Tortoise eyes!

[Dolorus]

Hi tortoise lovers. I'm new to the forum and new to owning a beautiful horsefeild called dolorus. I'm wondering if it's normal for her to have a white film round her eyes? I'm thinking that maybe she's being kept too dry!? She arrived at mine like this and with a bumpy, pyramiding shell. Any help would be massively appreciated. I have a feeling I need to fully change her set up since she currently doesn't have a humid hide or the correct bedding.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings..

It might initially help to give your new tort some nice long warm water soaks to get it fully hydrated.

Heres some great Care info.

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Good luck n happy torting

 

[Dolorus]

Greetings..

It might initially help to give your new tort some nice long warm water soaks to get it fully hydrated.

Heres some great Care info.

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Good luck n happy torting

Hi and thanks for your reply. I've been soaking her daily. She only soaks for 10mins at a time before trotting out again but she seems to enjoy it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hello, and welcome to the Forum!

You'll need to soak your new baby in a small bowl with tall sides that he can't climb out of. Also, moisten the substrate slightly. It looks to me like your baby's eyes are squinty (not open all the way). What kind of light are you using?

 

[Dolorus]

Hello, and welcome to the Forum!

You'll need to soak your new baby in a small bowl with tall sides that he can't climb out of. Also, moisten the substrate slightly. It looks to me like your baby's eyes are squinty (not open all the way). What kind of light are you using?

Hi. I'm using a 12% UVB strip light (I think T5) and I have a 100w basking bulb with a dome over it. I think I'll change the substrate too since she's currently on soil/sand. Could that be affecting her eyes?

 

[Yvonne G]

Sometimes sand acts as an eye irritant, yes. No way for us to know. The light is ok, that's what I THOUGHT might be the problem. After you change the substrate, moisten it a bit to keep the dust down.

 

[Dolorus]

Sometimes sand acts as an eye irritant, yes. No way for us to know. The light is ok, that's what I THOUGHT might be the problem. After you change the substrate, moisten it a bit to keep the dust down.

Should I use the coco coir? I also made her a hide but it's just to the side of the basking lamp. Its not a humid hide. Could she get too hot under there? She has a cool side but she never goes to it! Only wanders round it.