General Care Discussion :: Odd eye probelm

[Allusion5275]

As I posted in my previous post:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4663

I have a false map and a RES. I was planning on taking both in to the vet to have him check them out for MBD this week anyway but on Sunday I noticed that Carlos, the false map, had his eyes shut and slightly swollen when I took him out to feed him (I feed in a seperate tank).

When I took him to the vet, I took both of them in a plastic container with wet paper towels in the bottom rather than in water. By the time I got to the vet he had his eyes back open. The vet said both looked good and did not seem to be in danger of MBD, he did give me some supplements to feed them to prevent it. He said he saw no evidence of an infection either.

Anyway I put Carlos back in his tank and today his eyes were swollen shut again. So I pulled him out and put him in the feeder tank with distilled water. After a few hours his eyes were still swollen shut. I took him out and put him in the plastic box with moist paper towels in it and sure enough when I got home from dinner his eyes were open.

So, stuff I have gathered:

I tested the water in the main tank, nitrate and nitrite was virtually 0, hardness was "hard" 150 (GH) ppm, Alkalinity was in the "ideal" range for fish between 120-180 (KH) ppm, and the pH was fairly basic/alkaline at around 8.

The RES is in the main tank and shows no problems with his eyes. Carlos spent a week or so in the tank prior to this with no trouble.

So, do you guys have any ideas on why his eyes are swelling shut?



Luke

[missibsu]

He could have an eye infection, and it may or may not go away without treatment. I don't know anything about false maps, but for an RES you would raise the water temp to around 80-82 and keep the water really clean. Vitamin A will help with the swollen eyes, and can be found in cod liver oil and in carrots...if you want to add that to the diet. For an infection zoo med has some turtle eye drops on the market that are supposed to be really good.

That advice is what is normally given for RES, and like I said, I don't know if it applies to false maps or not. You could contact the vet again...

[Allusion5275]

I am just wondering why they seem to swell up when I put him in any kind of water, and then get better when he is out.

[the_orphaned]

I'd say that there is an irritant in the water. Maybe he has a minor open wound and water irritates that? An infection where the bacteria thrives on water?

[steve]

RES are very hardy freshwater turtles compared to others. For now, I would keep them separate until you isolate the cause. As I have found out myself, swollen eyes can appear for no apparent reason and without other symptoms. If something irritated his eyes in the tank, his eyes may still bother him when you put him into the other tank. An infection or vitamin deficiency are not the only causes of swollen/shut eyes. Are you dechlorinating the water? Did you check for ammonia?

[Allusion5275]

Dechlorinated the water, did not check for ammonia, it was the one thing my test kit did not do. Will try that.

[steve]

If you did a recent water change, it will likely not be a problem. If dry docking is helping the eye condition, ask your vet for his opinion and if possible, a recommended schedule. I've heard that major petstores will test sample water for you (usually if one of their fish perish or they want to sell you some treatment products) but I'm sure there's no obligation to buy

[marisa]

Definitely check the ammonia level. Is he rubbing at the eyes at all?

[Allusion5275]

Not rubbing that I can see. Plus I am keeping him in his feeding tank now with distilled water. Still has both eyes closed a lot, one open sometimes.


Luke

[marisa]

I wouldn't keep him in distilled water---it lacks electrolytes that he needs.

If by chance he has some sort of infection/bacteria in the eyes, I'm wondering if keeping the eyes dry helps it but getting them wet worsens it...

[Allusion5275]

Ok he is definitely rubbing his eyes. Gonna take him back to the vet tomorrow if I can get off work early.


Luke

[amazingcc]

What is a false map turtle? I have a Mississippi Map Turtle and they need extremely clean water... are your turtles in the same tank?

[Allusion5275]

So I took Carlos to the vet today after work and he agreed with my diagnosis of a bacterial eye infection. So I now have some antibacterial drops and he is in quarantine. I will be cleaning the main tank this weekend.

As far as what species he is, you should be able to find him under "false map" or razorback map turtle. I do know he needs clean water, but aside from this, the water is very clean. Less than a week old, two tiny turtles in a 75 gallon tank with a large filter, and both turtles eat in a different tank which is emptied after each feeding, to avoid soiling the water in the main tank.

I think it was just bad luck and he got something. The vet also advised me not to use as much (as the product advises) or even any dechlorinator in the future. He said that their office sees 5-10 turtles per week (he is the only advertised herp vet in town) and 90% of those with infections improve after doing this. So Carlos gets tap water and eyedrops for a while.


Luke

[amazingcc]

I wasn't questioning your care or anything! I just didn't know what a false map turtle was, and I know that my map is VERY sensitive to anything in the water.

[Allusion5275]

I didn't think you were.. I was just giving more info on how I am keeping him.


Luke