Red belly in need of help

Crazycorn · 03-24-05, 06:09 PM

I was out herping yesterday along some woods with a canal here in good 'ole Florida when I noticed a turtle flipped on his back stuck in a mud flat next to the canal, I raced over to find a Florida Red Belly, 10" male covered in a mass of insects including leeches but still alive. I being the animal lover I am flipped him over and with my insect tongs pulled all the critters off of him. I love Red bellys so I brought him ome to check him out and noticed that he seems to be full of gas or something, he can't stay on the bottom of the tank and it seems its his rear end that has the problem. I also noted that he is the most algae covered critter I have come across, even between his toes! :rofl: I named him hairy! LOL I know with see tutles they can get a gas build up and have the same problem so I was wondering what do you all think? Any helping him?

Jeff Hathaway · 03-26-05, 08:37 PM

This may be a sign of a respiratory infection. Make sure it has got a nice warm basking site and it should clear up on its own.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

K1LOS · 04-04-05, 12:40 PM

when he is in the water, does he float around awkwardly or unbalanced? Does he breathe with his mouth open? Any nasal discharge? These are ally symptoms of a respiratory infection.

Geoff