BABY SLIDER NOT EATING
The pet store here in town gave me a call 3 days ago and asked me to take on this little guy. He had not eaten though offered a variety of tastes. He was not swimming. Though he could and would for a few minutes at a time; he was not entering the water voluntarily. He was still very alert. The pet store had purchased 5 and were in a very good set up. Water temp correct, heat and lighting were correct and the other 4 Red Ears were thriving. And about one third larger than this little guy.
We brought him home in the evening. I set him up in a 5 gallon tank, 60 percent filled, with a rock and submersible fluval 1?. 75 watt heat bulb, no heat in the water as the lamp is warming it well and a UVB lamp and set it on my desk. The water was treated with conditioner and I added in about 8 drops of the electrolyte formula. He got two baths with electrolytes added the following day about 8 hours apart. And I verified that he didn't go into the water unless put there and then stayed only a very short time.
The second morning he ate just a very small piece of fish flake, but was in and out of the water for most of the morning. He didn't stay in long, hung onto pieces of plastic plant often, but he did it on his own. Though has not repeated the pattern again. On the rock he would often go to the edge and submerge his head. He is coping well with my being 12 inches away. He received one more bath in the electrolyte that day. And now on the third morning has eaten a turtle pellet and a half. He is not spending much time in the water. Still less than 2 hours per day.
Due to his reluctance to swim, I lowered the water level and added some supporting plants into the water. He has been in the water for an hour after doing so. Not swimming but tangled and floating in the plants to support himself. Maybe he has not built up his strength for swimming?
