Urgent Care :: I think Patric has an Eye infection?

[Jlynn810]

How big is your turtle? about 1 1/2 inchs long
How long have you had it? 1 Day

What is the water temperature? 78 degrees
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? about 4 inch
Are you using a water conditioner? No
Are you using any filtration? Yes

What is the basking temperature? Unsure
Is there a basking light? I have a standard fish tank light and they are near a window
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Fish Gravle and Medium size stones
Is there a UVB light? No, but Im going to get one today

What have you been trying to feed it? Vit-Enriched Turtle Pellets & Romane Lettuce
When was the last time your turtle ate? Last night

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20 gallons
Is the tank near a window? Yes
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Medium

Have you read the Basic Care section? Some
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Just this one

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Yes

I have 3 baby RES's I just got them last night, they were a beautiful Christmas gift from my BF. First I want to say I am outraged by the so called "adoption site" he got them from but I will post about that else where. My Concern is that One of my turtles eyes (both eyes) don't look good. I am not sure when their eyes fully open? They are very small. But the other two seem to be fine. However Patrics eyes look like they are always closed. I can occasionally see a small bit of pupil, but mostly it looks like skin over them. Does Patric have an eye infection? I read this may be common with baby RES's and that I should increase their Vitamin A. Well what foods should I give them to accomplish that? Does Patric need to see a herp. Dr? Thanks to anyone for Information that could help my new additons. [/b]

[marisa]

Their eyes are fully open when they hatch. (They're not like kittens or puppies.) Are Patric's eyes closed when he's basking or also in the water? Does he rub at them?

Does Patric have any other symptoms besides the closed eyes? Are they swollen? Does he breath with his mouth open when he's out of the water? Is there any liquid/mucus coming from his nose or mouth. Is Patric eating well? Is he active?

If the eyes are closed and swollen, it could be due to a vit A deficiency, the start of a respiratory infection, the result of an eye irritant or an eye infection (since both eyes are closed, I would think the latter would be less likely). It could also be a combination of two or more of these things.

Taking Patric to a herp vet would be good. In the meantime, it would also be good to separate Patric from the others and keep him a little warmer (water 80-81F, basking area temp 90F. ( You need to find out the basking area temp of your tank as well---get a thermometer and check it so you know what it is).
There's a post with links to herp vets near the top of the forum if you don't know of any.)

Eating foods with beta carotene (carrots, pumpkin, red bell peppers, etc.) are a safe way for turtles to get Vit A. Hatchlings/baby turtles are often not interested in them, however. (But you could try bits of carrots.) You could also get some cod liver oil (capsules), break one and apply a little to the eye lids once or twice a day. If it is a Vit A deficiency, it will help. There are also eye drops by Zoo-Med you could try. They would help if there is some irritation in the eye.

I would, however, take him to a herp vet.

[Muirner]

would the mucuas be visible easily marisa? Ashley dosent have any of that, but sense the passing of her sister, she has been less active, and basking a lot. i know i'm not going to get a immediate change but do you think that bumping my temps, and looking into feeding foods with beta carotene, will help here...

I also may look into the eye drops because it seems her right eye is more open then the left, but neither are wide eyed. And she even had that shot... hmmmm...

[Jlynn810]

His eyes are always closed, and they are swollen. Id even describe them as mucusy. He does not breath with his mouth open though. In fact Ive never seen him open his mouth & I dont think he has eaten. There is no other mucus anywhere else. He mostly basks, but I have ocasionally see him fully submerged and swimming.

Its Saturday and the Vets I called where closed. Im taking him first thing Mon. In the mean time I got the Cod liver Oil. I just put it on his eyes and he wipes it off. But I hope it helps anyway. We'll see. The guy at the Pet store mentioned though that the Vet may take my turtles away. He says their illeagle. But Im taking him anyway because Id rather see him healthy. I'll keep the forum posted with any information I can about his eyes. Or information that could be helpful to others.

[JaxFloridaBabyGirl28]

Why would the vet take them away, it is illegal to sell a turtle under four inches but it is not illegal to own them from what I read up on them so far, so I dont understand why they would take them away from you. I hope that your turtle starts to feel better, mine also has an eye infection and Im using the turtle eye drops for now and if hes not better in a week then I have to take him to the vet also. I believe my two turtles are either 4 inches or a little over that, but I didnt buy mine either they were given to me by a friend cause her husband is getting restationed and they cant take them with them, where they are going, my husband and I, will be stationed here for the next four years and Im pretty sure that anywhere we go we can take them, we have too many dependents to get stationed overseas, so I guess thats a good thing, hope things work out for you and goodluck!

[cam722]

The guy at the Pet store mentioned though that the Vet may take my turtles away. He says their illeagl

As said by JaxFloridaBabyGirl, they are illegal to sell not to own. There shouldn't be a problem or fear that the vet will take them away. The only thing is that maybe the guy at the pet store was concerned about is if you bought them for the store he works at ..

[Jlynn810]

Well I hope that is the case. I love my new additions and I'd hate to see them go. They were not purchased at the pet store however. My BF got them online. If any of you have info. on how or where I might report this particular site I'd really love to know. My 3 turtles were sent 1 day shipping by UPS. Upon arrivle we had missed the UPS guy twice, so they were in the back of a truck all day. Finally about 8:45pm we were allowed to pick them up at the UPS. A guy walks out and slams a completely tapped up box on the counter sidways and calls our last name. I was immediatly devestated. No where on the box did it say "Live Animals" the lady at the counters Jaw dropped when we told her there where turtles inside. She said "UPS doesnt even ship animals, its illegal. Im sorry to tell you this but your turtles have been through hell today" We open the box right then and there. All 3 were stuffed into a plastic butter container, with a damp paper towle in the middle. Killian is missing his tail and Patric has an eye infection. I guess we're lucky they're still alive. Along with the Adotion Cert. is a note congradulating you on your purchase and the offer for a 1 free RES w/ your next order. I feel just horrible about it. My only comfort is knowing that those 3 little guys made it to a good home

[flutterby]

oh no those poor babies, they are so lucky to be alive.

[Muirner]

Oh Jlynn - that is horrible. Freaking UPS. I'd deffentally call that site, (or pm me the site address) and let them know what they did was wrong and inhumane. I dont understand how something like this goes unknowticed. It's freaking rediculus.

Good to hear that they are at least outa the box and doing ok.

[cam722]

Oh Jlynn - that is horrible. Freaking UPS. I'd deffentally call that site, (or pm me the site address) and let them know what they did was wrong and inhumane. I dont understand how something like this goes unknowticed. It's freaking rediculus.

Good to hear that they are at least outa the box and doing ok.

Unfortunately it wasn't UPS's fault it was the shippers for not marking the package correctly. This is just another lesson in why we shouldn't buy our turtles online. Often they arrive so sick that they never have a chance of making it.

[Jlynn810]

The site is turtlesale [not reputable], my BF & I would never have gotten them there had we known better. We are new turtle parents and apparently did NOT do enough reseach. If feel so bad, Patric has become extreamly lethargic, he barley moves. It makes me feel that people shouldnt even own undomesticated animals and that they're better off left to their natural homes. Im devestated

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Wow thats so horrible,take them all to a vet and get them the right stuff they need.This site has EVERYTHING you need to know.But damn that just pisses me off..thats so wrong of them to do that.You should definitley report them they can get in REALY BIG trouble for what they or whoever did that to those poor little turtles.