Why is my Indian roofed turtle suddenly lethargic and not eating?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pilu she is an Indian roofed turtle. Not taking food for last 3 days & there is no activity. She is sitting in a same position for day long. If I am keeping her in water then she will be there for the whole day and same thing will happen if I shall keep her on basking area. For last two months she is with me and was very active & curious. But now she is totally lethargic for a small movement too. There is no sign of any external diseases. Nose/eyes are ok. Here is no reptiles specialist.Plz help
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 2nd, 2018
Thank you for using PetCoach. From your pictures, it looks like Pilu could benefit from some upgrades to get living area. Water turtles do you need water, as well as a basking area, but he may need a dirt area to dig in. Be sure that her water is clean and may need partial changes daily but not complete water change. She needs full spectrum lighting 8 hours daily. If bulbs are not possible then she need a safe outdoor enclosure. Calcium and vitamin supplements with her food are necessary. Make sure there is a warmer basking area in her enclosure. Here is a good resource for turtle care and set up. http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 1st, 2018
Often when reptiles stop eating, it is due to suboptimal husbandry and diet. This may be what is occurring in Pilu. The reason that I say this is that from the picture that you have included, Pilu is actually not a red-eared slider, and actually looks to be a species of map turtle. Also, from the picture, it looks like Pilu has a very short tail, and may actually be a female turtle. This can drastically change how you will be housing Pilu, and may explain why she is not eating. I am not sure where you acquired Pilu, but it may be beneficial to first find out what species of map turtle she is (there are numerous types, and I am not sure what is most commonly available in your area), and then I would recommend adjusting her husbandry based on a care sheet (typically straightforward to find online once you know the species) that is specific for her species. Otherwise, the parameters for temperature, basking spot, type of haul out, amount of water in the environment, diet, etc. can be very different between species, and over time, Pilu may not be able to perform her normal body functions while being housed like a red-eared slider. Unfortunately, even if you have had Pilu for a long time, she may not have shown you that she was not thriving in her environment until recently as reptiles can compensate with suboptimal husbandry for a long time. Along these same lines, it can take them a long time to get better when their environment does improve, so do not become discouraged once you have made the changes. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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