tortoise eyes swollen shut and black

by cesar
(fresno ca)

i have four water tortoise but fro about a week now i have noticed one of them which is a little smaller has not been eating or moving around and has just been under the basking lamp so when i took a closer look this morning i noticed his eyes were really swollen and a little black on the outside and he hasn't been able to open them for a couple of days...does any one know what this is and should i separate him from the other three

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Mar 19, 2011

Swollen Eyes
by: Shelly

Your turtle's swollen eyes are a serious problem. You've mentioned that it is not eating. At least part of the reason for that is that he can't see the food. Turtles use vision to find food.

More importantly, he probably has an eye infection.

So this means you should separate him from the others right away. Clean the tank completely. Take the sick tortoise to the vet as soon as possible so he can get proper treatment.

This will not clear up by itself.

Do keep a close watch on the others because they may also have the beginnings of an eye infection. You will want to catch it at the earliest opportunity.

Keep it slow and steady.

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