Urgent Care :: Basking a lot(pics attached) URGENT UPDATE! ANY ADVICE.

[SpotsMama]

Have you tried putting eye drops in Mary Kate's eyes? Zoo Med makes drops - I think they are called Repi Turtle Eye Drops - that are pretty good. They have vitamin A and soothe eyes irritated by clorine or other irritants. The pet stores I go to all seem to carry them.

[Muirner]

I have not, but tomorow when i'm at school i'll be more then willing to pick some up.

[marisa]

If your turtle is rubbing briefly at her eyes when she returns to the water after basking, it could be because they have dried out a bit. Are they crusted shut at all?

[Muirner]

They dont look crusted. It just seems that she cant get it to come away as quickly or as easliy as her sister. But with a little time she does it fine. I think i'll maybe look into the drops if everyone thinks it will help.

Also one of my turtle when she wants to go under water, she seems to blow a few bubbles out right when she goes under. Is this normal? She only does it once and a while.

[marisa]

If you think she's having problems with her eyes, it probably wouldn't hurt (but only you can judge this from her behavior). I think the directions say once daily up to a week and then once weekly as a preventive measure (check the directions on the box).

The bubbles while submerging don't sound unusual to me. It sounds like air is being let out of the lungs to allow her to submerge better.

[Muirner]

Cool, thank you marisa - She only let the bubbles out once and a while.

Now say i do get the drops, and i do put them in/on her eyelid... What are some things i should watch for? Just to make sure i'm not harming her.

[marisa]

Boy, your signature line really describes you well, Muirner (but I know you're just trying to be a good turtle parent ). If you do get the drops, and her eyes were crusted shut (which you said they weren't), I'd put it on the eyelid (to uncrust the lids). I used these drops last summer when some of my painteds had eye problems and were rubbing at their eyes, and I applied the drops directly to the eyes, which helped them heal fairly quickly. I don't thing you'll harm your turtles if you used the drops as directed.

[Muirner]

Thanks marisa, i just feel bad for her. When i come home and she goes to get off her rock, it's like she has a good minute of working to get her eyes open... I feel bad. But i'm looking today, and she seemed to be doing alright. So i'm not sure, i might just hold out. She is my lil runt.

But on a good note, she does eat well, i fed her today, and even held a piece of shrimp still so she could eat it. Now they both are back to basking... Ever so piecefully, but i need to vaccum the tank and clean the dock... i'll figure something out i'm sure.

[Muirner]

Ok, so it has been a good while, and i decided not to get the drops for their eyes. I just thought it might clear up on its own, and i was just being overprotective.

Anyways, today Ashley (normally all set with the eye issue) has it with one eye today. It took a few minutes to open, and reteted "brushes" with the back of her hand. I think i'll be looking into eye drops for the both of them.

[SpotsMama]

It won't hurt them, probably will help. Spot had a spate of mild eye irritation last summer and the drops cleared it right up.

[Muirner]

Now is basking often an issue? I just read somewhere it is symptomatic of a RI, but my turtle eats, swims fine, and all that... ideas?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

some turtles just like to bask more than others.one of my turtles prefers swimming more than basking.if shes eating and swimming fine then i wouldnt worry.

[steve]

How long do they bask for? Are they alert when they bask or are they just sleeping? It's not uncommon for them to bask for long periods of time. As for the feeding issue, some are real picky eaters.

[Muirner]

As far as basking goes, they both seem to sleep on the basking rock, sometimes they will just sit and look around but mostly they sleep.

As far as eating, both are doing well and eating fine.

[Muirner]

Mary Kate always basks facing the back of the tank, any ideas on this?

Anyone that has an XP3, is your intake tube dirty? IDK what mine is but i have stuff on mine... ideas?