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We brought home a hatchling cherryhead a few weeks ago. The poor thing will not open its eyes. Storeowner claims dehydration. I had soaked a few times a day and had tortoise on very damp sphagnum moss. Next, storeowner claimed sphagnum is deadly if injested. What could be the story with the eyes and what about sphagnum as a substrate?

Sounds like storeowner is incorrect IMO. I have a friend who successfully hatches redfoots every year. He keeps them on moist substrate until they absorb their egg sack. I have never heard of sphagnum being toxic and am pretty sure I have seen it being suggested for baby tort bedding. If the baby is truly a new hatchling, then it may be just chilling and absorbing yolk sack. I babysat some of my buddys hatchlings a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at how little they moved. Just make sure they stay warm and out of drafts. Apparently when they finish absorbing their yolk sacks they become more active and search for food when they get hungry. If this is not a new hatchling, then the lethargy and eye condition may be infection related.

What kind of light do you have on him? You should have a heat emitter on one side with a hide under it and on the other side a long tube light (I use a 5.0 UVB) filtered through a screen. Lots of humidity. They do not like bright lights. The hot side should have no light at all. Sphagnum moss is fine...wet it a and squeeze it out and fluff it up. It should be damp, but not wet. They need a hight temp. and high humidity. My humidity stays at 80. and the temp on the hot isde is about 87 and the cooler side is 78 - 80 Good luck.