Turtle Help

[wild_flower]

I have 2 turtles and they use to be active, swimming around, eating, being active. Now, they are hiding, they are not swimming,and eating less if anything. One of them has what i call "swollen eyes".

I feed them the same food, change the water periodically, have a light on them.

Are they "hibernating"?

I have no idea what's the matter with them.

[leviathan]

Many reptiles can sense the barometric pressure fluctuate outdoors during seasonal changes, despite any consistency of indoor care. Just keep an eye on them and feed them only waht they'll eat.

[Piperpatooti]

What is the temp in your tank at? Turtles will hibernate, but i was told by my reptile vet that we shouldnt let them. Swollen eyes is a diseas in turtles. I think they have prescibs for that though.

[leviathan]

Knowing what species of turtles they are would help tremendously.

[wild_flower]

I'm not sure what temperature the tank is...I just bought a termameter, I'll know soon.

They are slider turtles.

Why can't they hibernate?

[leviathan]

Specifically, what kind of light(s) do you have on them, and also, how long have you had these turtles?

Regarding the first question, you should have 2 lights on them: a basking lamp and a UV light. If you're lacking either, this might be part of the problem.

Regarding whether they should be hibernating or not, they should not, unless you're trying to breed them. This might be related to the light issue. If you've gotten these turtles recently, and don't have a particular light on them, they were fine in the warmer months, but now as its getting colder, they're sensing the change and trying to hibernate as their instincts are telling them to. However, they can't hibernate properly, since in the wild they either go burrow into the mud at the bottom of a pond or make a burrow in the ground close to water. Instead, they doing the next best thing...sort of...which is hiding under something.

[scuba6567]

I actually breed RES with my uncle on his land, I have to say if they are not acting alert, They are too cold and trying to hybernate in which they will drown themselves, or ill due to lack of nutrients that they receive from light sutch as the sun or repti lights. I had to sign up just for that two cents hope it helps.