CONTRIBUTOR(S): Siuna Ann Reid, Kirsty Dewhurst,
Nutritional diseases in terrapins
Nutritional diseases in terrapins
Nutritional diseases are caused by an incorrect diet. They can occur if fed too much or too little of the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed to maintain good health. Nutritional disease is commonly seen in terrapins, but it is preventable.
Swollen eyes in a terrapin with vitamin A deficiency
©Siuna Reid
What can a poor diet cause?
Malnutrition is the result of an incorrect diet; this can either be too much food or not enough.
It is vital your terrapin is kept at the correct temperature to help the stomach and small intestine absorb all the nutrients from his food. Your terrapin’s vivarium temperature should be warmer during the day and cooler at night. The vivarium should have a warmer and a cooler end to allow your terrapin to control his temperature. A basking spot on the land part of the vivarium is advised to help him warm up when needed. Your terrapin also needs a good source of UV light to help his body absorb calcium from the intestine. Ensure the UV light is placed 30-45 cm away from the terrapins basking spot. Make sure you feed a varied diet to your terrapin.
Most cases of malnutrition need veterinary attention.
What about vitamin and mineral deficiencies?
Vitamin A is needed to keep the inside of the mouth, the eyes and the kidneys working. Lack of this vitamin can cause thickening of the eyelids and can also lead to kidney failure.
Vitamin D3 and calcium are needed to keep your terrapin’s bones strong and his muscles active. An insufficiency will lead to the bones and shell becoming soft and bendy. A common method of increasing the amount of calcium in the body is to dust the food with calcium powder.
Keeping your terrapin at the correct temperature helps his stomach and small intestine to absorb all the nutrients from his food. Your terrapin needs a good source of UV light to help his body absorb calcium from the intestine. Make sure you feed a varied diet to your terrapin.
If your terrapin has a nutritional disease he may need to visit the veterinarian for vitamin possible hospitalization so he can receive assisted feeding and vitamin treatments to help him recover. If the disease is severe your terrapin may require a feeding tube.