One of my baby turtles eyes are shut. When he opens them its only half way and they are all red and puffy. He has been just laying on the turtle dock basking with closed eyes and if I go by the tank he jumps into the water eyes still closed and runs into stuff. I dry docked him and he did open his eyes but as soon as he went back in the tank he went back to closing his eyes. I noticed he kind of paws at his eyes to try and open them. I have other turtles as well but they are fine. What can I do to help him get better?? I called my vet who said give it a week and it should clear up and if it doesnt then we can make an appointment. I'm worried though. Any ideas what caused this and how to remedy it??? Thanks.
Baby RES Eye Problems?? Please Help Me!
- Thread starter HB87
- Start date
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Also, to give an idea of his habitat conditions....
I have him and 2 other small RES in a 55 gallon tank. I have the water heater set at 78°. I have a Reptifilter on one side of the tank and a 60 gallon filter on the other. I have a turtle dock with heat and uvb bulbs. The uvb is a Reptisun 5.0 and the heat is a 75 watt heat bulb (got at Petsmart) I do 25% water changes twice a week and remove all waste. There is no substrate. I add ReptiSafe during the water changes. There is one aquaruim decoration for them to hang from when they rest. I also just put a few minnows in the tank last week. I have a cuttlebone calcium thing in the water also. I have fed them zoomed aquatic turtle food since I got them. Also, once a week they get dried shrimp as a treat. I have researched possible causes and found eye infection or lack of vitamin A could cause this. How do I know which it is though? Also, if I got the zoomed turtle eyedrops would that help?
I have him and 2 other small RES in a 55 gallon tank. I have the water heater set at 78°. I have a Reptifilter on one side of the tank and a 60 gallon filter on the other. I have a turtle dock with heat and uvb bulbs. The uvb is a Reptisun 5.0 and the heat is a 75 watt heat bulb (got at Petsmart) I do 25% water changes twice a week and remove all waste. There is no substrate. I add ReptiSafe during the water changes. There is one aquaruim decoration for them to hang from when they rest. I also just put a few minnows in the tank last week. I have a cuttlebone calcium thing in the water also. I have fed them zoomed aquatic turtle food since I got them. Also, once a week they get dried shrimp as a treat. I have researched possible causes and found eye infection or lack of vitamin A could cause this. How do I know which it is though? Also, if I got the zoomed turtle eyedrops would that help?
Tenochsun78
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi! How old I'd your UVB light? Have you bought eye drops??
The uvb bulb is maybe 2 weeks old. I had called a vet that sees turtles and they told me to just leave the turtle be for a week and it'd clear up most likely. Its been a few days and the little guy just lays on the turtle dock with its eyes closed. Where can i buy eye drops? i am willing to try anything. Seeing him like this is breaking my heart 
Thanks. I felt so bad about the lil guy passing. I gave my turtles to a girl who works at my vets office who has turtles of her own. Maybe turtles arent meant for me and i didnt want to risk the other babies or my larger turtle getting sick and going through what the one lil one did.
and i didnt want to risk the other babies or my larger turtle getting sick and going through what the one lil one did.
Nomadu571
Aquarium Advice FINatic
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Are you using a compact UVB or tube? There is some debate on the older models causing eye problems, which repisun and exoterra gave both "fixed" one.
Nomadu571
Aquarium Advice FINatic
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That is the compact version of the bulb. I think you were just unlucky, I don't think it's a mark on your title keeping abilities.
The problems with these bulbs were meant to have been sorted but as said a hot debate rages on about the effect of compacts on eyes. It could have been a factor for sure but we will never know. It's a shame you lost him, and a shame your not continuing keeping.
The problems with these bulbs were meant to have been sorted but as said a hot debate rages on about the effect of compacts on eyes. It could have been a factor for sure but we will never know. It's a shame you lost him, and a shame your not continuing keeping.
Tenochsun78
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Omg haven't been on in a few days. So sorry to hear! I know it doesn't help now but Zoo Med carries eye drops and supplements can be bought at any reptile store or online. I don't know about petsmart or Pj's but I never recommend those companies because of their complete lack of ethic's.
I didnt know if it was something i caused so i didnt want to risk losing the other guys plus im still crushed that the lil guy passed i spent alot of money to ensure they were happy and well taken care of and i feel like i failed them...
I had talked to my vet and he said not to try and self treat it. He said leave it be for a week and then bring it in if it didnt clear up so i didnt buy the eye drops. I wish i had though just in case it would have helped
i spent alot of money to ensure they were happy and well taken care of and i feel like i failed them... I had talked to my vet and he said not to try and self treat it. He said leave it be for a week and then bring it in if it didnt clear up so i didnt buy the eye drops. I wish i had though just in case it would have helped
Tenochsun78
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
HB87 said:I didnt know if it was something i caused so i didnt want to risk losing the other guys plus im still crushed that the lil guy passed
I had talked to my vet and he said not to try and self treat it. He said leave it be for a week and then bring it in if it didnt clear up so i didnt buy the eye drops. I wish i had though just in case it would have helped
Sounds like you did all you could. You took the poor little guy to the vet ( which most people wouldn't for a turtle)
The "professional" told you to wait out for a week. Like most people you followed the advice of your vet. Don't beat yourself up, you cared, you took action..... What more could you have done?
I know you're right. I did do all i could and i helped the lil guy as much as i could. I just feel bad that despite trying my best to do everything right i couldnt save him. Maybe once i'm not so upset i will try agian keeping turtles.. Maybe it was just a coincidence, an unfortunate one. Thank you guys for responding and caring. I appreciate it.
Tenochsun78
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Don't give up!
Nomadu571
Aquarium Advice FINatic
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Yeah don't give up, turtles are amazing creatures and are very rewarding life long friends. If we gave up after one fish death we would mostly all be without fish. Lol.
As said previously you did all you could, your obviously caring, so I'm sure your turtles appreciated you while you had them.
As said previously you did all you could, your obviously caring, so I'm sure your turtles appreciated you while you had them.
Okay... I wont give up
I did get the turtles from TurtleShack and had read mixed reviews. My turtles were healthy except the eye problem with the one lil one. I took them to be vet checked a week after i got them just to make sure. Maybe i will order from a different breeder though when i do try agian. Im just leary of something like this happening agian. :-/
I did get the turtles from TurtleShack and had read mixed reviews. My turtles were healthy except the eye problem with the one lil one. I took them to be vet checked a week after i got them just to make sure. Maybe i will order from a different breeder though when i do try agian. Im just leary of something like this happening agian. :-/
Tenochsun78
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Do you have a rescue society where you live? Not sure what store that is I don't have it here. Do you have kijiji or craigs list? I got my slider in a ma&pa china town style aquarium store they had him in a 20 gallon tank with 2" of dirty nasty water. He had a bite out of his nuchal scute or had some traumatic force there???who knows! His eye had a thin film over it!
So I put him in a 75g; gave him wicked lighting (very important) basking, deep water, good heater superior filtering and he literally became better in a week!! Really a week! So don't beat yourself up about the week thing!!
You should try to rescue if you want another stay away from breeders!! Turtles require a lot of care that the common person can not provide and breeders are indiscriminate on who they sell to and contribute to an overwhelming problem.
So I put him in a 75g; gave him wicked lighting (very important) basking, deep water, good heater superior filtering and he literally became better in a week!! Really a week! So don't beat yourself up about the week thing!!
You should try to rescue if you want another stay away from breeders!! Turtles require a lot of care that the common person can not provide and breeders are indiscriminate on who they sell to and contribute to an overwhelming problem.
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