eyes closed and lethargic

Ozric Jonathan · 04-10-2011, 11:31 PM

One of my hermanns has developed a problem quickly over the past 24 hours. Her eyes are closed and although walking about a bit like that she is not as active as she was. She stayed in the same spot 'resting' for several hours.

Even today this tortoise seemed oK in the morning. Around noon she ate food and seemed normal then. Within a few hours though she seemed quite inactive, the eyes were closed and di not open when I handled her.

I placed the tortoise is a bath and her eyes did sort of open in there, she also became more active and loved having water poured on her head. Either the eyes are very dull looking or I was loking at the first set of lids being still down. The eyes do not have that bright shiny look they should have but as I say, I think I was looking at the first layer not the actual eye.

I don't think there is anything major wrong wiht my husbandry so I won't take time up describing it. But it is important to say that 3 days ago I brought this tortoise indoors. Before than she had been in a heated coldframe with a basking lamp. In constrast to London, the weather here the past few days has been poor. So I was bringing the tortoise in to keep her going for a couple of months in an indoor enclsoure.

So it might be somehting to do with coming indoors. Nose looks dry, the breathing is maybe a bit shallow. Examined the body and no signs of anything obvious like a wound.

After the bath she went off to bed quite slowly.

I'm quite certain this tortoise was not like this when it was living outside and it wasn't like this yesterday either. I've been observing her quite carefully so that with any sign of a slowdown I could bring her indoors.

Any suggestions of ideas welcome.

Two other tortoises are in the enclosure as well. They have been in there for a few weeks - being smaller I brought them indoors first. They have been fine in the enclosure so I don't think its a lighting problem and its plenty warm enough etc.

Thanks for reading.

alley cat · 04-10-2011, 11:37 PM

Seems a bit likely that she just hasn't coped very well with the change, maybe someone else will be able to think of something

Ozric Jonathan · 04-10-2011, 11:43 PM

I hope that's it AC. But she was OK yesterday.

**egyptiandan64** · 04-10-2011, 11:53 PM

Thats the thing thats puzzling, tortoises never do anything fast (except for maybe chasing the girls

). If the eyes aren't puffy, I think it might be the start of a respiratory infection. Keep an eye on her for the next week Jonathan, for worsening symptoms.

Danny

Ozric Jonathan · 05-10-2011, 12:01 AM

Thanks Danny. I thought possibly she might be about to get RNS because of the change of environment. The eyes don't look puffy. Should I separate this one? I could do that, but she would have a smaller area - though I suspect she isn't going to be running about a lot.

**egyptiandan64** · 05-10-2011, 12:35 AM

I'd seperate her and try to keep her around 30C day and night.

Danny

turtoise · 05-10-2011, 04:21 PM

What kind of light are you using now? Sometimes the lights have an adverse effect on their eyes.

Herpard · 05-10-2011, 04:26 PM

You just pretty much described how my leopard used to be!

I tried everything, turns out her lights were too bright for her!

She now has a red (sometimes green) bulb for her heat/basking spot which she seems happier with and is now much more active than when she had the bright White light.

JackieL · 05-10-2011, 05:00 PM

What sort of heat/UVB are you using?

Reason I ask, I have read that some types of UVB lighting can cause issues with eyes.

I'm on a bearded dragon forum, (American) they swear that the ReptiGLO range of UVB lighting is renown for this. Symptoms being lethargy and the animal not opening eyes/eating/pooping, once the light was changed, animal recovered fully.

I have no idea how true this is, I just bare it in mind

.

I own a bearded dragon, I have never opted for this make of light, I get the ReptiSUN's instead.

Kirkie · 05-10-2011, 05:38 PM

Hi Jonathan,

Don't want to worry you but I *lost two *young Hermanns to very similar symptoms to those you are describing about 5 years ago. They were new tortoises to me but it was a very rapid decline. General lethargy, eyes closed but not swollen. *I only had them a week so it may have been triggered by the change of environment.

I know your lighting would have been checked thouroughly, you've got a very good vet if I remember correctly. Why risk the wait mate.

Hopefully the tortoise has picked up but if not I've gotta say vets.

