Why is my baby yellow belly slider turtle's leg pointed up?

Thanks for reaching out about Sheel and including photos. A veterinary visit is recommended, probably with radiographs, to rule-in/out a fracture or dislocation. Even if fractured, some animals will walk on it. Pain medications will probably be recommended at the minimum. Soft tissue swelling might improve better with anti-inflammatory medications. Good luck.

The images are a bit blurry. It can be difficult to keep those little guys still! It does look like a YBS. They are not native to the UK and are typically captive bred. They are quite easy to keep. They need warm, clean water, a water heater, a basing spot with an overhead heat lamp, UVB lighting, a balanced diet consisting of animal protein and plant matter, calcium supplementation and multivitamin supplementation. For now, keep water depth no deeper than twice the length of the shell. As it grows, you can increase water depth. Maintain water quality via filtration and regular water changes. Feed a varied diet of prey (appropriately sized feeder fish, earthworms, crickets, etc.) and fresh greens and vegetables. Use a calcium and vitamin supplement and provide UVB lighting. You can review slider care at the link below. It is titled for Red Eared Sliders, however, Yellow Bellied Slider care is the same. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Thanks for reaching out about Swimmly and including a photo. A veterinary visit is recommended ASAP. This could be an indication of sepsis, liver/kidney disease, heart problems, calcium and other nutritional deficiencies, just to list a few. Check water quality and replaced to clean water. Removing from the water and placing in a warm dry environment might help over the short term. Returning to water to feed is allowed. Blood work and other diagnostics will probably be necessary, but at the minimum systemic antibiotics started. Good luck.

Walt likely got too cold when the power went out. I'm not convinced that 10 minutes basking outside would have made him that dehydrated. He may be on his way to getting a respiratory infection. What food(s) has he tried feeding him (turtle sticks, live meal worms, sun-dried worms, shrimp?)? The other option is that when he got cold it stimulated his body to go into hibernation mode. In the wild, sliders do hibernate, but it has to be quite cold and other conditions have to met for captive turtles to successfully hibernate. When they're a bit too chilly, but not cold enough to hibernate, they become inactive and quit eating. This leads to illness, and often death. Your boyfriend needs to make sure that his husbandry is 100% spot on - water temperature, humidity, basking area, etc. If he has a UVB light it needs to be changed every 6 months even if the light is still working. It will stop producing UVB rays and then he is not getting what he needs. So I suggest changing that bulb if that has not been done in the last 6 months. Reptisun 10 is my preference. Here is a great care sheet: http://www.reptilecentre.com/info-yellow-bellied-slider-care-sheet If his husbandry is 100% correct and he tries various other things to feed him and he still isn't eating in a few days he will need to see a vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Check the water, ambient and basking spot temperatures. Low temps can affect activity in reptiles. Ideally, the turtle should be in a 10 gallon tank. Water depth should be no more than twice the shell length. Use a filter to maintain water quality and a small heater to keep it between 82F and 85F. There should also be a basking area easily reached out of the water that should range between 85F and 88F. A UVB light source, proper diet and calcium and vitamin supplementation will promote shell health. If all this is provided and the turtle is still lethargic, consider a physical exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can find one at the link below. The second link will provide more information regarding the care of sliders. http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661 http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

If possible, separate them until you get a diagnosis. Get a stool sample from the sick turtle and submit it to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial infection. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles is strongly recommended given the marked weight loss and lethargy. Increase water and ambient temperatures by a few degrees to support the sick turtle. Offer a biologically appropriate, species specific diet as well as proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Check the UVB bulb and replace it of it is older than 6 months old. The symptoms you describe have multiple causes, so it is important to have an exam and testing to reach a diagnosis. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. Follow the link below for information regarding care and husbandry of red eared sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

It looks like he has an injury on his toe or foot. A close up image would be needed to determine where the injury is located. A physical exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet would be recommended to diagnose and treat any infection. Raphael may need antibiotics. For now, keep the water in the tank as clean as possible. Rinse the foot a couple times daily with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution. Allow a 1-2 hour dry docking after each cleaning. Monitor for lethargy or decreased appetite. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Consider increasing tank temps by about 5-10 degrees F to aid in recovery.