Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We went to the vet Thurs. and the vet couldn't find anything wrong w/Squirt. He said he couldn't see any infection and he looked like a very healthy turtle...still charged me $40 to look at him though. He said that his eye membranes (said the word, but I can't remember it) may be drying out so I should reduce his basking temps (was 95 in warmest spot, now 90) and warm up the water (was 75, now 80) and see if that helps. It hasn't. Any ideas what else to do? His eyes are still sticking closed. The vet also said to not use the Zoomed turtle eye drops, that it's just a eye wash w/vitamins. Squirt still eats a lot, swims fine, breathes fine, etc, etc. It's just his eyes stick closed when he basks.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for checking up too.
Carrie

probaly was talking about the nictitating membranes. your temps are still to high. people dont realize that res shouldnt be over 85. in the wild, if they get over 85 they swim down to find cooler water. our pet turtles dont have that chance. we have to avoid overheating them. never never let the basking place get over 85. and the water should be cooler too about 75 or even lower

there are other things that can go wrong with nic. membranes tho. like, are you feeding plants? res realy need lots of plants for all the vitamins they have.
dirty water can bother eyes too, so make sure you have good filtration.

a drop of cod liver oil on the eyes helps alot. it has vitamin a, but that probaly doesnt help much on the outside of the eye. but it also lubricates the membranes and is an anti-inflamitory agent to. worth trying. alot of ppl swear by it

Agreed 100%. All these things are beneficial. And I absolutely agree with the temperature situation. Most folks seem to think that you have to set sliders up in tropical conditions. Water temps of 72-75 and 82-85 basking are fine for them.

I hibernate my sliders outside in the winter in water that gets no warmer than 45 degrees. (They need to be conditioned for this so never attempt taking an animal from a warm house and sticking directly out into freezing Winter temps). The point is that sliders do better in warm temps NOT hot ones.

I will lower the basking temp and the water temp asap. I actually bought another map turtle yesterday...yes, he is quarantined (sp)...and I know it's not the smartest thing for me to do being new to them. I called my vet today to let him know that nothing has changed with squirt's eyes and they look swollen compared to the new guy's (his name is pig pen). So he is giving me an ointment to apply two to three times a day for 3 days, I pick it up tomorrow. If that doesn't work he wants me to bring them both in next week. In the mean time I will do all that you both have suggested (except hibernating in 45 degree water outside, hee,hee).

I really appreciate all the help and advice. You are both life savers!!!

Thanks again,
Carrie

>>Agreed 100%. All these things are beneficial. And I absolutely agree with the temperature situation. Most folks seem to think that you have to set sliders up in tropical conditions. Water temps of 72-75 and 82-85 basking are fine for them.
>>
>>I hibernate my sliders outside in the winter in water that gets no warmer than 45 degrees. (They need to be conditioned for this so never attempt taking an animal from a warm house and sticking directly out into freezing Winter temps). The point is that sliders do better in warm temps NOT hot ones.