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My red ear slider's eyes are closed and he won't eat. What's wrong?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Unknown - Small Animal | Male

Actually my red ear slider turtle is not well. His both the eyes are closed from last 1month because of that he does not eat anything. I consulted 2 doctors but as such no improvement. They give multi vitamins enjection and feeds him but no improvement. Even yesterday after feeding bleeding has happened. Please help with any best doctor or medicines

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 14th, 2018

Most eye issues in red eared sliders is related to a vitamin A deficiency. This deficiency is caused by improper diet. You must correct his diet in order for him to get well. You also need to make sure everything else is correct - water temperature, basking temperature, cage size, etc.

( https://www.petcoach.co/article/vitamin-a-deficiency-signs-diagnosis-treatment-and-preventi/ )

Please realize that reptiles have a very slow metabolism. It takes a long time for them to show illness and subsequently, a long time to get well. So, this is not a quick fix. It may take months before he is back to normal.

Be careful over-supplementing with Vitamin A, more is not better. You can cause an overdose if you give too much. That is why it is best to work with your vet. It sounds like they are on the right track with treatment.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 22nd, 2019
Sounds like a vitamin A deficiency. Number one reason for this is improper diet. I suggest you refer to this link:

( https://www.petplace.com/article/reptiles/general/vitamin-a-deficiency-hypovitaminosis-a-in-turtles/ )
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 28th, 2017
A vet exam is always recommended. IT appears to be Vitamin A deficiency - I think the fountain thing was just a coincidence.

You can buy a Vitamin A eye drop to start putting in the eyes:

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-repti-turtle-eye-drops

Next, start him on a good diet. I don't know what you are currently feeding but I recommend this diet.

https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-fresh-water-turtle-food-12-oz/dp/124764

Hope this helps. Best wishes!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM
Veterinarian
Published on March 11th, 2019
Thanks for your question about Toby, and I am sorry that this is happening to the two of you. Reptiles are very good about hiding their illness for long periods of time, so it is possible that he has been sick for a longer time frame than just a few days. The majority of the problems that are present in reptiles are caused by suboptimal husbandry, so I would recommend looking at that closely and making adjustments as needed. This would include the areas of temperature, UV lighting, water quality, and diet. I am not sure of the availability of a veterinarian in your area, but an evaluation would be recommended. They can discuss the husbandry with you and make suggestions to help to make it perfect. They can also perform an examination and may recommend diagnostic testing, such as radiographs (x-rays) or blood work.
I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Toby feels better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on January 7th, 2020
Clean the area daily. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to gently scrub affected areas. Keep him out of the water for about an hour after each cleaning. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Clean water is critical to his recovery. You should see the spots start to decrease in size with treatment.
Make sure the water is warm and ambient temps are within range for a slider. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can use bits of raw beef heart to stimulate his appetite. Offer a balanced diet including feeder fish, nightcrawlers, fresh greens and some commercial pellets. Feed him in the water and remove any uneaten food promptly.
You can review slider care at the links below.

http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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