I recently bought 2 baby slider turtles and 1 is now sick

i recently got 2 baby slider turtles. i have been feeding them turtle pellets and they have been enjoying eating them. However about 1 week ago one of the turtles stopped eating. I tried boiled lettuse and other foods but he is not eating at all and has become week and thin. He sits up on the log all day to bask and even all night. He keeps opening his mouth now and again as though he is trying very hard to breeth.

I keep the tank very clean.. what medicine can i use?

thanks,,,,

Don't try to self-medicate. This is for a herp vet to decide on the course of treatment. There is a possibility of an upper respiritory infection. Antibiotics are needed for this.

You need a UVB source, the correct temps, and a different diet than lettuce and pellets. The Tetrofin pellets for your RES are a good pellet, but it's not enough for a complete diet. Lettuce.especially boiled.has no nutritional value. They need foods such as collard greens, mustard greens and more.and some of the aquatic plants like duckweed.which you can gert online. Feeder guppies and insects make up another portion of their diet.

Use a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer w/hygrometer for the best accuracy. You can get these for about $15 - $20 at Wal-Mart. Once you get the thermometer your goal is meeting the required temperature gradients in three different spots of the habitiat.

Not all UVB lights are created equal. Some decay very quickly. You need no less than two 4' flourescent UVB tubes. Short version - UVB helps the ig to process the calcium in their diet. Without the UVB.the calcium does not get absorbed and the result is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and renal failure. The brands to go with: