help with my red eared slider!!!!!!

[Murray of the Deep]

my red eared hasnt been swimming or diving underwater it just stays on a rock and does not even eat!!!why!!!he is also a hatchling and i tried to touch it's shell the downpart it was very soft like cotton!!! help!!

[flybyferns]

my red eared hasnt been swimming or diving underwater it just stays on a rock and does not even eat!!!why!!!he is also a hatchling and i tried to touch it's shell the downpart it was very soft like cotton!!! help!!

You need to take him to a vet !!!!
This question should be posted on a 'turtle' forum

[ejh805]

Jerome,

Before this started happening, where you giving the turtle any calcium supplements or special lighting?
Please read this link. I'm afraid it may be metabolic bone disease.

Softshell syndrome in young turtles


In section number 3, it says that if the disease has progressed so far as to cause a soft shell, calcium injections from a vet are often the only way to reverse it. Also says, that
"the calcium could be diluted it in saline of LRS and the injection given intraceloemically,"

[Murray of the Deep]

he was eating high protein goldfish pellets but he is still floating!!! is he getting a little bit fine now?

[ejh805]

Is that all you've been feeding it?

[Murray of the Deep]

no it was just for now i fed him last time frozen bloodworms, tubiflex worms, mealworms,veggies and some goldfish pellets.