RES eyes closed

[ETTB1314]

Hello, i would really appreciate if you take the time to read the following:

I have 2 baby RESes about 2" and only had them for 2-3 days now. I noticed when I got home both had their eyes closed and didn't even open them. They were fine in the morning. I left for school around 7 and came back also around 7. I know that's like 12hs I miss them so much in school and worry about them and think about them

They really looked like they were asleep but I knew they probably weren't because if they closed their eyes and went to sleep and I would just come close to a tank slowly, they would sort of know and open their eyes to look at me.

This time, I looked at them, and up close, for 10-15mins and they still had their eyes closed. The water was quite dirty and I had it filled about 2-3" deep. So could it be the ammonia? Or the chlorine kicking in? Because I used hose water, but I think it still had chlorine inside.

So I left them be and I came back half an hour later and they still had their eyes closed. I got really worried now and rushed to have their water changed. This is the first water change since I got them. So I took them out of the tank and they did open their eyes, and were just like normal. Suddenly calm and looking at me while I talked to them and suddenly frantically wanting to get away. But they were more calm and that was really cool. That made me a whole lot relieved

My Dad keeps koi fish too in a rather big outdoor pond and I have taken that fish water to put into my turtles tanks. Now they are active and guess what! I left them be for 10-15 mins and one of them had taken a little doo-dee! I was so happy and so relieved they were okay because since day 1 they hadn't eaten. So I guess now they're hungry? Btw I just dropped 2 pellets 1cm in size, 1 for each, and I will leave them for awhile and see if they will have an appetite to eat it or not.

About the problem I had earlier, can someone tell me what was going on? Because they're so tiny and I only had them for a few days but I love them both so much, I really just want them to be healthy. Thanks everyone!

 

[johnsonnboswell]

How is your tank set up? What are you using? Basking light and platform, UVB, water depth and temperature, filtration- tell us. Something needs to be changed.

 

[wellington]

Are you using any kind of coil bulbs? They have been known to cause eye problems.

 

[ETTB1314]

How is your tank set up? What are you using? Basking light and platform, UVB, water depth and temperature, filtration- tell us. Something needs to be changed.

Unfortunately I don't have any of those. I will get them however my parents are quite stingy about that because it is very expensive for us. And I am still studying so money still comes from them. I will try to save up myself and get the equipment myself.

The water depth is a little less than 4". Basking light is sunlight. I also don't have a water thermometer so I'm not sure about the temperature. The tank size is 16cm x 29cm and the depth is 7".

Is there anything I can don't provide though? Because I want to keep it as minimal as possible. Thanks.

 

[ETTB1314]

Are you using any kind of coil bulbs? They have been known to cause eye problems.

No lights. But the light in my room is the yellow light kind. Is that bad for them?

 

[Yvonne G]

He really needs a light to be able to sit under and warm up. That may be what's wrong with him. He needs a 'dock' to climb out of the water and sit on, with a light positioned over it shining down to warm him up.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Where are you located? You should change the water a couple of times a week and use tap water with chlorine remover drops or get a container and have water in there for a day or so before you use it and all of the chlorine will be gone by then. The water from your Koi pond is likely not very clean...

 

[wellington]

They also need uvb lighting.

 

[ETTB1314]

He really needs a light to be able to sit under and warm up. That may be what's wrong with him. He needs a 'dock' to climb out of the water and sit on, with a light positioned over it shining down to warm him up.

Okay thank you I will try to provide them that, because I don't have have the budget for a lot of equipment.

What are the most essential things I need? Because I want to keep it as minimal as possible. Thanks

 

[ETTB1314]

Where are you located? You should change the water a couple of times a week and use tap water with chlorine remover drops or get a container and have water in there for a day or so before you use it and all of the chlorine will be gone by then. The water from your Koi pond is likely not very clean...

I live in Singapore. I don't have chlorine remover but I will try leaving water for a day. If I don't have filtration, how often do I need to change the water? Thanks

 

[ETTB1314]

They also need uvb lighting.

