White Puffy Eyes?

[flimsybox]

So my Russian Tortoise, Tom, has puffy white eyes. His right eye is worse than his left. I did a LITTLE research, and I found out it could be either him being dehydrated or a lack of Vitamin A. I've been feeding him Romaine Lettuce and Mustard Greens, then ran out. Now I feed him Romaine Lettuce and Kale. I don't think he's too happy about the Kale... I have to admit though, I've been forgetting to soak him every week due to school overload. He does have a terra cotta dish filled with water in his enclosure though. I don't know why he wouldn't just drink from that instead. His enclosure has a humid part which usually stays at around 50 to 60 % humidity. The other side is the dry side with room humidity. He's in my room, so it's not outside or in the garage or anything. I'm soaking him now as I write this and I've seen him take huge gulps of water.

My mom says spinach has Vitamin A. Can I give him spinach or is that bad?

Here are a few pictures:

 

[WithLisa]

Spinach contains large amounts of oxalic acids, which binds to calcium. Kale is also not the best food for tortoises.
For more Vitamin A you could give him carrots.

I hope he gets well soon.

 

[ascott]

So my Russian Tortoise, Tom, has puffy white eyes. His right eye is worse than his left. I did a LITTLE research, and I found out it could be either him being dehydrated or a lack of Vitamin A. I've been feeding him Romaine Lettuce and Mustard Greens, then ran out. Now I feed him Romaine Lettuce and Kale. I don't think he's too happy about the Kale... I have to admit though, I've been forgetting to soak him every week due to school overload. He does have a terra cotta dish filled with water in his enclosure though. I don't know why he wouldn't just drink from that instead. His enclosure has a humid part which usually stays at around 50 to 60 % humidity. The other side is the dry side with room humidity. He's in my room, so it's not outside or in the garage or anything. I'm soaking him now as I write this and I've seen him take huge gulps of water.

My mom says spinach has Vitamin A. Can I give him spinach or is that bad?

Here are a few pictures:

What type of UV bulb are you using?

 

[Yvonne G]

While romaine lettuce has more vitamin A than a carrot, it still isn't a good diet. Your tortoise needs more than just romaine lettuce. On the diet you're feeding him, he's going to start going downhill quickly, and the eyes are the first indicator.

You need to get outside and pick him a nice variety of edible weeds. Instead of having your mom buy romaine, buy endive and escarole. Then the next time she shops ask her to buy mustard greens and collard greens. Take a look at this list and choose a different item off it every time you shop:

GREENS

Red and green leaf lettuce (fed on occasion)
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chicory
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Collards
Spring Mix (mixed salad greens)




Then from outside you can try to find these things:

Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
Hosta
Sedum
Mulberry leaves
Hen and Chicks
Ice Plants
Prickly pear flowers, fruit and pads (burn the spines off)
Dandelion
Plantain (not the banana type fruit....the weed plantago major)
Mallow (flowers and leaves)
Henbit
Rose (flowers and leaves....make sure no systemic pesticides were used)
Chrysanthemum flowers
Cornflowers Plagiobothrys ssp
Forsythia (flowers and leaves)
Dayflower Commelina diffusa (flowers and leaves)
Californian Poppy escholzia
Chia Salvia hispanica

 

[Jodie]

Very nice list Yvonne. He will definitely benefit from a much larger variety. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[flimsybox]

What type of UV bulb are you using?

I'm not sure what type of UV light I have. It's a strip light though. It gives UVA and UVB.

While romaine lettuce has more vitamin A than a carrot, it still isn't a good diet. Your tortoise needs more than just romaine lettuce. On the diet you're feeding him, he's going to start going downhill quickly, and the eyes are the first indicator.

You need to get outside and pick him a nice variety of edible weeds. Instead of having your mom buy romaine, buy endive and escarole. Then the next time she shops ask her to buy mustard greens and collard greens. Take a look at this list and choose a different item off it every time you shop:

GREENS

Red and green leaf lettuce (fed on occasion)
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chicory
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Collards
Spring Mix (mixed salad greens)




Then from outside you can try to find these things:

Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
Hosta
Sedum
Mulberry leaves
Hen and Chicks
Ice Plants
Prickly pear flowers, fruit and pads (burn the spines off)
Dandelion
Plantain (not the banana type fruit....the weed plantago major)
Mallow (flowers and leaves)
Henbit
Rose (flowers and leaves....make sure no systemic pesticides were used)
Chrysanthemum flowers
Cornflowers Plagiobothrys ssp
Forsythia (flowers and leaves)
Dayflower Commelina diffusa (flowers and leaves)
Californian Poppy escholzia
Chia Salvia hispanica

I just got a bag of spring mix yesterday. I'll have to print out this list and let her shop for them when she can. I'm weary of getting things from outside because I'm not sure what's been used on them - could be pesticides or just plain oil from cars, or stray cat/dog urine, or wild animal urine, etc.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Do you have any coil bulbs?

 

[flimsybox]

Do you have any coil bulbs?

No. I don't. I heard they hurt the tort's eyes.

 

[flimsybox]

Update on Tom's eyes: They're looking much better! His right eye was/is more puffy than his left, so that one has a bit more healing to do.