If you notice that your sulcata is crying, it’s not because he’s sad. There are actually a number of reason why your tortoise is crying. Weepy eyes can be a sign of regular drainage, dehydration, injury or respiratory infection.
Regular Drainage
Tortoises do not have regular tear ducts to allow tears or any eye secretions to drain. Instead, any drainage your tortoise has will just leak down his face.
Dry Environment or Habitat
If your baby sulcata is crying in an indoor enclosure, it could be because the habitat is too dry. Increase the humidity in the enclosure to keep the dust down. Install a humidifier or fogger.
If you have an adult sulcata living outside and you see tears, it’s a little harder to adjust the humidity. Try to increase the soaks to help protect against dryness.
Dehydrated
If your sulcata is dehydrated, you may notice weepy eyes amongst other signs of dehydration. If your tortoise is dehydrated, increase soaks and make sure to always have water available. Try offering electrolytes for your tortoise. However, severe dehydration needs to be treated by a veterinarian.
Injury
Inspect your tortoise for any injuries to the eyes or face. Crying could be a response for the body to naturally heal any scrapes. If there is an injury, consider Terramycin or Neomycin drops, however if it doesn’t heal up in a few days, consult your veterinarian.
Respiratory Infection
Puffy, leaky eyes can be a sign of a respiratory infection in tortoises, which is actually quite common. Typically, respiratory infections are caused by incorrect habitat conditions, such as too low temps. You can treat mild respiratory infections at home by increasing the temps and correcting any husbandry issues, but they can progress quickly. You may need to consult a reptile veterinarian for treatment.
Signs of Healthy Eyes
Your sulcata’s eyes should be bright and clear. The eyes should be wide open and alert, and the third eyelid, which is in the corner of the eye, should be barely visible.