I am using natural light. Surely it's better than the lamps? Thanks

 

[Zeko]

I am using natural light. Surely it's better than the lamps? Thanks

Not if it is sunlight coming through a window. Glass, plastic and mesh filter a lot of the UV light.

Honestly, you are going to quickly find a dead res, if you don't follow the advice given here already. This is a living creature that can not wait for you to "save up" for proper equipment. Go to a home improvement store, you can do most of the required things yourself and cheaply.

 

[ETTB1314]

Not if it is sunlight coming through a window. Glass, plastic and mesh filter a lot of the UV light.

Honestly, you are going to quickly find a dead res, if you don't follow the advice given here already. This is a living creature that can not wait for you to "save up" for proper equipment. Go to a home improvement store, you can do most of the required things yourself and cheaply.

I don't know what a home improvement store is. I live in south east asia. Things are limited in my country and its expensive too. Plus if everyone starts blaming me for bad care, I don't want to badly care for them...

Parents know best and I asked my Dad if I could get equipment he yelled at me and said that water was all they needed and when I changed the water he scolded me again and said there's no need to change or change so often... I'm really tied up here. I wish I was older and have money to get what I need for them. If I were to save money, if those equiptment costs a few hundreds, I need to skip breakfast and lunch every school day for more than a year before I even have that kind of money.

Please understand my position here. I am really trying my best to help them. But whenever I do that my Dad just yells at me parents know best. I can't do anything...

Thank you all for trying to help and giving all the information.

 

[Zeko]

I don't know what a home improvement store is. I live in south east asia. Things are limited in my country and its expensive too. Plus if everyone starts blaming me for bad care, I don't want to badly care for them...

Parents know best and I asked my Dad if I could get equipment he yelled at me and said that water was all they needed and when I changed the water he scolded me again and said there's no need to change or change so often... I'm really tied up here. I wish I was older and have money to get what I need for them. If I were to save money, if those equiptment costs a few hundreds, I need to skip breakfast and lunch every school day for more than a year before I even have that kind of money.

Please understand my position here. I am really trying my best to help them. But whenever I do that my Dad just yells at me parents know best. I can't do anything...

Thank you all for trying to help and giving all the information.

I am sure with a little effort, you can find material to make them a dry dock, to provide a light over it and such. If not, then I recommend finding someone who can look after them properly.

We are not here to make you feel better or look after you. We are here for the creatures that all too often die or suffer.

 

[ETTB1314]

I am sure with a little effort, you can find material to make them a dry dock, to provide a light over it and such. If not, then I recommend finding someone who can look after them properly.

We are not here to make you feel better or look after you. We are here for the creatures that all too often die or suffer.

What type of light must it be?

And my res were given to me as a gift and I didn't expect it. They also costed $3 each. And I was in the midst of making them a dry dock but with no light. But I got scared the plastics and materials I was using were dirty or unsuitable for them. If I were to diy a dock, what materials should I use and avoid?

 

[Zeko]

What type of light must it be?

And my res were given to me as a gift and I didn't expect it. They also costed $3 each. And I was in the midst of making them a dry dock but with no light. But I got scared the plastics and materials I was using were dirty or unsuitable for them. If I were to diy a dock, what materials should I use and avoid?

! I am glad to hear you are willing to work on making it better for them.

Just about anything can be used for a dry dock. Perhaps stay away from wood due to water/rot. I would recommend boiling the materials you plan on using, to ensure there are no contaminants. Plastic works just fine.

The light should be an expensive MVB, or if you are on a budget, grab a Fluorescent Tube light, along with a standard household bulb. You will need to adjust the heights of these to ensure you keep the proper temperature in the basking area.

Even tho they may have only cost $3 each, they are still alive, breathing and thinking creatures. The price you pay for a creature should not contribute to the quality of life you give them. Many large tortoises are given away for free, and we spend thousands of dollars and years of our lives making sure they live a proper, healthy life.

