Hi Guys and Girls

I need some help. I have three turtles that I've had for about three years. The two larger ones are pretty healthy and shy, the smaller one has always been a bit more sociable and hence my favourite. Every day it sunbathes on one paticular rock so I get to see him/her everyday. Today I noticed while in the pond that he/she did not even wake up as I approached. I picked it up and still the eyes did not open and looked sunken. I have never taken much notice of his/her wieght however she/he feels pretty light. I'm wondering if maybe she/he has become blind a consequently now lost wieght. I will buy some worms today and try to feed her/him although what I would rather do long term is find out if a) is there a vet on phuket that has experience with reptiles and is there anything I should be aware of such as eye drops or such. I have never kept turtles before however I felt I should have bring these ones home as they were for sale at the local market I presumed for food.

Thanks heaps for any help.

It seems like Vitamin A deficiency to me.

Tx. Buy Vit A from a drug store and use a set of syringe+needle drawn the liquid from the capsule then feed your turtle (by syringe without a needle)

Vit A 1 capsule = 25,000 I.U.

Dosage 10,000 I.U. / turtule feed it every 3-5 days(per 1 time) , for a period of 1-1.5 month.

Note, try to feed a variety of food for long term prevention

ps. you can mix Vit A with food for the other turtle.

Edited November 15, 200718 yr by BambinA

Bambina, you aways come through with sound advise, thanks so much, will keep you posted.

melissa kaplan's website for reptiles, she is world renown most of our zoo reptile people i know use her advice....

bina

ps she is very very pedantic in her dietary advice but still is very good

Thanks to both Bambina and Bina. I tried the Vit A and hand feeding but was not confident that after the first day that I was doing much good. Finally I found a great vet on Phuket that specialises in reptiles. I've taken "her" to him and he has kept her in the surgery for the care she needs. Bambina Vit A was exactly right however she was malnourished as well. The vet taught me so much about diet etc that I really had no idea about. From now on I am going to have much happier healthier turtles. Thanks again, Kiwi

Dr Apichat Parsing 081 5450429 Pet Home Clinic 076 245913

Kiwithai, i am adding your recommendation to the Vets in Thailand thread. Great to hear you've found a good one and your turtles are going to be fine.

awesome! I wondered if posting his details was against the rules, but hey if it helps someone else, why not. Thanks sbk. My friends think I've lost the plot taking a turtle to a vet, especially my girlfriend from up north, she can't understand why I don't just cook it.

kiwi did u check out the melissa site??? she really is the 'cats meiow' when it comes to reptiles, with links etc. we use it alot for our igguanas and tortoises (sudan).... she's a bit turtle crazy but still...

bina