2979. A young couple's terrapin gasps for breath 4 days ago

July 19, 2016

This terrapin with dark green pretty squarish patterned hard shell gasped for breath 4 days ago and was hospitalised. by me. The other two in the same tank (video) were normal and did not suffer from respiratory infection. 

"It could be due to smoking by family members," Dr Daniel said.
The couple were smoking outside the surgery but they confessed they never did it in front of the tank.
"My brother did smoke near the terrapins," the husband recalled This terrapin could have inhaled the smoke and got respiratory infection or irritation.

"It is amazing that the other two terrapins are not affected," I said. After 4 days of treatment at Toa Payoh Vets, the terrapin ate and recovered. No longer open-mouthed.  

I advised no live fishes in case of parasites and removal of the small stones in the aquarium.
The terrapin no longer gasps for breath (see video) but he has to live separately from the others for one month and given antibiotics for another 7 days.

The aquarium tank is well decorated and it is a pleasure to see the 3 terrapins swimming vigorously inside the tank. The couple had changed the filters and got rid of the smaller stones. As you can see in the video, the terrapin no longer gasps.