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- Mar 16, 2013
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My baby girl seems sick. Her one eye isn't. Opening. I gave her a warm bath to help but nothing yet. She is eating normal. Any suggestions?
Sick redfooted tortoise
- Thread starter redfootedmama
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When an eye won't open, it sometimes means the tortoise is being kept too dry. Can you describe your habitat conditions and lightling?
Need more information here. Tell us about your enclosure. Especially your humidity.
I was just about to post the same thing. My baby redfoot seems to be having trouble opening his eyes. I tried to feed him and he went to hide, and after awhile, came back out with one eye opened, but one eye closed.
I usually keep the humidity pretty high except for one spot directly below the heat lamps which can get really hot, but its necesscary to warm the rest of the enclosure.
I gave him a bath and his eyes popped right open and he drank a bunch, haha. Maybe keep trying to bathe your tort?
I usually keep the humidity pretty high except for one spot directly below the heat lamps which can get really hot, but its necesscary to warm the rest of the enclosure.
Ryuu2713 said:
I gave him a bath and his eyes popped right open and he drank a bunch, haha. Maybe keep trying to bathe your tort?
Just to run through some possibilities, in no particular order-
- Low humidity, although a good soak should have taken care of this.
- Sticky eye, again a soak should have loosened it up, but it may take a swipe with a Q-tip with warm water and a tiny dab of something like baby shampoo plain hand soap.
- Infection in the eye. Any signs of swelling, discharge, pus, discoloration, etc.? Many common infections and viruses can cause this sort of thing, including respiratory infections and herpesvirus.
- Injury to the eye. Similar questions as above.
- Diet issue. While vitamin A is usually blamed, it is not common in tortoises but an inadequate diet can cause a lot of issues, either as a primary cause or by weakening the animal for other infections.
- Low humidity, although a good soak should have taken care of this.
- Sticky eye, again a soak should have loosened it up, but it may take a swipe with a Q-tip with warm water and a tiny dab of something like baby shampoo plain hand soap.
- Infection in the eye. Any signs of swelling, discharge, pus, discoloration, etc.? Many common infections and viruses can cause this sort of thing, including respiratory infections and herpesvirus.
- Injury to the eye. Similar questions as above.
- Diet issue. While vitamin A is usually blamed, it is not common in tortoises but an inadequate diet can cause a lot of issues, either as a primary cause or by weakening the animal for other infections.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
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I bought her a humidifier and I am going to try more long baths for a few days. Hope this helps. My in closure was very low humidity.
That should help. Keep us updated. Daily warm soaks are recommended. Good luck
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