Eye Problem

J5Ney

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Apr 27, 2017
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Hello. I am having some troubles with my 10 year old, Russian tortoise, Edgar. His eye is puffed up and he cannot really open it. The only time he does open it is when I hold him or soak him. When he does, there is a small white spot in there, it almost looks like dead skin. Another problem is that I live in Upstate NY and there aren't any vets around here that specialize in reptiles. Is there anything that I can do myself for him? Please help!!
 

JoesMum

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Hello and welcome :)

What type of UVB lamp are you using?

Compact CFL bulbs that look like low energy light bulbs often cause eye problems in torts. They look like this
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1493332367.863552.jpg
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1493332379.271871.jpg

If you have a compact bulb them switch it off and leave it off. Your tort will come to no harm without UVB for a few days.

Compact UVB should be replaced with a long tube UVB and continue using a separate basking bulb - or you can use a Mercury Vapour Bulb (MVB) that replaces both your basking and UVB bulb.

Photos of your enclosure and lighting will help us to spot any other potential causes.

We also need to know the 4 important temperatures in the enclosure: directly under the basking lamp, warm side, cool side and overnight minimum

If you can get a good close up photo of the eye then that would help too.
 
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JoesMum

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Another thought. Did this tort hibernate? If so, is there any chance the frost got to it? That can cause eye problems too
 

J5Ney

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Another thought. Did this tort hibernate? If so, is there any chance the frost got to it? That can cause eye problems too
No, my tort did not hibernate. There could be a chance frost got to him though now that I think of it. The night UV light blew about 2 weeks ago and I haven't gotten a new one. My father, (I'm 15) told me that it was probably warm enough with the heat on in the house for him. I am just using a normal UV light sold at my local pet store, I cannot think of the name at this time.
 

ZidaoW

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Apr 23, 2017
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No, my tort did not hibernate. There could be a chance frost got to him though now that I think of it. The night UV light blew about 2 weeks ago and I haven't gotten a new one. My father, (I'm 15) told me that it was probably warm enough with the heat on in the house for him. I am just using a normal UV light sold at my local pet store, I cannot think of the name at this time.
I don't think frost would form inside your house
 

SarahChelonoidis

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What do you mean by night uv light? You shouldn't have visible or uv light at night, only during the day. Do you mean a heat lamp?
 

JoesMum

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No, my tort did not hibernate. There could be a chance frost got to him though now that I think of it. The night UV light blew about 2 weeks ago and I haven't gotten a new one. My father, (I'm 15) told me that it was probably warm enough with the heat on in the house for him. I am just using a normal UV light sold at my local pet store, I cannot think of the name at this time.
I think we need photos here

"Normal UV" doesn't tell me anything. Is it a long tube or a short bulb?
Does it only give out UVB or does it also give out heat?
 
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