Not beardie- bluebelly

[LilStinkpot]

I work at a machine shop, and the owner came in with a little bluebelly hatchling, all covered in oil and little metal shavings. I know he's no beardie, but they are so darned similar, I wish I can help him!

I got him as washed up as I can- he's only two inches long- and looked him over under the microscope to check for my worst fear- that he might have aspirated some oil. He did. :shock: What can I do, here? I am still at work for another two hours. I have a warm light, tissues, warm soapy water, Q-tips.... He must have gotten into something else pretty bad, as some of his scales are coming off. It can't be the oil, that's just canola oil, but there isn't much else out there that could cause that. I'll try wiping off more oil with a Q-tip. If I can just get him through the night....

Good gosh, I gotta do first aid with a microscope!

 

[LilStinkpot]

Well, we got home, and I put the little baby in a tank with a slab of cork and a heat lamp. If he makes it the next few days I'll rig up my old Powersun MVB for him to catch some rays. Not the best bulb out there, by far, but that's the only spare I have--good enough for a few days emergency use; if we get that far.

The little lizard had his eyes open for a little while, and they both looked uninjured, though still oily. That should clear up on it's own. I am worried for his skin, though-- there are a bunch of blue patches where the scales rubbed off, mostly along the back, legs and head.

I want to note that I have small hands. He's TINY, oh my gosh, he's tiny!I wasn't kidding when I said I needed a microscope to treat the little guy.

Right before I left work I took a few minutes to wick some more oil out of his nose. I saw him breathing pretty deep a few minutes ago, so I don't think the oil got very far up there. I hope he doesn't get an infection. He just pooped a couple drops if it, though. Eeegh, Heaven only knows what THAT is doing to his system!

Should I provide some cover yet? How soon should I worry about food?

 

[LilStinkpot]

As hard as I tried, the little guy died this morning. I guess he was out in the shop too long before we found him, and was too sick to help.

 

[tonid]

Ah, that's so sad. You tried your hardest to save the little thing

 

[ChinelleKitten]

Oh, that IS sad . But i am sure you made the last little bit of his time much better than if you haddn't taken care of him. It was kind of you to help him.