Urgent Care :: I think my baby turtle is ill. Please help!

[bettyhurst@hotmail.com]

My Baby turtle is not eating, its been about 9 days, and now he has one eye that looks irritated. He is swimming fine so far and basking too.

We have the whole layout, heater, basking lamp, ramp,you name it. I did take the advise on putting cod liver oil on the eye. Tried several types of food, nothing temps him so far. HELP!

[PaperFeathers]

If he's not interested in the food, try to offer basic baby pellets soaked in tuna water. That tuna water really seems to get their attention (pretty much anything soaked in tuna water does).

What are you offering your turtle as far as foods go?

[bettyhurst@hotmail.com]

I am trying to get Baby to eat Repto Min Mini floating sticks, krill(sp)and baby shrimp.

Am I doing right by putting the cod liver oil on the eyes?

[missibsu]

Cod liver oil is what I have heard. How are you applying it, because you don't want to reinfect the eyes by applying directly. Are you using something like a q-tip? I agree with the tuna juice. Is your turtle new to it's setup? If so, sometimes it takes time to adjust. What is the water temp and basking temps? If the water temp isn't right, he may not be inclined to eat either. There are a list of questions to answer at the top of this forum..answering those will help us to know how to help you.

[bettyhurst@hotmail.com]

Oops! I have been putting the Cod Liver oil on its eyes. The eye almost looks like it has been scratched or something like that.

Baby is new to her setup, the water temp. is 85 deg, I don't know about the basking temp. we have a nice ramp that she is always on.

Tried soaking her mini sticks in Tuna water this morning, so far nothing.

[marisa]

How long has the turtle had the eye condition? What do you mean by the eye looking irritated? Is the one eye swollen? Is any mucus coming from it? Does the other eye appear normal? If so, if only one eye is affected and the other eye appears OK, it could be an eye infection. You might try getting some turtle drops by Zoo-Med for the eyes and rinsing the eye with that.

Did he stop eating 9 days ago, or did you just get him 9 days ago and he hasn't eaten yet? If you've just got him, an adjustment phase is possible (but 9 days without food is a rather long time). How warm is the water? Normally it should be about 78F for hatchlings, but you might bump it up to 80-81F for a bit and see if that doesn't help his appetite. The basking area should be about 10 degrees higher.

Offering smelly foods---bits of sardine or tuna packed in water as well as something that moves (cut up an earthworm) often whets the appetite and gets them eating.

Besides the lack of eating, there is no other unusual behavior at all?

[bettyhurst@hotmail.com]

She has had the eye condition for about 8 days. Tried the cod liver oil and then read that I shouldn't put it directly on the eye, which I was doing. This morning her eyes looked puffy but clear, almost like they are blistered. Have stopped putting the cod liver oil. I will buy the Zoo-Med for eyes this weekend, if she makes it, I am 100 miles from the nearest Pet Smart and Walmart doesn't carry it.

She swims alright, sometimes I have to put her in the water then she floats for awhile and it's like she realizes where she is and starts swimming. Just for a bit then she goes back on the ramp.

We have had her since June 20th and I have not seen her eat. Water is between 80 and 82. Have offered Tuna but nothing yet.

[steve]

How are you offering the food? The turtle may not want to take it from your hands and they do need to be in water to swallow. Also, the vision impairment might also discourage your turtle from eating... but keep trying those smelly foods.

[bettyhurst@hotmail.com]

I am putting the tuna in the water with her, I have even taken her out of the tank and tried to feed her in a smaller bowl, she just lays next to it.

I'll keep trying, thanks for all the info.

[steve]

I wouldn't move her around too much (in and out of different tanks) since that increases stress. She must be pretty weak... I would consider force feeding it to her, but I would try to get her to a vet first.

[marisa]

Try also bits of a cut up worm (foods that move), and if you can get some bloodworms, try them as well. I wouldn't force feed unless you knew what you were doing--it's easy for the food to go down the wrong way and your turtle could choke. A herp vet should be able to instruct you, and I would let the vet assess whether force feeding would be warranted.