General Care Discussion :: Do you sometimes think that your turtle(s) is/are blind?

[Chuibby]

For some reason, I think one of my turtles is blind, because when I pour some pellets into the water, he somehow cannot see it. The pellets start to move right onto the side and the only thing my turtle does is ram his face into the wall, continuously trying to swim to me. Then, I have to use my finger and really try to point to my turtle where the food is. He tries to bite my finger during the process. It actually takes a couple of minutes before he finds it.

Could he actually be sorta blind? I have 2 other turtles in a 55 gallon tank. When they fight for fish, it's rough... really rough. Could that be the problem?

[megcornell]

I suppose his corneas could be scratched from fighting. But, I imagine it's hard to see those pellets on the surface. At least the way my turtles eat, their eyes are at surface level, so the pellets are much harder to see than if they submerged to come up under the pellets. I notice my one turtle usually sniffs out the pellets more than she relies on her sight.

Regardless, I'd keep an eye on the aggression in the tank. It might help to feed them all separately to eliminate the stress of competing for food.

[TheComputerGremlin]

My turtle occasionally misses the pellets that are right in front of her face mainly because she's so excited that it's feeding time. I'd suggest getting one of those feeding rings, after a few times, the turtle should learn that the food is located in the ring and it might be easier to find.

[SpenceMasta]

i think its because a turtle's vision is more adapted to react to quick movement, such as fish and other prey, they focus less on things just floating since they live in ponds and lakes and there's always scum floating around, when locating non moving food it's their sense of smell that leads the way

naturally food doesnt just float on the surface in bite size pieces, its either swimming and darting such as fish, or is pungent and smelly and just sitting at the bottom of the water like a dead animal or rotting vegetation

[steve]

If his head is above water, chances are they won't immediately see pellets in the water. Mine turts are simply fixated on my face and fingers.

[Chuibby]

THe ring idea seems really interesting... I think I'm gonna try that to see what will happen.

[seanwb]

Both of mine do the same. They are so busy begging with their attention fixed on the hand that is going to feed them that they often do not realise they have been fed!

Given it can see to bite your finger, I do not think there is an eyesight problem (but I sometimes think my two have a serious problem with their brains!).

[Bascomb]

Chu-by -- If he can see your finger he can see the food, however he may have some eye damage. Check the uvb rating on your uvb light. If it is too strong is can damage the eyes. While he may be having some trouble eating I would suggest that you hand feed him until he/she comes around. You may want to seperate them for a while or feed him/her in a seperate tank. b.

[blackforces get you]

i doubt my turtles are blind. they always move their eyes and they know when im around. they climb the basking rock and stretch their necks really far and look at me. they look at my nose and then quickly move their eyes and look into mines. whenever i get closer to their face they put their paw on my nose and when i pull away they open their mouth's just telling me "put food here" and its cool. sorry for getting carried away but they might not be blind chiubby. try and get them to focus on your finger and see if they look at it and notice it

[ytse411]

Sylvia goes nuts when I feed her. I ususally have to walk away, even when a piece of food is stuck to her nose! She just gets so excited that she tries to get through the glass. If I walk away, then she has to concentrate on the food.

silly critters!