swollen eyes and lethargic

[mikeysmomma]

I just got my russian tortoise Money last week. I will admit I should have done more research before I got him but I am willing to learn and trying to do what's best for him. I have him in Fluker's Tropical Cypress Bedding Reptile Substrate that the lady at petco recommended. The temp is about 80 and humidity is at 40. I have been wetting his habitat down and have covered it trying to raise the humidity. since he has started seeming sick. It all started 2 days ago he had one watery eye and was itching it. Washed his eye and gave him a bath. Next day both eyes swollen shut not eating not moving around. By looking on here I learned I was using a bad uvb bulb and shut it off immediately. Also started soaking twice a day in warm water for 30 minutes. He also has a water dish in his habitat. And I'm currently soaking him in baby good carrots and warm water. Is there anything else I can do? If I'm doing the right things how long should it be before he shows improvement? Any help would be wonderful

 

[Jacqui]

80 is the highest his temps get?

 

[Killerrookie]

Where did you get the tortoise? What bulb were you using and a picture would be very helpful. I'm sorry to hear about your tortoise.

 

[mikeysmomma]

80 Is the highest I have gotten it working on getting it to go higher. I got him from petco. The bulb was a cool blub and I will try to add pics

 

[mikeysmomma]

This one he just opened but quickly closed

 

[wellington]

Getting rid of the coil bulb should help the eye problem. Will take a few days. I would keep soaking him in warm water at least once a day until he seems back to normal. The basking spot needs to be around 90-95 for the food to properly digest, this will help his eating. If he can't warm up high enough, he won't eat.

 

[mikeysmomma]

Ok thank you so much. Soaking him in the carrots has seems to help also as he has moved around a little since. I'm going to up the bulb in his heat lamp to try and get it warmer in his basking spot

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

Your tortoise isn't a baby. It's an almost full grown tortoise. All of the things you're reading about humidity are for baby tortoises. Your full grown Russian tortoise can get by with just a damp substrate. He doesn't need a humid hide or a closed chamber or a humid environment. Don't use that bulb anymore, get a Mercury Vapor Bulb, and I think you'll start to see an improvement. He needs an area where he can get warmed up to about 100F degrees, with a cooler area where he can adjust his temperature down as needed. Full grown Russian tortoises really do much better living outside.

 

[mikeysmomma]

I'm working on building an outside habitat but I love in iowa and it's winter