jenG07
New Member
Hi,
We have a adult box that we adopted from a reptile store (he was found and brought in to them.) They had him three weeks before we got him, and he seemed in great health when he came home with us. We have only had him a week, but over the last 2-3 days he isn't seeming to be doing well. He isn't eating much, seems more lethargic, and has spent the last two days either digging and burying himself or sitting in his water dish - he even soaked in his dish all night. Now one eye is swollen shut.
We are brand new turtle owners, and I'm so worried about him! He is my 10 year old's pet, and she will be devastated if anything happens! Currently he is in a 50 gal tank with Repti bark and sphagnum moss. I started with a coil UVB bulb and a heat emitter, but got rid of the coil after a few days because the tank was too cold (and now I read that the coil is bad for their eyes, so glad I did!) So now have an 80W Exo Terra MVB and a Zacro 100W ceramic heat emitter. The warm end of the tank is around 80-85 and the cool end is 75. I turn off the mvb at night and the temp has been staying in the low 70s. I am thinking that the warm/basking spot isn't hot enough - so do I need to get a higher watt mvb? And any other ideas/suggestions for a new nervous owner to help our little guy?? Should I take him to the vet?
We have a adult box that we adopted from a reptile store (he was found and brought in to them.) They had him three weeks before we got him, and he seemed in great health when he came home with us. We have only had him a week, but over the last 2-3 days he isn't seeming to be doing well. He isn't eating much, seems more lethargic, and has spent the last two days either digging and burying himself or sitting in his water dish - he even soaked in his dish all night. Now one eye is swollen shut.
We are brand new turtle owners, and I'm so worried about him! He is my 10 year old's pet, and she will be devastated if anything happens! Currently he is in a 50 gal tank with Repti bark and sphagnum moss. I started with a coil UVB bulb and a heat emitter, but got rid of the coil after a few days because the tank was too cold (and now I read that the coil is bad for their eyes, so glad I did!) So now have an 80W Exo Terra MVB and a Zacro 100W ceramic heat emitter. The warm end of the tank is around 80-85 and the cool end is 75. I turn off the mvb at night and the temp has been staying in the low 70s. I am thinking that the warm/basking spot isn't hot enough - so do I need to get a higher watt mvb? And any other ideas/suggestions for a new nervous owner to help our little guy?? Should I take him to the vet?