Worried about Miriam :-(

[Lori P]

Guys... I'm worried about little Miriam. She is just so... sluggish lately. She ate two small guppies over the weekend, but only because I dangled them in front of her. She doesn't hunt anymore... she was the one who used to only eat live fish out of the water, and would hunt them like crazy. She doesn't bother now. She was in this spot when I left this morning, and she's still there tonite. She's so tiny... does she look thin to you guys? Can you tell from this pic? She just seems... lethargic. She does nto eat regularly, but I think the longest she's ever gone is 3 weeks and that's been a few months.

Could she just be slow for the winter?? She wasn't interested in eating this morning, but hopefully by the weekend I can get a couple minnows into her.

She just worries me... she used to be rpetty skittish and lately she doesn't even run when I reach in the tank. I don't handle her, I just mean when I reach in to feed or change water.

[Sputnik]

Lori, does she react at all when you put your hand near her? When you say she's been in this position all day.. has she even moved her head?

[Lori P]

Um. I don't know. I haven't tried. OMG, is she dead??? I don't want to look!!!! :-( :-( Ok... let me go see...

[Lori P]

Ok, she moved. But I actually had to touch her before she moved, and then she didn't dart away, she just moved away.

[Sputnik]

She doesn't look too happy, no. But I'm glad she moved.
Do you think she's warm enough?

[Stefan-A]

Try picking her up. Does she seem limp or weak, or does she still have strength in her muscles?

That's how I eventually realized something was very wrong with my parietalis male.

[Lori P]

The temp in there now, where she is, is 74 F. That's the normal night time temp, and during the day there's a basking spot of 80. What do you think??

[Sid]

Lori, wish I had some good advice for you. Her body weight looks pretty good in the photo. Do think I would raise the temp a few degrees and see if it helps.

[Lori P]

Stefan, she is limp and weak. She didn't resist when I picked her up and while she did raise her body up in my hand, it was slow. She just felt weak.

I am raising the temp now... it's up to 78...

[Elliot]

I don't know what to add to what has already been said, but good luck.