Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Got a 1 year old res I found. One eye wouldn't open for a while, and I thought he had some infection or vitamin deficiency. But a couple of days ago he opened his eye and there's a white glossy film over it. Does this constitute blindness, or is it an illness that I can cure? What could I give it?

I can't take it to the vet now, but I will later.

I think, after reading your other posts, if I were you, I would try to find someone to give the turtle to who would be able to give it proper care now, not later. If you can`t find anyone, try to find an adoption/a rehoming/a rescue agency. It needs to be seen by a vet. You might feel less guilty (from your other post) knowing you`ve helped it by giving it to someone who can give it the care it needs now. Good luck.

Appears he's not blind. Just hibernating film, I gather, which now appears to be clearing up.

Yeah, I'll give him to an adoption agency! In Asia!! Yeah, I'll give him to someone who cares. A kid who feeds him fish food and keeps him in a half an inch of wather with no light or heat!! Yeah, I'll give him to someone who'll keep him for life. In Asia, where life is desperate enough all ready!!

Realize my predicament?!! He's doing fine, and I'm sure I won't have to dump one res. But in reality, life is animalistic for us humans too, and what would happen if you were to die tomorrow and no one would take care of your res's or poor babes?! Sorry to sound harsh, but in Asia, death is always a possibility that you have to perceive with this uncertain reality, just like the dogs hanging by hooks and nooses and being beaten to death with baseball bats. Sure they're pets, but here they're also animals.

I find this ironic. I lived in Asia for more than a decade, have traveled in the area and know well what you`re talking about when you talk about conditions for animals there. My interest in/love of turtles actually began because I assumed the care of a disabled RES that had been left to die. While living there, I essentially stopped going into pet shops and avoided public functions where animals, i.e. baby turtles, were being sold because I

You can`t change the situation there by yourself, but you can change how you respond to it.

sorry, the unfinished sentence above should continue "didn`t want to see what I knew would most likely be there." (Too bad messages can`t be edited on this site.)