Malaysian Box Turt

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bichirsruletheworld

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 12, 2008
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Hey guys,

Just got a Malaysian Box turtle the other day and he has yet to completely submerge. I wasn't too worried to start because he has been feeding well on various veggies and pellets. He's active and swimming a decent amount, just does not go under at all. He will try, it just doesn't happen, he just floats there. I have noticed he is getting close, the first couple days his shell was up above the water, today he can get an inch below water level.

Any suggestions?
 
So is he just floating while in the water? If so it sounds like it may be a respiratory infection. What are your temps at? It wouldnt hurt to raise it a little bit. And I would take him to the vet to get checked out. If it is an infection he will probablly be put on baytril.
 
Finalfire9;3011847; said:
I had one of these and it never went in water.. ever so i let it roam around my backyard for a bunch of years till it escaped and a neigbor bought it off me
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Sorry but a good advice at all about correct turtle husbandry:grinno:
 
Ok what your seeing its VERY comon on malaysian boxys specialy on wild cauth especimens. Your almost 100% assured he is a wild cauth, wich is perfectly fine because its either becoming a pet or stewing pot. By the way make shure you have the cites number that in europe is needed to have them, it should be present in the purchasing bill along side the turts cientific name.
Back on the topic you should do 2 things. First give it time, malaysian boxies during shipping tend to become very deshidrated and masses of gas to become loged in the guts and lungs(wich makes him float), he needs time and good food to recover and to expell them, then he will sink just like any other turtle;) Also dont forget this guys are critters of habit, some stay in the water all time, others only go there during the nigth, but they are basicly aquatic turtles that like both a big land area, preferably with some logs, cork and moist substrate to burrow, and a large not very deep water area(one and a half times the length of the turtle is enough for deep) Also make shure he is actualy capable of diving, wich comes handy to expell the excess gas.
Now if you notice he starts like having mucus around his nouse and mouth now that is really a respiratory infection and needs veterinary atencion imediatly. Turtles that float can also be with pneumonia but they only float by one side, not the both so I think your with time, good diet and warmth should recover. BUT start looking for a experienced exotic vet straigh away, in case he becomes worse. Also dont forget he needs a omnivorus diet with lots of dark leafy greens like water cress and mustard greens to be healty
 
evilxyardxgnome;3011868; said:
You do know they aren't fully aquatic turtles right? They prefer land over water. If you have been keeping him wet this whole time I would almost say for sure its a respiratory infection.
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No it may not be;) Its odd and its very specific of this guys. Also they tend to spend the day on the water and the nigth on land or vise versa. I know, I have 2.1:D
 
logo;3011794; said:
So is he just floating while in the water? If so it sounds like it may be a respiratory infection. What are your temps at? It wouldnt hurt to raise it a little bit. And I would take him to the vet to get checked out. If it is an infection he will probablly be put on baytril.
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This is yet another very important point;) If he indeed is with a respiratory infection and needs to be put on antibiotics, Baytril should only be used on last resort, Why? Baytril on my experience makes alot of batagurid turtles including malaysian boxies sick, as soon as they are injected they start vomiting and dont take any food wille baytril is used. Its a good antibiotic but has secundary efects on this guys. Sliders as a comparison take baytril 100% well
 
coura;3012982; said:
No it may not be;) Its odd and its very specific of this guys. Also they tend to spend the day on the water and the nigth on land or vise versa. I know, I have 2.1:D
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Yea. Thats my guy. In the water a good portion of the day and at night he is out.

It could be dehydration. I got him from an reptile show and I didn't see how they were keeping him besides the display box he was in. I don't see any mucus or bad signs so I'll keep an eye on him and update in a day or two. He does seem to be getting closer and closer to submerging every day.

Thanks
 
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