Baby sulcata scratch eyes

Reptilony

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My tort almost always scratch her eyes when I soak her, is this normal? My lighting is a uvb tube 22'', a flood bulb 75w and a led white tone bulb. Substrate is dirt and reptibark, temps all good humidity 80%...
 

EllieMay

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I think it must be because one of mine does the same thing and other than that, he seems to be great... but I will be anxiously watching for the expert opinion!
 

Reptilony

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I think it must be because one of mine does the same thing and other than that, he seems to be great... but I will be anxiously watching for the expert opinion!
Yes mine also seems in good health...but often rubs its eyes and always when I soak her. Her eyes also seems alright.
 

wellington

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I have leopards. The hatchling group I had consisted of 5 babies. I never noticed them scratching their eyes.
I wonder if your lights could be too close to the torts? Possibly too bright? I only use a mvb bulb for light and it's on one end.
I see threads like this a lot. I can't honestly remember if any reason is found unless the people are using one of the coil bulbs which are not too be used. Which doesn't seem to be used here.
 

Reptilony

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I have leopards. The hatchling group I had consisted of 5 babies. I never noticed them scratching their eyes.
I wonder if your lights could be too close to the torts? Possibly too bright? I only use a mvb bulb for light and it's on one end.
I see threads like this a lot. I can't honestly remember if any reason is found unless the people are using one of the coil bulbs which are not too be used. Which doesn't seem to be used here.
I will unplug the led bulb I will see what it does but the first time I soaked her she did that(and she was in an enclosure with only one mvb too) and she did it every time and still does. When she does that her entire head goes underwater. She also looks like she's in a hurry when she does it like she do it quick a couple times. I don't see anything into her eyes either. I doubt removing the led will change much since she did not had it for a long time and was doing the same thing. Could it be dust in her eyes? Her substrate is always humid.
 

wellington

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If she did it before with just mvb then it's probably not any lights.
I have no idea. Just know we do see a lot of threads about this and it does seem to be more sullies then others.
 

EllieMay

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That is exactly what Crusher does. I use a mvb bulb and a Che. No fluorescents at all. He is gaining wait and poops & eats fine. He only does it during his soaks .
 

Reptilony

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That is exactly what Crusher does. I use a mvb bulb and a Che. No fluorescents at all. He is gaining wait and poops & eats fine. He only does it during his soaks .
Well at least im not alone...I wish I could have had an answer to this but maybe there's no explanation. I wish crusher the best and hope his eyes are just fine. Btw how old is he? Maybe they only do this up to a certain age...
 

Reptilony

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Wow mine is also 3-1/2 months! I'll keep you uptated if she stops or not and if her eyes turns out to be okay. I hope to hear from yours too.
 

Maro2Bear

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They might not be “scratching” their eyes, but are merely rubbing their face on their paws to “clean” up... i know our Sully always does this when it’s raining out,,,,when i spray down and when doing daily soaks. So, check to see if rubbing vice “scratching”.
 

EllieMay

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They might not be “scratching” their eyes, but are merely rubbing their face on their paws to “clean” up... i know our Sully always does this when it’s raining out,,,,when i spray down and when doing daily soaks. So, check to see if rubbing vice “scratching”.

I agree! Crusher does not seem bothered at all.. it’s just something he does, more like a habit....I have Pickles as well and she doesn’t do that but they both seem to be just fine..
 

EllieMay

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Wow mine is also 3-1/2 months! I'll keep you uptated if she stops or not and if her eyes turns out to be okay. I hope to hear from yours too.

Absolutely!! I started a thread a couple months ago titled Pickles and Crusher so I could monitor their growth.. I’m glad to have you to use as a comparison! I’m always worried something is wrong.. lol
 

Toddrickfl1

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My RF does the same thing everytime I spray him with the hose.
 

Reptilony

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Absolutely!! I started a thread a couple months ago titled Pickles and Crusher so I could monitor their growth.. I’m glad to have you to use as a comparison! I’m always worried something is wrong.. lol
I'll go sub to this thread and I will make mine as soon as I find a scale! Yours are both males? Gaïa is a female and doesn't seem to grow fast. In fact I barely can see a difference from when I got her.
 

EllieMay

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I'll go sub to this thread and I will make mine as soon as I find a scale! Yours are both males? Gaïa is a female and doesn't seem to grow fast. In fact I barely can see a difference from when I got her.

I don’t think you can tell the sex this early... how do you know?? when I say he or she, it’s really just a deferential technique :). I guess it will just be “the big surprise” one day In the far distant future [emoji23]
 

Reptilony

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I don’t think you can tell the sex this early... how do you know?? when I say he or she, it’s really just a deferential technique :). I guess it will just be “the big surprise” one day In the far distant future [emoji23]
The breeder told me they where incubated to be only females and that there was 1% chance they could be males. I don't know she might be wrong...I read that incubating temps determine the sex and that there is a range of temps that produce both sex.
 

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