Tortoises eyes can't open?

Cheryl Hills

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Hi. For one, your torts need to be separated. Please send us some pictures of your whole enclosure, light bulbs, ect. You really need a temp gun or some kind of thermometer to measure temps in your enclosure. Sounds like you may have a heating pad under the substrate. They are not recommended for small tortoises. Besides the one bulb, do you have any other lights? Your Russians need proper heat and lighting otherwise, they can not digest their food. If they don’t have the proper heat, they will also not eat. What feels warm to you may not be warm enough for them. Is the bulb you are using a coil type bulb? If it is, that could be a problem. The coil bulbs are known to cause eye problems. Also, russian tortoises need a minimum of 8 feet by 4 foot enclosure, and that is just for one. Start the carrot baby food soaks, half baby food and half water, keep the water warm, not hot. Continue this for three days and see if there is any change with the eyes. Please read our Russian care sheet that Bee62 sent you the link for. It will help you get everything set up the right way. Make changes that are needed. Come back with questions. We are glad to help. That is why we are here.
 

TowTruck67

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Although russian torts should eat no fruits you can try a strawberry or a piece of apple or banana. Main thing is that Terry starts eating.
What food do your torts know ? With what food are the fed in the past ?


Read here what they are allowed to eat:
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/

And here about care for russian torts:

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

they were previously fed some expanding food called 'tortoise diet complete holistic diet & balanced nutrition', the brand is 'komodoproducts'. he also eats radishes, and salad leaves.
 

TowTruck67

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Hi. For one, your torts need to be separated. Please send us some pictures of your whole enclosure, light bulbs, ect. You really need a temp gun or some kind of thermometer to measure temps in your enclosure. Sounds like you may have a heating pad under the substrate. They are not recommended for small tortoises. Besides the one bulb, do you have any other lights? Your Russians need proper heat and lighting otherwise, they can not digest their food. If they don’t have the proper heat, they will also not eat. What feels warm to you may not be warm enough for them. Is the bulb you are using a coil type bulb? If it is, that could be a problem. The coil bulbs are known to cause eye problems. Also, russian tortoises need a minimum of 8 feet by 4 foot enclosure, and that is just for one. Start the carrot baby food soaks, half baby food and half water, keep the water warm, not hot. Continue this for three days and see if there is any change with the eyes. Please read our Russian care sheet that Bee62 sent you the link for. It will help you get everything set up the right way. Make changes that are needed. Come back with questions. We are glad to help. That is why we are here.

I am getting a UV bulb tomorrow, so that should hopefully solve any problems regarding that. I must ask if the dimensions you provided are for Russian tortoises of any size, as mine are both very small. thanks :)
 

Cheryl Hills

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I am getting a UV bulb tomorrow, so that should hopefully solve any problems regarding that. I must ask if the dimensions you provided are for Russian tortoises of any size, as mine are both very small. thanks :)
That is for adults. You can get away with a little smaller but eventually will have to upgrade. How big are your Russians?
 

Cheryl Hills

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You could go a little smaller but they will outgrow it within a year, I would think. 4 by 8 is for one tortoise. If you have two, it should be doubled and as said, they need to be separated. By the time you put hides, plants, water and food dishes, site barriers and any thing else, it gets a lot smaller. If you build a 4 by 8, you can put a barrier between the two for now, but you will need to build a second one in the very near future.
 

TowTruck67

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You could go a little smaller but they will outgrow it within a year, I would think. 4 by 8 is for one tortoise. If you have two, it should be doubled and as said, they need to be separated. By the time you put hides, plants, water and food dishes, site barriers and any thing else, it gets a lot smaller. If you build a 4 by 8, you can put a barrier between the two for now, but you will need to build a second one in the very near future.

I plan to do exactly that in a few weeks time, would you recommend a 'tortoise table' or a terrarium?
 

Cheryl Hills

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I plan to do exactly that in a few weeks time, would you recommend a 'tortoise table' or a terrarium?
I would go with a terrarium, if it is big enough. I built my own closed chamber for my babies. Here are three that I made. The 40 gal fish tank is only for hatchlings.
 

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TowTruck67

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Any news today ?

I got the UV light to replace the regular bulb, it's a 'hongyi long life vitamin D3'. Terry's eyes are still not open :( However before I went out today, I left two little chunks of cucumber in his bowl, and one had been almost completely eaten, so it seems as though he is eating. Is it possible that stress from moving home has affected his eyes? I've got an appointment at a reptile vet tomorrow, I'm taking both tortoises there. I will post an update afterwards :)
 

Bee62

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I got the UV light to replace the regular bulb, it's a 'hongyi long life vitamin D3'. Terry's eyes are still not open :( However before I went out today, I left two little chunks of cucumber in his bowl, and one had been almost completely eaten, so it seems as though he is eating. Is it possible that stress from moving home has affected his eyes? I've got an appointment at a reptile vet tomorrow, I'm taking both tortoises there. I will post an update afterwards :)
Please don`t let the vet give the tortoises any vitamin shots !!!!!! These shots do more harm than good.
 

TowTruck67

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Any updates ?

Terry has a respiratory infection and has been given an antibiotic that i need to give him every 3 days; his next shot is due Sunday. I was also given some 'reptoboost' to bathe him in. Their enclosure has been entirely renovated, with a proper UVB strip light and a ceramic heater and thermostat. I also got a second water bowl. I replaced the top soil that i was using for the floor with a wood chip. All of this was recommended by a reptile specialist at a reptile shop near me. Hopefully due to these changes, Terry will show some improvement :) It deeply saddens me to think that they were kept by their previous owners in the complete wrong conditions. Thanks so much for your help, I will keep you updated with Terrys condition :D
 

Blackdog1714

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Wish you the best and when you can please review the russian care sheet https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
I amproof that this site is awesome. Prior to my investigation of this site I had never owned a tortoise. 4 months of prep, testing and just trial and error I put together the indoor tub for my baby Russian. I can not say enough about the community of people here that are willing to help- even people who refuse/refute their suggestions. Keep it up you are doing it right it just takes time and money. All the best!
 

TowTruck67

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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Norfolk, England
Wish you the best and when you can please review the russian care sheet https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
I amproof that this site is awesome. Prior to my investigation of this site I had never owned a tortoise. 4 months of prep, testing and just trial and error I put together the indoor tub for my baby Russian. I can not say enough about the community of people here that are willing to help- even people who refuse/refute their suggestions. Keep it up you are doing it right it just takes time and money. All the best!

Thank you very much, I have read the care sheet and renovated the enclosure accordingly, and I have been following the daily care routine provided, and the time and money is more than worth it to have healthy happy tortoises
 

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