Itchy/swollen eyes?

[ub3rsh00]

Okay, so ever since I've had turtle, sometimes his eyes would puff out after putting him back from feeding, or after a bath, or sometimes just when he is laying on his basking rock. They aren't red and swollen, like I've seen with most cases on this forum when I do some digging. They're more.. White, i guess? I'll try to get a picture up as soon as i can. Sometimes he also rubs them with his 'elbows'. I'm thinking probably a vet check up, but I don't even know if any place in rochester services reptiles.. (PS: So if anyone who reads this is from rochester NY, let me know of a place that does)
Just wondering if anyone here has the answer for that..? I'm gonna make a few phone calls to hopefully find a place that has enough experience to at least look at him.. As a last resort I might even try the zoo. Thanks again.

 

[wellington]

A possibility is coil bulbs. Are you using any of them? If so, get rid of them. They have been and still are known to cause eye problems.

 

[Yvonne G]

If not the coil shaped bulb, then maybe your UVB light is too close to the tortoise??? ...or the substrate is irritating the eyes?

 

[ub3rsh00]

It's not a coil shaped bulb, and its a good 12-18 inches above the rock. Substrate is coco coir mixed with top soil (without the additives). I did get ahold of a vet who services, but doesnt specialize in, reptiles. It's an hour drive on the thru-way. But, i've made the appt for a checkup/physical for thursday at 11am. If they can't find/fix the problem they're gonna refer me to a specialist. The things I do for my tort. Being a broke college kid and all. Lucky guy. I just hope he ends up being okay, that's all that really matters to me.

 

[wellington]

Does he have any humidity? An adult will benefit from about 30%. Also, try giving him a couple warm soaks over the next couple days. Maybe just too dry. Hope it clears before you need to spend the bucks on a vet, but if not, glad you are doing the right thing and getting him checked over. Hope all goes well either way.

 

[ub3rsh00]

He gets his soaks for 30 mins on Sunday and Wednesdays, his humidity changes anywhere from 0-40 all the time, even if I add water to the corners. I have trouble keeping it constant so I'm thinking about spray misting.

 

[wellington]

You probably have already done this, just trying to think of things. Have you looked real close to make sure he doesn't have some substrate stuck in his eye? Also, maybe try carefully pouring warm water over his eyes, to try and flush them out a little. That all I can think of. Good luck.

 

[WillTort2]

Your humidity swing is too extreme. Try making one side of your enclosure a more moist side. Add warm water and mix the substrate to create a more moist side.

When I do this my Russians show great curiosity and want to climb into the trench I did as part of the mixing process. I let him climb around in one end of the trench as I finish mixing the other end. I figure his desire to explore is some what sated and the exercise is good for him. My male Russians always seem to be more curious than my females unless it relates to food.

Good luck!

 

[hunterk997]

(PS: So if anyone who reads this is from rochester NY, let me know of a place that does)

There is a vet that specializes in reptiles in Victor, NY. I took my tortoise there and he seems very knowledgeable.
Storybook Farm
(In case you do need a vet visit)
And apparently, it's only 20 minutes out of Rochester.

 

[ub3rsh00]

Yes, victor is only 20 mins from me, I'll call the vet tomorrow and see if they can help me, if they can, I'll cancel the other appt. Thanks for the info! Also. I managed to snap some pictures today. He got some substrate in his eyes, so rinsed his head, and, of course, as soon as I put him back in the tank, I get the eye thing. I'll post pics of the light, the swelling eyes, and the normal eyes. The first three: Swelling. They are only like that for 10 minutes or so. Give or take. They aren't red like the pic shows, that's just my iPhone. They're white. Here's his normal eyes.
And here's the light. When you say coil, do you mean the shape of the bulb itself? Or the inside?

 

[ascott]

How long have you had the tort? Where did you acquire the tort from? What type of diet to you offer the tort?

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

By coil light, the reference is to those “compact florescent" lights. The light you have seems fine.
Is your substrate dusty? To my untrained eye, this looks like an irritant to me. And I'm sorry, it's late so I just looked at the recent pictures you put up and earlier I'd read the first bit.

 

[ub3rsh00]

@Ascott: Since December 28 2013, From petco,
Kale, dandelion, spring mix.

@Cowboy:
Haha it's fine, I agree with It being an irritant and not a health condition. He's fine if he goes under the light while he's been in his tank, it's just when I put him back.

 

[ascott]

Here are some things I would do/try;

Make sure the substrate is at least 5-6 inches deep, and make sure you pack that substrate down firmly with your hand (you may need to initially wet the substrate to allow it to pack down, this will also offer some humidity)...if the humidity is elevated initially, I would make sure that the temps don't drop below 80 night or day--when the humidity stabilizes to where you want it then you can decide what temps to keep what parts at...

I would cover at least 3/4 of the top (leaving the light/heat elements unaffected so that they can be effective..this will allow for some warmth and humidity to even out and remain in the enclosure..

I would get a small squeeze bottle (clean and not used previously with anything chemical) and fill it with warm water, then gently flush the torts eyes (gently)...and would do this a couple times a day for a few days to see if any improvement..

Just a few things I would try...I would guess that the eyes are a bit dry and irritated....they don't look sickly, just irritated.

 

[ub3rsh00]

okay so after I originally posted, turtles eyes have stopped getting irritated. However, just within the past week, they've started doing it again. And now it just happened again in his soak. His humidity has been kept between 30-40 ever since, and I think he might be constipated. I don't know why he's struggling considering I'm doing everything correctly. So any help with both the eyes and constipation would be nice. Thanks again.