While turtles aren’t the fastest of animals they should still move to some extent, if your turtle isn’t moving or eating then you’d understandably become worried and concerned.
This article is a look into why your turtle is not moving or eating
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Why is my turtle not moving or eating?
When your pet suddenly stops doing something, or when your pet suddenly starts doing something, you as a turtle owner will start to take notice, this is true when your turtle stops moving or eating.
Here is why your turtle is not moving or eating:
The animal is dead:
One reason why your pet turtle may not be moving or eating, may be because the animal is dead. A dead turtle will not eat, move, or interact with you in any way shape, or form.
What to do:
You shouldn’t automatically assume the animal is dead before examining it first and getting a vet to examine it.
One of the signs that your pet turtle is dead is a smell coming off of the animal.
This smell develops because the animal’s body has started decomposing because the animal’s bodily functions have stopped working.
A dead turtle will have deep sunken, dull, and open eyes.
The shell will be cracked, your pet will develop a fly infestation and the animal may either float upside down or simply sink to the bottom of the tank
The animal will be stiff, even when picked up, and the animal will not react to any poking or prodding that you do.
If you don’t see any sign of voluntary or involuntary movement from your turtle then your pet may be dead.
Take your pet to the vet to confirm this. Your vet will confirm that the animal is dead and recommend ways to dispose of the animal.
Illness:
Another reason why your turtle may not be eating or moving may be because the animal is sick.
A variety of illnesses can make a turtle sick and lethargic, not moving and not eating is one of the many effects of illness in turtles.
What to do:
Because there are a lot of illnesses that your pet may be suffering from taking them to a vet, or better yet a turtle vet, is the way to go.
The animal may only start to show signs of being ill once the illness is severe so take the animal to the vet as soon as you can
The vet will test the animal, diagnose it, and offer treatment to get your pet back to feeling right as rain.
In the meantime, if you suspect that your pet has a condition that you can treat, and you can’t immediately get the animal to a vet, then you can treat the animal until you can get the animal to the vet.
Brumation:
If you pick your turtle up, and it moves slightly, then the animal may be going through the reptile version of hibernation. The reptile version of hibernation is called brumation.
In this scenario, the animal will barely move for the entire cold season. Turtles do this to survive when food is scarce and temperatures are cold.
A brumating turtle will however respond to you poking it, the response will be small and slow but it will be there. Expect the animal to retract its limbs or move its head
What to do:
You don’t have to worry if your pet is going through this.
These animals, during brumation, will live off of the fat stores in their body. Their metabolism also slows down during this time so the animal won’t need much food and energy when brumating.