Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First. I'm very new to this form so please bear with me. I was coming home the other day and saw some younger kids playing around with a very small box turtle,about the size of a fifty cent piece.Abusing it is a better way of putting it.Long story short I took it away from them and since it's cold here I could'nt turn it loose for fear of it freezing to death. Now it's living in my bathroom. The problem is it's eyes are stuck shut and swollen and it won't eat,It did eat at first. I'm keeping it moist with a fine mist sprayer. Research I have done says this might be a vitamin A deficiency.I can't seem to find out if this is the only thing that might be causing this kind of problem. I feel that since I took this poor animal I need to do the best I can for it. ANY help would be great. Thank you in advance Adam

He could have an eye infection or an upper respiratory infection. He should be taken to a herp vet, especially as he is so young. They'll probably give you some anitbiotic eye drops and/or some oral or injection antibiotics. It all depends on the diagnosis. If you need help finding a good herp vet in your area we can give you websites to help locate one near you. Just post your state and nearest major city. You would be surprised how many good herp vets there are out there now. I would stay away form the Vit. A idea unless a really good herp vet suggests it as he is so little and it is too easy to overdose them on this.

Until you can get him to a vet keep him warm and soak him twice a day in warm, not hot, water. Dehydration can contribute to this condition and make it harder for him to get better. It is easy for a little turtle to get dehydrated very quickly.

Could you post information about how you have him set up? Temps., substrate, lighting, humidity, type of container you are using. Could you post a picture of him as well? Some species need more humidity than others. Is he eating? If so what is he eating? How long have you had him and kept him the way that you are? Accurate information from you can help people give you the best way to improve the way you keep him to help him get better faster.

I agree with Steffke.

Having worked with a Vet., in turtle rehab., and just talking with other keepers I have found that, by far, the most common cause of this type of problem in young turtles is an environment that is too dry. For most young box turtles, they need a damp to wet substrate that is deep enough for them to completely bury themselves.

However, it could still be one of the other problems outlined by Steffke.

If you don't have the time to share your husbandry with us...do an exhaustive internet search of hatchling box turtle care. There is some terrible info. on the net, but you are pretty safe to look for common themes amongst all of the different sites.

Good luck.

The very best thing you can do for this turtle is find a reptile rehabber and take the turtle to them. Careing for a turtle indoors requires quiet an outlay of money-you need the proper moisture loving substrate, small live foods, heat lamp, UVA and UVB lights and fresh water at all times.

Tell us where the turtle was found and perhaps we can find a rehabber for you, or call your state wildlife department-they should have contacts as well. If you want to care for the tutle yourself-then check your area for a turtle or herp club and perhaps an experienced keeper would be willing to help you. I know I would if you lived in southern Indiana, but I know no kids would be abusing a turtle now-it is too cold for them to be out. And if you co live in a cold region-you'll have to double check you are really dealing with a native box turtle and not a water turtle. Their habitat requirements are of course totally different.

Until then, please keep the turtle in 1/4 inch of tepid water with a "island" of moss for it to climb up on under a warm light and feed it live insects-bait stores still carry wax worms and nightcrawlers which you can chop up. Please write back and tell us how it is doing.

>>First. I'm very new to this form so please bear with me. I was coming home the other day and saw some younger kids playing around with a very small box turtle,about the size of a fifty cent piece.Abusing it is a better way of putting it.Long story short I took it away from them and since it's cold here I could'nt turn it loose for fear of it freezing to death. Now it's living in my bathroom. The problem is it's eyes are stuck shut and swollen and it won't eat,It did eat at first. I'm keeping it moist with a fine mist sprayer. Research I have done says this might be a vitamin A deficiency.I can't seem to find out if this is the only thing that might be causing this kind of problem. I feel that since I took this poor animal I need to do the best I can for it. ANY help would be great. Thank you in advance Adam
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Tess Cook
www.boxturtlesite.info