Restore to good health in baby turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans with chronic anorexia and blind eyes

Abstract

As the first case, a baby red eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, 1.77 inches long, with a 4 month history of anorexia and blind eyes was referred to the Aquatic Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Iran. The eyes of the pet were swollen and he was not active in swimming and feeling around. In the clinic, after stress treatment, he was kept in a clean aquarium containing a rock for him to get on. Water temperature in the aquarium was set at 27-29°C. As the basic treatment, the animal was fed with trash fish and shrimp minced with cod liver oil during treatment. As its eyes opened, the baby turtle was treated with a drop of ciprofloxacin (%0.3 ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) eye drop two times a day for prevention of any secondary infections. The case was diagnosed as vitamin A deficient baby turtle. It was restored to good health after three weeks following the prescribed treatments. The results of the investigation of this case show the need for special care in the feeding of baby turtles as they are kept as pets.