Hi, new to the forum. wanted to ask if anyone could help me. My young hermann tortoise seems to have a 'film' or slight goo of some sort affecting her eye. one is now near enough closing over. Took her to the vet and they didnt know anything about tortoises and referred me to another one further away but before i make an appointment i wondered if anyone could help! It seems to help when I bathe her and she can see more clearly? ty

are the nostrils clear i think the humidity might be too low,try bathing daily and placing a slighty damp flannel over the hide at night.

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the nostrils look clear and i can feel her breathing out of them. what do you mean by the humidity might be too low? how long do you recommend i bathe her for as iv heard of alot of dif times? thanks

What is the habitat - viv, table etc What temps are you using?

well iv just read tonight that a viv is not what should be used and this is the first iv heard!!! i researched before and when buying my first tortoise was told this was a great habitat! I have always had the front glass doors off and i have a uv light strip, a heat bulb and a heat mat under the viv to one side letting them go to the cool area if they like. at night the temp doesnt drop below 10, the hygometre says 60 (humid)? during the day it can reach up to 25-30 i think. they have fresh water , big enogh to bathe in but she doesnt seem to do this much anymore? ty

There is so much useless information out there Most books found in pet shops etc are not much use and as people tend to go for the cheap option with literature for pets, they miss out on the only decent books out there. Carapace press is the place to fidn the best advice on tortoises, absolutely loads to choose from there.
When you look at a tortoises natural habitat a viv in no way imitates it, keeping temps all boxed up and giving very limited floor area. Tortoises tend to attempt to climb the walls and scratch in corners in an attempt to thermoregulate whic of course is impossible for them. Eventually kidneys start to give up, bladder stones often form and the torts life is often shortened from 100 years to around 5-6 Heat matts are very dangerous as a sleeping tortoise can dehydrate very quickly. Once the urates solidify it is a difficult process to get things back to normal. Your tortoise will have stopped bathing due to the humidity levels which which will also contribute to eye problems and possible RNS
I would look to changing the habitat ASAP if I was you.

As been said you need to change the setup and bath daily for 10/15mins and see how things go. Check that any vet you see is traind to deal with torts as some will try or are a novice with them and will do more harm then good.Is the tort UKCB.

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So a tortoise table would be much better i see here. im very worried now!!! i thought they were in the right habitat! for just now do you suggest i get rid of the heat mat? i will look into getting a tortoise table instead, ty

hi i had a viv and got told from this forum last night to turn the viv on its back, remove the doors. its just like a tort table but higer sides. my tort loves it going to get some top soil today to put in wiv the sand.

i also av heat mat and am taking it out as that what i got told was best

yes the tort is UKCB, I thought she might not be as active due to it being winter and i was trying to keep her active? ty