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I have two very messy, 1 year old, RES so I decided that I would begin using a product called Turtle Clean. I cleaned my aquarium before hand (I was in desperate need of a water change), and then added the correct amount of the product. After I got my tank up and ready to go I put my babies back in the tank. After a few minutes I noticed that both of the turtles were scratching at their eyes and acting as if they were irritated. I was just wondering if anyone had had similar problems? I don't know what to do! Sad This type of behavior has never happened before and I'm not sure what to do. I removed both the turtles when I saw that they were getting irritated and placed them in travel carriers for the night while the tank could cycle, but other than that I have done nothing. Any suggestions?

I've used Turtle Clean in the past with no adverse effects.

What did you use to clean the tank? When you filled the tank, did you use a water conditioner to remove the chlorine?

I did not use anything to clean the tank I rinsed it out with warm water and then let the tank air dry outside. I also did not use any sort of water conditioner. In the past I have never used anything to condition the water. My turtles have never been irritated in the past. This is something that has never happened before. I did nothing different today than what I have done in the past except for adding the turtle clean. We do however, have some conditioner that we use for our fish tank, with 3 full grown guppies and their many babies. I believe if is called Aquasafe. I could add that tonight if you think that it would help. I'm really worried about my turtles. We do not have a vet any where close that could possibly help the turtles if something was wrong and I want to fix the problem now since I noticed it instead of prolonging this and making it an awful ordeal.

Try not to double post, I replied in your other post.

I think it's most likely that chlorine in the water has irritated your turtles' eyes. I would put in the dechlorinator. Even if you've never had any previous problems, it's possible that your water source randomly changed their treatment of water. I've noticed that every January our water gets extra chlorine-tasting, and dissipates over time.

Sorry about the double post, I was just really worried about my babies. I'm an avid pet lover and when ever something happens to even the smallest of my pets I just freak.

Thanks for the advice, I will try adding a dechlorinator to see if that makes any difference.

For mild eye irritation, a good product is Turtle Eye Drops by Zoo Med. You can usually find it in the reptile section of the pet store. Just follow directions on the box.

To rid water of chlorine, you can either use the conditioner or let the water stand for 24 hours (the cholorine will evaporate). However, if your municipality treats water with chloramine, please be advised that it won't evaporate and the only way to get rid of it is with a conditioner.

I'll go ahead and lock the second post.

By the way, have you by chance gotten a new UVB light bulb recently?

No, no new bulbs. Like I said I have changed anything but adding the Turtle Clean to the water.

i would definitely use the zoo med turtle eye drops. a while back my turtle had closed swollen eyes from a bad UVB bulb i had just bought. after a week of putting 2 drops in each eye, it was all cleared up and it never happened again. i also use the turtle clean, and i have never had a problem with it. i know you said you followed the instructions on it, but maybe you put in a little too much. i think it's more than likely the chlorine in the water. a good water conditioner that i use is reptisafe. good luck! hope all works out

I'd stop using Turtle Clean as well. There has been mixed reports here, and I'd skip something that isn't deemed a necessity.

I agree with Turtlebiz about the Reptisafe, we use it every water change and its great. As far as turtle waste products, we use Turtle Clean as well. Did you find that its not a good product? My turtle occasionally wipes his eyes like that, but its usually due to the chlorine, as everyone else has said.

I've heard digestive problems related to the Turtle Clean -- I think someone was suspecting it might have affected waste in the bowels.

I agree that I think it was the excess chlorine in the water causing your turtles' eye irritation. A dechlorinator like ReptiSafe can help remove the chlorine safely & quickly.

I have used turtle clean in the past with no adverse effects. It helped break down my turtle's very large wastes (I have an adult RES & her poop tends to be very large!).