 

[wellington]

You can also use large rock to make a spot for them to get out of the water and under a heat lamp. Use at least a regular light bulb for heat. Is it warm enough to get them outside for some sunshine every day or every other day? Uvb will not go through glass or screen or plastic. They do need uvb. Do what you can and then talk to your Dad and ask him to read this thread. I (me, not you, hoping he reads this)would tell him that no, parents don't always know best and that he is not doing right by you or your turtles. If you can't get things better for them, see if you can rehome them and wait until you are older to get one. Maybe ask the person that gifted them to you if they could help you either get the proper equipment or talk to your dad for you. Good luck,

 

[ETTB1314]

! I am glad to hear you are willing to work on making it better for them.

Just about anything can be used for a dry dock. Perhaps stay away from wood due to water/rot. I would recommend boiling the materials you plan on using, to ensure there are no contaminants. Plastic works just fine.

The light should be an expensive MVB, or if you are on a budget, grab a Fluorescent Tube light, along with a standard household bulb. You will need to adjust the heights of these to ensure you keep the proper temperature in the basking area.

Even tho they may have only cost $3 each, they are still alive, breathing and thinking creatures. The price you pay for a creature should not contribute to the quality of life you give them. Many large tortoises are given away for free, and we spend thousands of dollars and years of our lives making sure they live a proper, healthy life.

Yes I mentioned the price as to tell you this is how people in my country care for them. This is the norm. They give water and at most a basking area. No light no filter nothing else. This will explain my parents ideas. I did tell them I need all the equiptment and if he could just allow me some to buy and I will pay him back next time but he wasn't very happy. I will have to find alternatives which I have not found.

I will try to get the things they need asap but some questions
- basking area generally land to water ratio or percentage is how much?
- do I need a filter? If not how ofter do I change the water? Or is it by looking at how cloudy it gets?
- for the light, I need a normal florescent one like you said but I also need another for uvb is that right? And where should I place these bulbs, above the land or half land half water?
- do I need a water heater?
- is there anything else I still need?

Thank you so much for yout help.

 

[ETTB1314]

You can also use large rock to make a spot for them to get out of the water and under a heat lamp. Use at least a regular light bulb for heat. Is it warm enough to get them outside for some sunshine every day or every other day? Uvb will not go through glass or screen or plastic. They do need uvb. Do what you can and then talk to your Dad and ask him to read this thread. I (me, not you, hoping he reads this)would tell him that no, parents don't always know best and that he is not doing right by you or your turtles. If you can't get things better for them, see if you can rehome them and wait until you are older to get one. Maybe ask the person that gifted them to you if they could help you either get the proper equipment or talk to your dad for you. Good luck,

I would get him to read this forum but he's quite a busy man and trust me he will not read this and if he does he will ignore the reqs and say do you know why they need all those things its beacuse they like in colder countries like america. But thanks for your help though. I also want to get his support in this too.

My country is summer all year. Now its starting to feel like monsoon season.

Also regular light bulb is a florescent bulb? That is for heat? Sorry I'm not too familiar will all these terms. I just know light is light. I'm really sorry about that.

 

[Zeko]

I would get him to read this forum but he's quite a busy man and trust me he will not read this and if he does he will ignore the reqs and say do you know why they need all those things its beacuse they like in colder countries like america. But thanks for your help though. I also want to get his support in this too.

My country is summer all year. Now its starting to feel like monsoon season.

Also regular light bulb is a florescent bulb? That is for heat? Sorry I'm not too familiar will all these terms. I just know light is light. I'm really sorry about that.

The only sources of UVB come from the following:

1) Florescent Tube: Light + UV:
Long circular tubes, usually 24" long or more

These need to be made for reptiles or you will need to do research to ensure they give off UVB. They do not produce much heat, so you will need to use a standard light bulb or ceramic heat emitter to give the correct temperatures.

2) Mercury Vapour Bulb: Light +
Heat + UVB:
Large specialty light bulb. Usually looks like a large tear drop.

These provide both UVB and heat. A little more expensive, but easy to use

3) Real sunlight: This is the best source of UVB, but you can not use glass, screens or mesh, as it will block the UVB. You will still need a basking light for them regardless.

Hope this helps!