinal tract
- Foreign bodies (e.g. in the gastrointestinal tract or the urinary bladder)
- constipation
- injuries
- End-stage of another underlying disease
Turtle Swimming Problems: Diagnosis
You should always consult a turtle-experienced veterinarian for an examination, as these animals are quite special. In addition to the general examination and anamnesis (questions that the veterinarian asks you), further examinations can be useful. These include e.g. B. X-ray, a blood test, and, in the case of pneumonia, also a lung lavage.
Turtle swimming problems: therapy
The cause is treated as far as possible. In the case of infections, antibiotics are often necessary, and vitamin deficiencies are compensated. Sometimes a lung lavage must be carried out and the animal force-fed (in the case of heavy mucus in the respiratory tract).
Kidney problems must be treated with a specific diet, regular bathing of the animals, a diet rich in water, and, in severe cases, IV fluids. The prognosis for a cure varies: If the turtle responds quickly to the treatment, the chances are good. If, on the other hand, she reacts very slowly or not at all, euthanasia must unfortunately also be considered.
Depending on the seat, foreign bodies usually have to be surgically removed.
Treatment of the laying problem includes providing sufficient storage space for eggs, medication to support the laying process, and a lukewarm bath. If this is unsuccessful or if the egg is deformed and/or too large, it must be surgically removed.
Turtle swimming problems: prophylaxis
You can actively prevent such diseases because most problems with turtles are caused by incorrect housing and feeding. Before you buy a turtle, be sure to find out what you need and what you need to pay particular attention to. How big will the animal get? What ambient temperature and humidity is required, does a UV lamp have to be purchased? Which water temperature and size of the aquarium are right?
New tortoise owners often do not know that the cute little animal can grow quite large and the existing aquarium can quickly become too small. Only a few species of turtles can be kept in a garden pond without any additional heat and UV sources and only in summer. These and many other things are very important for your tortoise to grow old happily and healthily.
Get some good books and consult a reptile veterinarian for advice if necessary. (Unfortunately, the pet trade is only of limited use as a contact here.) And please do not buy your tortoise on the sly: the risk of acquiring a banned wild-caught turtle is high, and you will not get enough information on how to keep it. In addition, reliable information about the state of health of the animals is virtually impossible to obtain. Such a cheaply acquired turtle can quickly result in high veterinary costs.
Turtle Swimming Problems: Conclusion
If your turtle is having trouble swimming, please rush to the vet! The probability that she has a health problem is high.