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Why is my baby yellow belly slider turtle's leg pointed up?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

I live in the polk county fl area and i have a yellow belly slider turtle which seems to only be a week or 2 old today i noticed his back right leg is pointed upward and he isnt swimming around like usual could it be a broken leg its not swollen or anything it just looks off

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on October 11th, 2019

Without an image, it is difficult to determine what is going on. Ideally, you should have the turtle physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. He or she may be able to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality and proper environmental parameters. Keep water depth at no more than twice the length of the shell. Provide a UVB light source, filtration and a water heater. Feed a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc), fresh greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. You can review slider care at the links below. (Yes, they say Red Eared Slider, but care for Yellow Bellied Sliders is the same). http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

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