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My tortoise has red eyes. Is it normal, or a sign of infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Reptile | Tortoise

Hi there, I m Alexis and I am from Malaysia. I have an Indian Star tortoise. Recently I noticed that its eyes are a little red. Does tortoises' eyes always have a little redness in them or is there is something else (ie maybe there is an infection or something).

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 28th, 2019

Hello Alexis! Thank you for using PetCoach. Without seeing the redness in the eyes myself it is difficult for me to say if there is a problem or not. I can tell you that one of the problems we see with tortoises and turtles is hypovitaminosis A (low vitamin A levels in the blood) which can cause eye problems. This low vitamin A typically happens when the tortoise is not being a fed a diet that is quite right and/or he is not getting the proper lighting. So, I suggest you refer to the link below about how to properly feed and provide lighting for your tortoise. If the eyes become swollen and he can't open them, then I would be worried. ( https://www.reptilecentre.com/info-indian-star-tortoise-care-sheet ) I hope this helps. Best wishes.

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