Red Ear Slider

I have a lovely slider hatchling, Fat Fat. A month ago, Fat Fat became inactive and he could not swallow. He just spit out whatever in his month, and he was increasingly inactive. So I brought him to the vet who suspected pneumonia as she found him lopsided afloat. Fat Fat went through the treatment which included 2 rounds of antibiotics (5 injections each) (Fortum Ceftazidime), 2 shots of vitamin A (0.01 ml each) and 1 injection of fluid (1 ml). The vet also prescribed Reptoboost from Vetark, a UK brand, that is a powder mixture of glucose and maltodextrins as a 'pick-me-up'. I quarantined him as well. Fat Fat got better and was gaining weight (I could feel him heavier every day when I picked him up). He was still a bit 'dull' but had good appetite which made me relieved. However, he appears to be stressed out and tends to hide away whenever I come to see him (except when he's hungry).

Today, suddenly it seems he is losing appetite again as he spit the food I gave him (he ate some shrimps but not as many as a few days ago). I found him lopsided more seriously and gasping quite a lot. Currently I put him in a small vivarium and give him frozen brine shrimp, frozen vitamin-fortified bloodworm (both Japanese products) or dried shrimps and pellets (a Polish product, Aqua Szut) on a rotation basis (I don't see many US brands here in Hong Kong). I tried to entice him to have some greens but he is just too carnivorous. I am now giving him Reptoboost, lest he is weakening.

At the moment, he appears ok. Whether he has got pneumonia or gut problem and whether I am doing the right thing for me is being reviewed. Is there a possibility that he is born with defects that make him weak? I do not know. If the situation worsens, I probably need to bring him to the vet again.

His environment: temperature (water) about 80; room temp (daytime reaching 90 and at night 82-84). The vivarium is put beside the window with fair amount of sunshine. UVB light is installed as well. I have a heating tube but guess don't need it in summer time. The vivarium is a small one (7.5 inches (W) x 5 inches (D) and 5 inches (H)) as I separated him from his peers.