One eye wont open

Chelseyrf

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Help please
I have a baby sulcata up until 2 days ago he was perfrctly fine and now one eye wont open
Im not sure whats going on see pictures
Any advice would be amazing

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"I suspect your sulcata tortoise can't -- not won't -- open his eyes. Eyelids swollen shut are often a result of vitamin A deficiency. The liver stores vitamin A in the hatchling. As the body uses it up, the hatchling tortoise may show signs of hypovitaminosis A if the nutrient is not replenished in the diet."-- Reptiles Magazine
Could this be the cause?
 

KronksMom

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You could try baby food carrot soaks. Mix carrot baby food 50/50 with warm water, then do exactly what you would if you were giving him a regular bath. Warm it up to about 90 degrees, fill a dish up to where his two shells meet, put the entire thing in his enclosure so it stays warm, then let him sit in it for about half an hour. Try that for a couple days. Even if he doesn't eat any, he'll absorb it.
 

Chelseyrf

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"I suspect your sulcata tortoise can't -- not won't -- open his eyes. Eyelids swollen shut are often a result of vitamin A deficiency. The liver stores vitamin A in the hatchling. As the body uses it up, the hatchling tortoise may show signs of hypovitaminosis A if the nutrient is not replenished in the diet."-- Reptiles Magazine
Could this be the cause?
Im unsure its only the one eye that wont open and I went a little crazy with his food options so he has alfalfa hay, mazuri pellets, some land tortoise plend that looks like poop and some Faulkner's tortoise food
I also give him dandelion
Romaine lettuce and occasionally carrots
 
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Im unsure its only the one eye that wont open and I went a little crazy with his food options so he has alfalfa hay, mazuri pellets, some land tortoise plend that looks like poop and some Faulkner's tortoise food
I also give him dandelion
Romaine lettuce and occasionally carrots
Yeah, I was just putting it out there, I would do the soak people are recommending. Best of luck!
P.S.
Your tortoise is so cute!
 

Chelseyrf

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You could try 30 min soaks (1/2 warm water1/2 carrot baby food) a couple times a day for a few days and see if that helps . Also might be an irritation.. what are u using for substrate?
Ive been using the coconut coir for his substrate. Im going to try the carrot baby food bath. He seems to be a really picky eater
 

Markw84

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Since its just one eye there are a few likely scenarios.

It may have scratched its eye on substrate or something in the enclosure to irritate it. The eye looks crusted over a bit, but not toally like an abrasion injury.

So - It looks like cunjuctivitis where the inner eyelid is inflamed. This could be from a scrach, but also could be from getting too close to a UVB producing bulb. What type of UVB bulb do you have and can we see how it is placed in relation to where the tortoise has access to bask under it? How far away is it?

That is a very young tortoise. Probably 2 weeks old. It needs lots of warmth and constant humidity at this stage to start its life properly. Be sure to read the care sheet pinned to the top of the sulcata section.

 

Chelseyrf

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"I suspect your sulcata tortoise can't -- not won't -- open his eyes. Eyelids swollen shut are often a result of vitamin A deficiency. The liver stores vitamin A in the hatchling. As the body uses it up, the hatchling tortoise may show signs of hypovitaminosis A if the nutrient is not replenished in the diet."-- Reptiles Magazine
Could this be the cause?
I try to feed him a wide variety ive even bought multiple blends and hays he just seems to be really picky
 

Markw84

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why do you have 2 identical posts going? I responded to the other one:


And... this would not be a vitamin A deficiency. First only affecting one eye. But most importantly with leafy greens loaded with vit A tortoises extremely rarely will have a vit A deficiency unless they have a terrible diet. Aquatic turtles have this issue very commonly with a Vit A deficiency because of their carnivorous/insectivorous diets and reluctance to eat greens. So even some vets jump to the Vit A deficiency with tortoises and it is totally unfounded.
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Hes still tiny.. not likely to eat hay yet.. stick to some good greens (endive, chicory, escarole) mixed with safe weeds and tender grass from ur yard. Also coco coir is pretty messy.. i would go with orchid bark or cypress mulch. Good luck!
 

Yvonne G

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If this baby is eating, I wouldn't use the carrot baby food soaks. That's just for an animal that doesn't eat.
 
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