My turtle's tank water changed. Will he be okay or go into shock?

Clean the tank and perform a partial water change. Rinse the filter media in some tank water, not tap water, to preserve beneficial bacteria. Make sure the water is warm, between 75F and 86 F, and the basking area is at proper temp ( 85 F to 90 F). Low temps can affect activity in reptiles. She may need a few days to reacclimate to you, even though you weren't gone long. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, swimming crooked, difficulty breathing or discharge from the eyes or nose. If necessary, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose and treat injury or infection.

Thanks for reaching out about Bolt and including photos. Shell color changes front items in the water are rarely a problem unless toxic. Algae can often change the color greenish. The white line is not noted on the photos but can sometimes be a growth line or residue from hard water (mineral deposits). Trying to prevent contaminants from falling into the pond will help. Maintain good water quality, offer a well rounded diet and plenty of sunlight (natural is better than artificial) and seek a veterinarian if your concerns continue. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tadd and including photos. He appears to be in a a shed where they loose the outer layer of keratin. Check and correct water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. A review of the diet is important. Good luck.

I didn't see that you mentioned what kind of turtle Mr. Giggle Bottom is - if there was water involved, he may have inhaled some water. If that is the case, he needs to go to the veterinarian immediately. If there was not water involved, I would recommend monitoring him for a few hours to see if he improves. When a turtle ends up on his back, all of the organs in the body will put pressure on the lungs which makes it hard for them to breathe. Depending on how long he was stuck, it may have been quite stressful for him and he is recovering. The longer the time, the more stress he was put under. I see that your question was posted a couple of hours ago. If he has not improved at all in that time, I would consider taking him to the veterinarian. They can perform an examination on him, and can help to make husbandry changes to try to prevent this from occurring in the future.

Not usually. If you have hard water, you can use a water conditioner or softener for water to use for water changes. A chunk of driftwood can also help soften the water if you don't mind a bit of discoloration. Use a soft bristled toothbrush to scrub off deposits.

Thanks for reaching out about your turtle. Removed from the water to a dry enclosure with a warm towel, to prevent drowning. A veterinary visit this morning is highly recommended, as the high water temperatures have probably caused some internal thermal damage, maybe brain swelling. Anti-inflammatories and possible medications to decrease brain swelling. This is an emergency by your description. Good luck.

Take him out of the water. If he responds or retreats into his shell he is, obviously, alive. Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If he is floating and lethargic, he may be sick. This could be infection, malnutrition or parasites. Confirm proper environmental parameters for the species of turtle you have. Low temps can affect activity in reptiles. Feed an appropriate diet, commercial pellets supplemented with greens and some protein (crickets, feeder fish, earthworms). Dust food with a calcium/D3 powder and a multivitamin. Provide a UVB lightsource to promote shell health. If you post a new question with the species, I can provide more specific care information and a care sheet for future reference. You can also request a consultation to discuss the case in greater detail.