04-10-2011, 11:31 PM	#1
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	eyes closed and lethargic One of my hermanns has developed a problem quickly over the past 24 hours. Her eyes are closed and although walking about a bit like that she is not as active as she was. She stayed in the same spot 'resting' for several hours. Even today this tortoise seemed oK in the morning. Around noon she ate food and seemed normal then. Within a few hours though she seemed quite inactive, the eyes were closed and di not open when I handled her. I placed the tortoise is a bath and her eyes did sort of open in there, she also became more active and loved having water poured on her head. Either the eyes are very dull looking or I was loking at the first set of lids being still down. The eyes do not have that bright shiny look they should have but as I say, I think I was looking at the first layer not the actual eye. I don't think there is anything major wrong wiht my husbandry so I won't take time up describing it. But it is important to say that 3 days ago I brought this tortoise indoors. Before than she had been in a heated coldframe with a basking lamp. In constrast to London, the weather here the past few days has been poor. So I was bringing the tortoise in to keep her going for a couple of months in an indoor enclsoure. So it might be somehting to do with coming indoors. Nose looks dry, the breathing is maybe a bit shallow. Examined the body and no signs of anything obvious like a wound. After the bath she went off to bed quite slowly. I'm quite certain this tortoise was not like this when it was living outside and it wasn't like this yesterday either. I've been observing her quite carefully so that with any sign of a slowdown I could bring her indoors. Any suggestions of ideas welcome. Two other tortoises are in the enclosure as well. They have been in there for a few weeks - being smaller I brought them indoors first. They have been fine in the enclosure so I don't think its a lighting problem and its plenty warm enough etc. Thanks for reading. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

04-10-2011, 11:43 PM	#3
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	I hope that's it AC. But she was OK yesterday. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

04-10-2011, 11:53 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Thats the thing thats puzzling, tortoises never do anything fast (except for maybe chasing the girls ). If the eyes aren't puffy, I think it might be the start of a respiratory infection. Keep an eye on her for the next week Jonathan, for worsening symptoms. Danny __________________

05-10-2011, 12:01 AM	#5
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Thanks Danny. I thought possibly she might be about to get RNS because of the change of environment. The eyes don't look puffy. Should I separate this one? I could do that, but she would have a smaller area - though I suspect she isn't going to be running about a lot. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

05-10-2011, 12:35 AM	#6
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	I'd seperate her and try to keep her around 30C day and night. Danny __________________

04-10-2011, 11:37 PM	#2
alley cat Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,150	Seems a bit likely that she just hasn't coped very well with the change, maybe someone else will be able to think of something

05-10-2011, 04:21 PM	#7
turtoise Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Valley of California Posts: 40	What kind of light are you using now? Sometimes the lights have an adverse effect on their eyes. __________________ Yvonne G.

05-10-2011, 04:26 PM	#8
Herpard Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norton Canes, UK Posts: 2,330	You just pretty much described how my leopard used to be! I tried everything, turns out her lights were too bright for her! She now has a red (sometimes green) bulb for her heat/basking spot which she seems happier with and is now much more active than when she had the bright White light.

05-10-2011, 05:00 PM	#9
JackieL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southampton Posts: 1,144	What sort of heat/UVB are you using? Reason I ask, I have read that some types of UVB lighting can cause issues with eyes. I'm on a bearded dragon forum, (American) they swear that the ReptiGLO range of UVB lighting is renown for this. Symptoms being lethargy and the animal not opening eyes/eating/pooping, once the light was changed, animal recovered fully. I have no idea how true this is, I just bare it in mind . I own a bearded dragon, I have never opted for this make of light, I get the ReptiSUN's instead.

05-10-2011, 05:38 PM	#10
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Hi Jonathan, Don't want to worry you but I lost two young Hermanns to very similar symptoms to those you are describing about 5 years ago. They were new tortoises to me but it was a very rapid decline. General lethargy, eyes closed but not swollen. *I only had them a week so it may have been triggered by the change of environment. I know your lighting would have been checked thouroughly, you've got a very good vet if I remember correctly. Why risk the wait mate. Hopefully the tortoise has picked up but if not I've gotta say vets.

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