Common Snapper

[Chad55]

My uncle is gone right now and I am taking care of his snapper which isn't in too great of condition. I have him in a 10 gallon right now with a couple inches of water. He is only about an inch in diameter. Well he has a sore on his stomach and a soft shell. I know what it is from but I am not too sure how to correct it. I have been keeping the water clean and he is under a uvb now with a basking spot at about 78-80 and water is about 68-70. Also I can't get him to eat any live food. He will eat the turtle sticks but he doesnt even go for the guppies in there. They have been in there for about a week now too. I just want to pump him up and make him feel better for when my uncle comes back. Please help.

Chad

 

[rayman45]

could be the yoak sac...

fill the tank up more.. they dont need basking spot

 

[rayman45]

and thrw some minnows in there... they are easier to catch for them

 

[Chad55]

I read that they like it so they can just sit on the bottom and stick there necks out of the water to breath anyways and he can just hardly do that. I am pretty sure that minnows would be way too big for him to eat. He is only about an inch long. I'll post sme pics of his sore to see if that is what it really is. Oh yea and how can i make his shell harder.

Chad

 

[Chad55]

Chad

 

[rayman45]

that looks to be yoak sac... thats a young turtle

it dosent have to eat untill thats gone

 

[Chad55]

So what about the shell?

Chad

 

[rayman45]

whats wrong?

 

[Chad55]

Its very soft and has like hair algea growing on it.

Chad

 

[joel]

all juvenile turtles shell are soft for a period of time. i agree with rayman45 that is a yolk sac. it may not eat until the the turtle absorbs the sac. a basking spot won't hurt. i have raised many common snappers and others. some bask some don't. try a variety of foods. eventually you will get it to eat the floating sticks.