Poorly boy?

[Cagedanimal2010]

Hi guys bit of advise needed,
Turbos seems to not be opening her eyes compleatly and the edge of them look a bit white?
Just wondering if this is some sort of eye infection?

Thanks all in advanced.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

More likely an environment problem.
What are your temperatures : basking spot; hot side; cool side and overnight minimum ?
What substrate are you using ?
And what type of bulb for UVB ?

 

[JoesMum]

Can you post a good close up photo of your tort's eyes too please

 

[Cagedanimal2010]

So he's currently got a mix of soil, sand and coco cour. Temp is 34 under basking lamp, 27-30 in warm area, 24 in cool area, and 19 overnight.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Does look a bit swollen.
Remove the sand, it can cause impaction and maybe the eye irritant.
Is your topsoil completely chemical free ?
I'd up the temps for a bit, particularly at night.
And what type of bulb are you using ? Coiled, compact bulbs have caused many eye irritations in tortoises.

 

[JoesMum]

Sand isn't recommended for many reasons. It sticks to food an impacts in the gut, for example.

What humidity do you have. A pure coco coir substrate that is evenly damp would be safer.

 

[Yvonne G]

That is not an infection, but rather, like Tidgy's Dad said, is due to environmental problems.

You will need to research your enclosure's specifics (heat, light, substrate), and compare to what is recommended in the care sheet, and make changes ASAP. A tortoise whose eyes are swollen shut doesn't eat. If a tortoise doesn't eat, he soon gets very sick and eventually dies.

Here's a link to the care sheet, in case you haven't already seen it:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

 

[JoesMum]

Except sand is mentioned as suitable in that and we don't think it is

 

[Cagedanimal2010]

So if I went for pure coco cour that would be better than a mix? We dampen the sub strait everyday. Currently have 2 x uv&heat lamps running.

I appreciate all your input as I want the best for my little one.

I'm just a little confused by it all as nothing has changed and we've had him for 6months now.(same substrait, same food, same temps)

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

It takes time for some problems to manifest themselves in a visible way.
Coco coir on it's own would be better, in my opinion..
Keep it damp and warm and pat it down firmly to make it less messy.
Pour water directly into it and mix it in by hand.
The eyes look better in this picture.
Please, tell us, or show us which type of bulb you are using exactly, this could be critical.

 

[Cagedanimal2010]

I will change this in the morning then.
Iv got 2 100w Arcadia uv basking lamp.
Iv got them hanging over the enclosure.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Like this ?

 

[Cagedanimal2010]

Yes. Just like that.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yes. Just like that.

Good, that's fine.
But unless you have a UV meter they do need replacing every six to nine months.

 

[JoesMum]

When dampening substrate, you need to take the decor out, tip some water in and mix it all thoroughly with your hands. The result should be that all the substrate is evenly damp from top to bottom and edge to edge - no patches that are wet... or dry.

You then need to mist it a couple of times a day to slow the rate at which it dries.

After a few weeks you will need to repeat hauling out the decor to do it again. This might be 2 or 3 weeks or it may be much longer - it depends on your home.