Tips For Nursing Res Back To Health?

[Brandi.]

A few weeks ago (4 or 5), I bought two baby RES turtles (Tenley and Rocco). Sometime the afternoon of May 24th, Rocco went missing. I searched the entire house for him for two days, finally giving up, assuming he had been lost outside somewhere or the dog had gotten to him. Well, this morning (after almost 2 weeks missing, and out of water, with no food) my daughter found Rocco! He is alive, obviously traumatized, and his shell seems a little warped (I'm assuming from being out of water), but no other obvious injuries. I examined his shell and it is not broken or cracked anywhere. I though maybe one of his back legs might have been broken, but he is now moving it and walking on it... All his limbs are moving and seem fine. I don't live in an area that has a vet who deals with turtles, so I'm on my own with this.

Right now, I have Rocco in the quarantined in the small pet carrier, with a little water and a floating basking rock thing. I've given him some food, but he's not eating much. He's spent most of his day in his shell, resting on the rock, moving around a little bit.

I know it's probably more of a waiting game now, but anyone have any tips on what more I could be doing for him?
How long should I keep him quarantined?
Any special foods or anything I should be giving him to help with recovery?
What should I look for as a sign to get him to a vet? (I might be able to find one in a town 2-3 hours away.)

Thank you all in advance for the help! The babies have only been in our family a short time, but they are already beloved pets. I was very sad when Rocco went missing in the first place, and am just relieved to have found him and for him to still be alive!!

 

[fishnovice]

A few weeks ago (4 or 5), I bought two baby RES turtles (Tenley and Rocco). Sometime the afternoon of May 24th, Rocco went missing. I searched the entire house for him for two days, finally giving up, assuming he had been lost outside somewhere or the dog had gotten to him. Well, this morning (after almost 2 weeks missing, and out of water, with no food) my daughter found Rocco! He is alive, obviously traumatized, and his shell seems a little warped (I'm assuming from being out of water), but no other obvious injuries. I examined his shell and it is not broken or cracked anywhere. I though maybe one of his back legs might have been broken, but he is now moving it and walking on it... All his limbs are moving and seem fine. I don't live in an area that has a vet who deals with turtles, so I'm on my own with this.

Right now, I have Rocco in the quarantined in the small pet carrier, with a little water and a floating basking rock thing. I've given him some food, but he's not eating much. He's spent most of his day in his shell, resting on the rock, moving around a little bit.

I know it's probably more of a waiting game now, but anyone have any tips on what more I could be doing for him?
How long should I keep him quarantined?
Any special foods or anything I should be giving him to help with recovery?
What should I look for as a sign to get him to a vet? (I might be able to find one in a town 2-3 hours away.)

Thank you all in advance for the help! The babies have only been in our family a short time, but they are already beloved pets. I was very sad when Rocco went missing in the first place, and am just relieved to have found him and for him to still be alive!!

Turtles are great escape artists and will get out of almost any enclosure so don't blame yourself. Exactly the same thing happened to me.Two of my little 6month old maps escaped in the garden last summer and were found in a neighbour's shed 2 weeks later.I just placed them in warm water and they started eating within 24 hours. One escaped again in winter and was found under the sink in my freeing cold unheated kitchen a week later.-very cold, in his shell dehydrated but stull alive. Again he was OK and started eating after a couple of days.
TESTS FOR ILLNESS - the worst killer in turtles if they get cold is respiratory infection. Symptome to watch out for -
1. gasping and frequent yawning, breathing with its mouth open all the time
2. red swollen eyes
3. discharge and/or bubbles from nose
4. lopsided swimming, inability to float/swim properly
If these symptoms are present you must take your baby turtle to a vet IMMEDIATELY for an antibiotic injection to save its life. Don't delay -resp infections can kill in a few days.
Assuming none of the above symptoms are present, no need to quarantine unless it's sick. Just put the lost one back in its tank keep it warm and offer it food in a separate tub daily. try treats like sliced ham, dried shrimp to tempt it if it won't eat.