Urgent Care :: RES Eyes Swollen??

[kkfitz2]

Am I paranoid? Or do their eyes look swollen? Thanks.

[steve]

It does look like it a little. What kind of UVB light are you using? Water conditioner? Filter media?

[kkfitz2]

I'm using a ZooMed 5.0 UVB, but I just started using it about 5 days ago. They've only be with me about 10 days. I'm using Tetra Easy Balance for the water plus one of those little white dissolving turtles. The filter is a regular Tetra aquarium filter. I changed the filter out today and put new clean water in. Hopefully they will start looking better. I also plan to do a 50% water change every day. I have been completely cleaning the tank once per week. No soap, just good thorough rinse of everything.

Do you recommend and particular water conditioner?

[steve]

UVB lights, especially the Zoo Meds need a "burn in" period. Leave that light off for a couple of days and look to see if there is an improvement. If you want to remove chlorine/chloramines, use filter media that has carbon in it.

If you have to do a 50% change every day, then you're handling them too much and the filter/tank size is probably inadequate. Since these guys are new so they will be skittish. Have they eaten yet?

[kkfitz2]

I'm not sure I need to do the water change, I just think the clean water will help...i don't really know.

They have eaten a lot since getting them, twice a day every day. Pellets and occasional Reptomin treat size shrimp. I've offered some leafy greens, but they don't even look at them.

One of them "Dozer" (pictured on the bottom) I haven't seen eat in about three days...all of this worries me a little. I'm just unsure if I'm being overly paranoid and they are really fine. Dozer sits on the basking rock all day with his eyes closed. He opens them occasionally to look around but then it’s back to sleep.

[VeipaCray]

On a slightly different topic, you should submit that picture to the monthly photo contest on this forum. That's a great picture of your two turtles.

[steve]

Ahh, reminds me to put together the next contest.

Most RES will stop eating if they have a hard time seeing. If the UVB light is causing the problem, then it will go away once resolved. That said, I would try other things incase it's not a UVB issue.

[kkfitz2]

Thanks Veipa, I posted a photo to the photos forum.

They seem better today. I'm going to keep the UVB light about 12-14 inches from their basking area and continue to watch them. Only turn it on for a 2-3 hours a day.