Why is my turtle swimming sideways, has a swollen neck and shedding skin?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My turtle is swiming side wise. He has swollen in side of neck. His skin has a layer of white translucent membrane and it is falling. Please help:( ....... he is still a baby 2 months old. What should i do???
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 29th, 2018
Hello! This appears to be something called an "aural abscess" that is common in red eared sliders. It is generally the result of not eating enough Vitamin A in the diet or living in water that is not filtered enough. I would recommend taking Hunny into a vet to have the abscess cleaned out, then working on improving his diet and water quality. I hope this is helpful!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 31st, 2018
This looks like an ear infection (aural abscess). That lump needs to be opened, drained and flushed. You need a vet to do this I think this article will give you the most information. https://avianandexoticvets.com/aural-abscesses-in-aquatic-turtles/ Please get Leonardo to a reptile vet for an exam. I found this exotic vet in your area based on the zip code you provided. https://avianandexoticvets.com/services Hope this helps. Best wishes.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Food & Nutrition
I have a red eared slider it has got swelling on left and right side of head and patches like you can see in picture when I rub it with betadine the patches appear to be gone but reappear after sometime ..I went to nearest vet at my place he has no i
Thanks for reaching out about Tuffy. Swelling on the side of the head are likely inner ear infections. Vitamin A deficiencies are common causes. Antibiotics in the water will do little as turtles do not drink much, systemic antibiotics are required to treat. These can be given orally (difficult to do without being bitten) or through injections. But the diet needs to be corrected to include vitamin A rich foods. Since turtles create very thick pus, minor surgical procedures need to be performed to remove the pus. You might need to see another veterinarian with more reptile experience. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, i have two RES that i bought from fishshop, i have an aquarium that dont get any direct sunlight, so i help them basking under the sun, one of my RES showed white spot like this, is it fungus? Or shedding? And what should i do? I tried using m
Thanks for reaching out. The lesion on the neck is probably due to pulling the head in repeatedly and traumatizing the skin on the shell edge. Putting a visual blind around the tank might be less stressful. Not sure if the white is exposed bone, infection or hard water deposit. Can you gently scrub it off? The eyes on the first turtle appear a little swollen and this could be due to poor water quality or vitamin A deficiencies. What does the diet include? Check and correct water quality. Review diet. If lesion grows, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, i just got a 2 new turtles yesterday and one of them has this bump on his head/neck, he doesnt like to swim that much and i am pretty worried that he might be sick, i looks like he has a hard time eating, but he likes to walk, i dont have a UV
From these pictures I'm concerned that Emelia may have an abscess or infection. I strongly recommend a visit to a reptile veterinarian ASAP. Correct husbandry and environment and feeding may prevent this from happening in the future but if she is already acting sick she likely needs antibiotic therapy and potential he injectable vitamins in order to recover. Try to get their lighting correct ASAP, and here are some links on Karen husbandry as well as the reptile veterinary Association if you need help finding a vet. Good luck with them. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/turtles-aquatic-diseases http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html http://arav.org/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My land tortoise having swollen neck for days, not active and eat less. Poop color (dark), moist and shape looks fine tho. A friend suggest could be auricular abscess, any recommendation on anti inflammatory med to use and how to determine dosage?
Thanks for reaching out about Radi. If an auricular infection, antibiotics and possible minor surgery needed, so a veterinary visit is recommended. If something more serious such as a skin infection, even more need to see a vet. Due to the nature of reptile pus (very thick and caseous), anti-inflammatories will do little to remedy this condition by themselves. Vitamin A deficiencies are often a component also and a veterinarian should be able to review your diet and correct any concerns. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My turtle has got a white colour pimple on his neck .I has stop eating food also. What should I do?
This may be localized infection or inflammation. It could also be an old injury. Keep the area clean. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean the area daily. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Check temps in the tank as well. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. My turtle's, red ear slider, eyes have closed up and are swollen. He hasn't eaten anything in weeks. His shell is almost pale white. He is 12 years and I've had him since day 1. The water temp had always been room temp. I have recently placed
Hi, and thank you for this question. Smudgy's condition sounds serious, and cannot be treated at home. He will have to be examined by a vet ASAP and will likely need some medication as well as supportive care. The vet would also have several options of getting food into him (e.g. by inserting a feeding tube).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my turtle is opening his mouth and making sounds . it has also stopped eating from last 2-3 days Nd keeps sleeping for long .
Thanks for reaching out about Flippy and including a photo. The eyes and neck are swollen, and by your description, it appears he has a respiratory infection. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan that should include a vitamin A and calcium injections and systemic antibiotics. The diet and husbandry practices need to be reviewed and corrected. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My turtle eyes are swollen for 10 days and it can not open its eyes what to do for it and it can' eat .please help me
This can be due to vitamin A deficiency, infection, poor water quality or lighting that is too intense/direct. You can address environmental concerns but you may need a vet to diagnose and treat infection or deficiency. Feeding a commercial turtle food along with fresh veggies and greens (or prey) will help balance the diet. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is also recommended. Click on the link below for more information. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an aquatic red ear slider turtle. He is very lethargic and his legs are swollen. He hasn't been eating. What should I do?
The swollen legs and poor shell condition may be due to poor husbandry (diet and environment). Confirm proper environmental parameters, especially temperature. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. The stress of being in low temps can lead to illness or infection. A poor diet, especially one low in calcium, can lead to poor shell condition and MBD ( metabolic bone disease). This may account for the swollen legs. Ideally, Dave should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Supportive care and calcium supplementation may be indicated to get him on the road to recovery. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water. Provide a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc.) fresh greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. Provide a multivitamin and a calcium supplement along with adequate unfilterer sunlight or UVB lighting. You can review slider care at the links below
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
hello I have a red ear slider turtle . his eyes are swollen its been 3 days already he hasn't ate any thing he doesn't move around. he only comes up for air. I have bought the turtle fix solution for his water but not sure is working. what shouls I d
Check the water temperature and quality. Perform a partial water change and rinse filter media if necessary to maintain or improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Use tank water to rinse filter media to preserve beneficial bacterial populations. The swollen eyes may be caused by bacterial infection or by vitamin deficiency. Infection will need to be diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian after a physical exam. You can purchase ZooMed Turtle Eye Drops online or in the local Petco. This product may resolve the swelling if it is due to vitamin deficiency. You can review slider care at the link below. www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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