Exotic animals, in particular red-bellied turtles , are becoming more popular for keeping and breeding at home. This is due to the relative unpretentiousness of the animal, its high resistance to diseases, as well as the curious nature of such turtles. However, even such pets can sometimes get sick, and one of the common symptoms may be that the red-eared turtle does not open the eyes.
Why does the tortoise not open the eyes?
The reasons for this phenomenon can be several and among them there are both quite harmless, and very serious, which should immediately attract the attention of the owner and make him turn to the veterinarian.
The most innocuous reason why a domestic turtle does not open its eyes is a banal dream. The duration of sleep and the time of day in which the red-eared turtle is resting are strictly individual and depend on the pet's lifestyle, conditions and nutrition. Therefore, if your turtle is active during wakefulness, eyes are open, there are no symptoms of the disease, then it is worth waiting for some time after the eyes have closed and making sure that the animal is just sleeping.
A more serious reason may be a violation of the conditions of detention. During a lack of vitamins, from too cold water or malnutrition, the eyes of the red-bellied turtle can become inflamed, blushed, or even tightened with a white film. The most frequent mistakes of beginning reptile breeders is the neglect of the installation of UV lamps, which are simply necessary for turtles for normal activity, as well as attempts to feed the animal with uncharacteristic food, most often vegetables and fruits. Remember that red-eared turtles are water predators and their diet includes fish and a variety of marine animals. Here they should be given as a top dressing. A monotonous diet can also lead to eye diseases.
Finally, the most dangerous and serious disease can be a cold or an infection. If the water is too cold in the aquarium or you are walking the turtle in the street, the animal may well become sick. Usually a symptom is swollen and reddened eyelids and closed eyes. These are very serious diseases , and without proper treatment the red-bellied turtle can go blind and even die.
What if the turtle does not open the eyes?
If the turtle does not open the eyes, white films appear on them, and eyelids become swollen or reddened, then this is an occasion to immediately contact the veterinarian. Without his recommendations, you should not use any drugs, eye drops, and even more so, do yourself injections of medicines.
The actions that you can take on your own are as follows: First, you must closely monitor the behavior of your pet so that you can then describe all the details to the doctor. This will help him to diagnose correctly and prescribe adequate treatment. The second step is a careful analysis of the conditions of keeping the turtle.