threeinoneshampoo
New Member
I have a northern red bellied cooter, I'm not sure how old he is but he's about an inch big and I've had him for three days. Ever since I put him in the tank he's been floating with his butt higher than his front. I'm pretty sure it's a gas issue but I'm super worried about accidentally harming him.
I've attached a photo of his tank setup, but I've replaced the heater with an adjustable one and the water temp is about 80-82 degrees F to help him digest. He hasn't eaten and spends most of his time basking. He has 0 signs of a respiratory infection. I'm taking him to the vet once I get paid and he is settled in and eating, or if he doesn't eat and keeps floating for over a week.
Is the water too deep for him? There is gravel at the bottom which I'm planning on switching out to play sand but I'm waiting until he's eating so I don't stress him out more. The filter *says* it's for a 30 gallon but it's pretty small and I'm also worried it won't filter the water enough. He's currently in a 10 gallon tank.
He is incapable of diving at all, he is constantly floating in the water and when he swims he sticks to the edges and tries to get traction off of them, so I think once I do the monthly big water change I'll set it up so he has more things to grab onto.
I've attached a photo of his tank setup, but I've replaced the heater with an adjustable one and the water temp is about 80-82 degrees F to help him digest. He hasn't eaten and spends most of his time basking. He has 0 signs of a respiratory infection. I'm taking him to the vet once I get paid and he is settled in and eating, or if he doesn't eat and keeps floating for over a week.
Is the water too deep for him? There is gravel at the bottom which I'm planning on switching out to play sand but I'm waiting until he's eating so I don't stress him out more. The filter *says* it's for a 30 gallon but it's pretty small and I'm also worried it won't filter the water enough. He's currently in a 10 gallon tank.
He is incapable of diving at all, he is constantly floating in the water and when he swims he sticks to the edges and tries to get traction off of them, so I think once I do the monthly big water change I'll set it up so he has more things to grab onto.