Why is my turtle not eating and has a white bump on its neck?

It could be local infection. Monitor it for change or growth. You can gently cleanse the area using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine once or twice daily. Confirm adequate water quality to prevent secondary infection and to promote healing. Consider increasing the water and basking temperatures by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Ideally, a UVB light source should be provided for 12-14 hours daily. It should be no more than 14 inches away from the basking spot and unblocked by either glass or plexiglass for maximum benefits. If the spot does not heal or spreads, have Tabby examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can read more about care at this link: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

From these pictures I'm concerned that Emelia may have an abscess or infection. I strongly recommend a visit to a reptile veterinarian ASAP. Correct husbandry and environment and feeding may prevent this from happening in the future but if she is already acting sick she likely needs antibiotic therapy and potential he injectable vitamins in order to recover. Try to get their lighting correct ASAP, and here are some links on Karen husbandry as well as the reptile veterinary Association if you need help finding a vet. Good luck with them. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/turtles-aquatic-diseases http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html http://arav.org/

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specifically, this problem could be to shell rot. The loss of appetite could be due to the infection. Swab the infected area with a diluted povidone-iodine solution twice daily. Scrape away the infected area gently with a blunt tool or a cotton pad. If this time of first line treatment does not help and you do not see any improvement in 48hours a check up at your local veterinarian would be required as antibiotic ointment and more aggressive treatment may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

I am sorry that Snappy isn't feeling well! Reptiles can take a long time to show that they are sick, and often the signs that they are sick can be subtle, such as a decreased (or lack of) appetite. With what you are seeing, it may be that Snappy has been hiding his illness from you for a while. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian. They will likely ask you a great deal about Snappy's husbandry, as this is very important in reptiles. If the husbandry isn't perfect, often they can get very sick. They can perform a thorough examination, and can evaluate the brown spots that you are seeing. They may be able to take a sample of the areas, and evaluate the material under the microscope to see what it is. Also, they may recommend other diagnostic testing, including radiographs (x-rays) and blood work to evaluate systemic health. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I hope that Snappy feels better soon.

It could be some minor shell rot. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and some diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to scrub the affected area once or twice daily. Allow for a 1 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. If the spots do not resolve or if they spread, have Squirtle physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. A UVB light source, calcium powder and multivitamin will promote shell health. You can also float a piece of cuttlebone in the tank for him to munch on as needed. It will provide additional calcium. Find the cuttlebone in the Bird section of the local Petco. The link below will provide additional information regarding the care of sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

I would be concerned about the possibility of a tumor or an abscess/infection. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. They can perform a needle aspirate to get an idea about what it may be and develop a treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Tuffy. Swelling on the side of the head are likely inner ear infections. Vitamin A deficiencies are common causes. Antibiotics in the water will do little as turtles do not drink much, systemic antibiotics are required to treat. These can be given orally (difficult to do without being bitten) or through injections. But the diet needs to be corrected to include vitamin A rich foods. Since turtles create very thick pus, minor surgical procedures need to be performed to remove the pus. You might need to see another veterinarian with more reptile experience. Good luck.