Why are my tortoises eyes shut?
Having closed eyes for long periods in the day is generally a sign of a reptile being not quite right but rarely a sign of a problem with the eyes. With some tortoises, a potential cause of closed eyes is lack of humidity. Check that she is not suffering from excess humidity or heat in an enclosed tank.
Is my tortoise dead or just hibernating?
One way to check on your tortoise is to simply pick him up. If he retains muscle control, then he is fine. That means even if his head and limbs are still tucked in his shell, he’s got control and he’s just snoozing. But if the tortoise’s legs and head droop and wobble, then the tortoise is likely deceased.
How do you force feed a tortoise?
Force feeding is difficult with hatchlings, but you can open the mouth by pressing a wooden cocktail stick on the lower jaw, and using a very small pipette. Very sick or dehydrated tortoises may have to be force-fed by tube feeding.
Do you need to soak a tortoise?
So, why do tortoises need to soak? Tortoises need to soak twice a week or so to help them stay hydrated and clean. This keeps them strong and healthy, avoiding getting sick from dehydration or bacteria that can build up on their body. Tortoises also need to soak so that the shell and the skin do not crack from dryness.
Why is my tortoise not opening its eyes?
A tortoise that won’t open its eyes usually isn’t doing so because it doesn’t want to, rather because it can’t, and worse still it can be a sign of eye infection or vitamin A deficiency, both of which are fairly nasty and will most likely require veterinary attention to resolve.
Why is my tortoise not moving at all?
I checked on my tortoise today, and she doesn’t seem to be moving. She has lighting, water, food, everything. I didn’t heat over the night because I read that as long as the temperature was over 62, it was fine. I did the previous nights though.
How can I tell if my tortoise is dying?
The eyes in a dead tortoise are usually open. The skin of a dead tortoise may feel warm to the touch, rather than cold. Since the tortoise was cold to begin with, there wouldn’t have been a skin change right away if he is dead. I recommend soaking the tortoise.
What to do if your tortoise is not eating or drinking?
If you’re not sure that the ambient temperature in your tortoise’s enclosure is correct then get yourself a decent thermometer to check, and if it’s not high enough (both during the day and at night) see what you can do to make sure it is; for example with a more powerful heat bulb, or a heat mat in addition to your existing heat bulb.
A tortoise that won’t open its eyes usually isn’t doing so because it doesn’t want to, rather because it can’t, and worse still it can be a sign of eye infection or vitamin A deficiency, both of which are fairly nasty and will most likely require veterinary attention to resolve.
I checked on my tortoise today, and she doesn’t seem to be moving. She has lighting, water, food, everything. I didn’t heat over the night because I read that as long as the temperature was over 62, it was fine. I did the previous nights though.
What are the symptoms of an injured tortoise?
– Whistling, noisy breathing: RI , partial obstruction . Mild noises may go away after a soak or washing. Some tortoises whistle normally and most whistle when they withdraw their heads quickly. – Does not open eyes, but not swollen: UVB overexposure, injury. – Swollen eyelids: Bacterial infection.
What to do if your tortoise Whistles all the time?
If it happens all the time, check air quality or see a vet. – Whistling, noisy breathing: RI , partial obstruction . Mild noises may go away after a soak or washing. Some tortoises whistle normally and most whistle when they withdraw their heads quickly. – Does not open eyes, but not swollen: UVB overexposure, injury.
