Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello.

I have a box turtle who is roughly half a year old. I actually found him in the wild (nearly stepped on him) and I felt bad, thinking that he wouldn't survive the winter because it was very cold and he wasnt' burrowed or anything.

At first he did really well, mostly sleeping. He still sleeps a lot and doesn't eat very often.

Lately his eyes have been getting really puffy. I figured it was from the water dish being too shallow, so I got a deeper one and it helped.

They are starting to get swollen again. So I'm trying to keep the humidity higher and make sure he gets in his water every day. I've only been doing this for two days so I'm not sure if its helping or if it should be helping right away.

I'm pretty sure I need to take him to the vet, right?

I've called a few places and found one that might be an option, but I have no idea of the cost for just a check up and possibly treatment for my little buddy. If anyone could give me a general estimate of how much it would cost, I would really appreciate it.

If it depends on the state, I live in Georgia if that helps.

Thank you for reading this.

First you need to look at how you are housing the little guy.

What time of set up do you have? (ie. tank, rubbermaid tub, turtle table . . . )
What type of bedding?
What is the temperature on the warm end? On the cool end?
What are you offering as food and how often?
What kind of lighting do you have over the enclosure?

Puffy eyes can be from to low humidity it can also be from an infection. The best thing to do is make sure he/she is set up properly and if its not fix the set up and see if the problem with the eyes gets better. If the set up is correct then take the little one to the vet.

The same thing happened to my ornate box. Her eyes got all swollen, and were shut. She wanted to hibernate, but I didn't put her out side in time, so I kept her indoors. I took her to a well known vet from around here. (I live in NY) The visit was $95.00, and with all the medication, and he had to hydrate her, it came to $165.00. I little steep, but well worth it as she is better now. I had to give her shots, which I wasn't to happy doing. I also had to put Vitamin A ointment, and triple antibiotic ointment on her eyes, and soak her twice a day in warm water. After 7 or 8 days, her eyes opened, and 7 more days of soaking she finally started to eat. Only a few worms. She is better now, but still digs under after I take her out to soak and eat.

I'm glad your turtle is better! Thank you for the vet information.

"What time of set up do you have? (ie. tank, rubbermaid tub, turtle table . . . )"

At the moment he's in a 40 gallon tank.

"What type of bedding?"

Bed a beast, a little bit of live grass, and some dead leaves. I'm thinking I should add some moss.

"What is the temperature on the warm end? On the cool end?"

Warm end is 85 degrees, and on the cool end where he burrows it is 70.

"What are you offering as food and how often?"

I'm giving him Rep Cal box turtle food and mealworms. The meal worms aren't live. I think maybe I should try live food, but I think the night crawlers are too big? He's a little guy so I'm not sure. I'm having trouble finding live mealworms. I give him fresh food every day, usually in the morning.

"What kind of lighting do you have over the enclosure?"

It's a fifty watt bulb, I believe. It could be less. His house is next to a window that also gets the morning sun.

>>>>Bed a beast, a little bit of live grass, and some dead leaves. I'm thinking I should add some moss.

You can make a humid hide by keeping damp moss in a hide box made out of Rubbermaid products or find a made for reptiles hide box. That may help. They need to be able to choose where they want to be while in the tank. Offering a variety of temps, hides & humidity levels is helpful.
>>
>>"What are you offering as food and how often?"
>>
>>I'm giving him Rep Cal box turtle food and mealworms. The meal worms aren't live. I think maybe I should try live food, but I think the night crawlers are too big? He's a little guy so I'm not sure. I'm having trouble finding live mealworms. I give him fresh food every day, usually in the morning.
I have found that my hatchling box isn't able to digest mealworms. The baby loves a nice live vitamin/mineral coated cricket though. Also loves small roaches, waxworms, & berries.
I can't get a box turtle to eat commercial food around here so I gave up trying.

>>
>>"What kind of lighting do you have over the enclosure?"
>>
>>It's a fifty watt bulb, I believe. It could be less. His house is next to a window that also gets the morning sun.

You need to get some full spectrum reptile lighting with UV/B which usually comes in a flourescent. The needed benefits that come from the sun cannot get through glass so morning sun through the window basically will only raise the heat in a glass tank, it won't help the baby though.
If you aren't careful it can cook the baby.
I know there are new full spectrum lights to be had than what was available 10 years ago but I'm still using the fluorescents made for reptiles.. the fixture I got at the hardware store for less than 10 bucks and I know it's not extremely expensive 10 years later to go this way.
Good luck with your baby.
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PHRatz

As far as him being near the window I would try to move him away from it. Windows can be very drafty, and areas by windows are obviously colder than away from them. You can buy sphagnum moss at garden centers it holds moisture real well and baby turtles will like to bury under it. As far as worms you can buy small red wigglers from newyorkworms.com. The ship fast and I've never had a problem with them. You can chop the worms up in half. Def find some insects to give him, little movements in insects sometimes spark box turtles appetites. Slugs, worms, pill, sow bugs, wax worms, crickets all are good. Good luck.

Wow, thank you so much!

I had no idea that he couldn't digest the mealworms. No wonder he hasn't been eating them. Poor buddy.

And also! I didn't know that about the window, so I'll definitely move him right away.

Thank you for all the tips on food also, and for the link. I'm having trouble finding places to buy, so this is great.

I just recently gave him a good hiding spot. I didn't realize they feel more comfortable if they can have a little "cave" to retreat to. There isn't a place he spends more time now in his cage than under his little log.

Thank you so much. You've all been a great help.