Red ear slider - infection

Question
Good day, i have two red ear sliders. I had them in a tank without filtration on my balcony in the shade (tropical climate ( singapore), no direct sun). One developed an eye infection, swollen eyes, always closed, inactive behaviour. The turtles only eat dried small shrimps/crab, they dont eat the pellets. The water was dirty at times.

I used eye drops, tried more uv exposure. Now the ill turtle can again open bot eyes, i bougt a water filter recently and now chane the water every 3 days. The second turtle has fallen ill now, both eyes swollen, closed. I can see the eyes trough the "white layer" over the swollen eyes. I use eye drops for turtoises, i use anti-chlorine stuff to improve water quality.

I had RES before in switzerland but never any issues (used lamp, heater, filter there) now both tortoises are inactive, one has both eyes closed, the other one swollen eyes but can open (no white film) and they do not eat.

I am wondering what i can do, is the problem:
-Water quality
-Vitamin A
-UV

I am unsure how to proceed from here.

Can you advise?

Answer
Hi Adrian,

It sounds like you have already done some research and have a good assessment of the situation. I suspect the dirty water and limited diet are combining to cause the eye problems  It also sounds like you are working on improving the living conditions of the turtles which is a major component to their recovery. Filtration is absolutely essential to maintain a livable water quality. They simply eat and excrete too much to get by without using filtration.

Getting some aquatic turtles to accept a pelleted diet can be a struggle but pellets really are the easiest way to avoid nutritional deficiencies like vitamin A and vitmain D. I don't know what brands are available to you in Singapore but trying a different brand might help. I tried three before finding one that my own aquatic turtle would eat! Reptomin is highly recommended as well as the ZooMed products if you can get them.

Vitamin A plays a key role in keeping the eyes healthy and able fight off infection. In addition to pellets, a good source of active vitamin A is liver and many turtles will accept small strips of this. Leafy salad greens and orange vegetables contain carotenes which are the precursor to vitamin A.

You didn't happen to mention exactly what kind of drops you are using. I have always been a little doubtful of the value of vitamin A drops for the eyes in such cases as yours. I think dietary or injections of vitamin A (if you can find a vet to treat your turtles) are more effective.

I think it would be worth trying some antibiotic eye ointment, if you can find some. Ointment will stay on the eyes better then drops. Any product marketed for human use would be fine. I would also try "dry docking" the turtles for an hour or more after you apply the ointment. Dry docking is simply putting them in dry container after medicating them. This technique is used to treat shell infections as well. The turtles hate it but it gives the medication a chance to be absorbed rather then washed away.

Your tropical climate should be providing a high enough temperature which is the other critical component to keep their immune system fully functioning. Sliders love to bask and do need some time out of the water to keep their shell healthy. It would be ideal if you were able to provide some sun access while still allowing them the option of moving into the shade as needed.

Eye infections can progress to respiratory infections which very often need to be treated with systemic antibiotics. If you are not seeing improvement in the next several days I would strongly suggest that you try to find a willing veterinarian. Good luck with them.

This is the link to the TortoiseTrust article on eye problems in aquatic turtles.   

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/eyeprobs.htm