Urgent Care :: baby turtle refuse to open eyes

[sKeL`]

I had my baby turtles for like 2 days now, and i noticed one of them tends to 'sleep' a lot. Even when i picked it up, it just move its limb, head a little and occasionally open its mouth a little, but still refusing to open its eyes.

Pls advice. Thanks

[marisa]

Welcome. What kind of set-up do you have for them? What is the water temp and basking area temp? (Water temp should be 78F for a healthy hatchling, basking area temp 10 degrees higher.)

Is there any mucus coming from the nose or mouth?

Are the lids swollen? If so, he can't open his eyes. Even though you recently got them, if the turtle has been like this since then, it would be good to separate him from the other and give him his own set-up, with the temps a little warmer (water at 82F, basking area 90F). Warmth revs up the inmmune system and helps him fight infection, which it's likely he has.

On the chance the eyes are closed due to a Vit A deficiency, get some plain cod liver oil, put a little on a q-tip and apply it on the eyelid once or twice a day.

Try to get him eating with some food that he can smell (since he can't see) like bits of tuna or sardine. Hold a bit of it in front of his nose in the water and see if he'll try to take some of it. Don't just do it once and stop. Try again another time, keep trying. If he stays out of the water for long periods of time, you could get some Pedialyte (at a pharmacy), and mix some of it 50/50 with water and put him in it. It will provide electrolytes he needs if he's dehydrated.