...Somehow, the thermostat probe on the 1000w titanium heater on my 11 y/o FRTs tank got pulled out of the water. Most likely by one of the cats that likes to drink from the turt's tank. The temp got so high that steam vapor was coming off the water surface. FaRT was on his back and for all purposes; ...dead. No movement. No pupilary response. However, he still displayed capillary refill around his legs and neck. I must have been holding him for 5 minutes where he didn't take a breath. I've been trained in neo-natal CPR so, I puffed air into his lungs for about 10 minutes, while dipping him into the 80F poly tank, before feeling a leg twitch. I put him down on top of the 300 so he wouldn't cool down too quickly. He started breathing on his own so I left him to my wife's supervision while I replaced 1/2 his tank's water to cool it down to 84F. I tried dipping him into his tank but, his movements were very weak. I didn't trust letting him into his tank because I was worried he'd drown from being too weak/disoriented to get to the surface on his own. I placed him on top of his tank with a light removed. He stayed there for nearly an hour before pulling himself through the opening. Now, he's swimming around his tank as if nothing happened. And, I feel like I need a coronary specialist.
Save yourself from the grief of a similar event. If you have a heater with a remote thermostat probe, make sure it's safely affixed in place underwater. The thermostat probe on FaRT's tank now looks like an overstated advertisement for zip ties.
Save yourself from the grief of a similar event. If you have a heater with a remote thermostat probe, make sure it's safely affixed in place underwater. The thermostat probe on FaRT's tank now looks like an overstated advertisement for zip ties.
