Reasons Why Brazilian Turtles Don't Open Eyes Explained

Why Brazilian Turtles Don't Open Their Eyes

1. White Eye Disease

White eye disease is a common ailment among highly aquatic turtles, such as Brazilian turtles. When affected, these turtles experience a series of inflammatory symptoms due to bacterial infections in their eyes. This leads to the secretion of a white discharge that adheres to the eye membranes. Additionally, the eyes may become red and swollen, making it difficult for the turtles to open them normally. In severe cases, this can lead to blindness, and if left untreated, it poses a significant threat to the turtle's life.

Causes:

The reasons for Brazilian turtles contracting white eye disease can include the following: injury to the turtle's eyes, which can lead to bacterial infections and subsequent inflammation; or poor water quality in the breeding environment, which allows for the proliferation of bacteria that can harm the turtle's eyes. If you notice any abnormalities with your turtle's eyes, it's important not to ignore them. Identifying the specific cause and treating it scientifically is crucial.

Preventive Measures: For turtles with mild white eye disease, you can add a suitable amount of furazolidone or furazolidone hydrochloride solution to the water. Allow the turtle to soak in this solution for about 40 minutes daily, typically for a week, after which the turtle should recover.

For turtles with more severe cases where the eyes cannot be opened, you should first clean out the white discharge from the eyes. Then, immerse the turtle in the furazolidone or furazolidone hydrochloride solution for an extended period of one hour.

2. Other Possible Causes

Apart from white eye disease, there are several other reasons why a turtle might not open its eyes, including low water temperatures, not adapting to a new environment, eye injuries, or infections from microorganisms. Pet owners should pay attention to regulating water temperatures, aiming to keep them around 25°C. If the turtle is simply not opening its eyes due to a new environment, it should eventually adjust and open its eyes as normal.

Important Tips from Oxygen Pet Doctor: To help Brazilian turtles' eyes recover quickly, in addition to necessary treatments, owners should ensure regular water changes to maintain clean and unpolluted water quality. Also, supplementing the turtle with an appropriate amount of vitamins can boost its immune system, helping it to recover more rapidly. These measures can significantly contribute to the turtle's swift recovery.