Beardie Closing One Eye

[sparrowstune]

Hello, I have a question. My beardie of 5-7 months old (owned for less than 1 month) is acting like his right eye (and sometimes both) are irritated. He closes his one eye and keeps the other opens. Sometimes closes both. This is a very frequent behavior through out the day. Sometimes his one eye is closed while he chases crickets or Dubai.

I already took him back to ask them to take him to the vet(for free under warranty), they had him for three days and said he’s fine.... so I picked him up.

Tank and care;

Basking spot 105 - cool side 70 - plenty of shade in both sides if needed - 40 gal b tank - had the coil uvb but ditched it two days ago because of what I’ve heard - eats beardie safe greens crickets and Dubai - I have the murcury all in one bulb now (about 10“ away to obtain 105 degrees), mist him twice a day and try to give him a bath once a week (he hates baths and just stands still for 15 min until I put my hand in and hops on me, if I put water on him he gets super angry but doesn’t bite) - has been lethargic on and off and so has his appetite -Also dark beard off and on throughout the day. - ceramic heat on one side at night - looks to be shedding- humidity goal 35-40 average 30

Extra info
The last two days he has been sick looking. Dark body and beard, runny poo, and loss of appetite and not basking at all, just hiding. After being so worried I decided to show him I wasn’t afraid of his huffing and puffing and gave him a bath and gently put water all over him while he was angry. But I didn’t give up, after doing this for 10 mins he puckered up and swam away from my hand (he has never swam before only stood still or freaked out) then came back. He did this several times and looked like he really enjoyed it(it was so cute). He went back and forth from my hand to the end of the bath. Until he suddenly started freaking out and trying to get out. I then wrapped him in a blanket (which he hates too) and placed him in on a warm rice bag for a while. Then put him on his basking spot. After warming up I put some crickets in his tank and I could tell he was curious. He then cased crickets fairly fast. Ate plenty then basked for a while. After an hour he looks so healthy. In fact the stress markings on his belly tht have been there the month I have had him looked almost gone. His color came back and he seems to have better energy. Baths everyday going forward.... had to have been dehydrated?

But he is still closing one eye.

Thanks for any help!

 

[KeyBlu422]

Well, it is probably the MVB. Some coil compact UVB bulbs do now offer similar performance in a smaller, more focused area. While tubes are the best, compact UVB bulbs like Exo Terra's work just fine(I use it myself). However, because of the intensity, beardies tend to close one eye when there's a compact bulb or MVB that they're basking under. When technology like this first came out, it could cause serious eye damage. Nowadays, while they are still not the #1 choice, MVBs and compact bulbs offer decent performance but still irritate the eye. Fortunately, in most cases, nothing will happen.

 

[KeyBlu422]

About how he closes his eye when chasing dubia, that's pretty weird. My beardy usually only does it for a couple seconds at a time when he's basking, not when he's hunting. Hmm, must be pretty weird chasing a bunch of bugs with only one eye open!

 

[sparrowstune]

Well, it is probably the MVB. Some coil compact UVB bulbs do now offer similar performance in a smaller, more focused area. While tubes are the best, compact UVB bulbs like Exo Terra's work just fine(I use it myself). However, because of the intensity, beardies tend to close one eye when there's a compact bulb or MVB that they're basking under. When technology like this first came out, it could cause serious eye damage. Nowadays, while they are still not the #1 choice, MVBs and compact bulbs offer decent performance but still irritate the eye. Fortunately, in most cases, nothing will happen.

Thank you for your answer! So, should I give it a few more days and see how he does? He seems to be doing pretty good right now. If he looks sick because of the MVB I will ditch it and buy the tube. Trying to save money (newlywed).

 

[KeyBlu422]

Ah yes, reptiles aren't the cheapest things in the world. If he seems to be doing great, there's nothing to worry about. If he starts to try and hide away from it or something like that, then there's a problem. If he just closes his eye a few times a day but acts normal the rest of the time(like if he's getting his crickets as fast and accurately as before), he's probably fine. I was originally worried myself but, after a while of using it and him not doing anything abnormal, I got used to it. Plus, the newer threads on this forum and some newer articles on these MVBs and compact bulbs all give them the OK(I was originally reading all the old articles like when they first released or a couple years after, I started seeing newer threads and articles that said they, while tubes are preferred, do just fine ; offering similar performance in a smaller, more focused radius.

 

[KeyBlu422]

https://joshsfrogs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201197817-What-UVB-bulb-is-best-for-my-pet-reptile-or-amphibian-

Here's one source. If you need more for reassurance, I can provide more.

 

[KeyBlu422]

Also, even tube uvbs can cause them to close their eyes. Don't worry, if they're not comfortable they'll move away.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=233926

 

[sparrowstune]

https://joshsfrogs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201197817-What-UVB-bulb-is-best-for-my-pet-reptile-or-amphibian-

Here's one source. If you need more for reassurance, I can provide more.

Thanks so much for your help!! I have this ;

Exo Terra Solar-Glo High Intensity Self-Ballasted Uv/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp - is that brand ok?

 

[CooperDragon]

I've read mixed reviews about the Solar Glo. Some of them have been known to degrade quickly and not provide adequate output. For MVB the best way to go based on what I've read and tested is the PowerSun and MegaRay bulbs.

 

[sparrowstune]

I've read mixed reviews about the Solar Glo. Some of them have been known to degrade quickly and not provide adequate output. For MVB the best way to go based on what I've read and tested is the PowerSun and MegaRay bulbs.

Thank you! Since I already bought it, are there signs in my beard is I should be looking for? (If it’s not enough uv/uvb exposer - to give it a test) or should I just chuck it and get the suggested?

 

[KeyBlu422]

I've read mixed reviews about the Solar Glo. Some of them have been known to degrade quickly and not provide adequate output. For MVB the best way to go based on what I've read and tested is the PowerSun and MegaRay bulbs.

Thank you! Since I already bought it, are there signs in my beard is I should be looking for? (If it’s not enough uv/uvb exposer - to give it a test) or should I just chuck it and get the suggested?

The only way to tell if it's not putting out enough UVB is to buy a solar meter(pretty expensive tool) or use it for a while to the point that your beardy develops minor MBD(which can be expensive to assist with vet treatment and is possibly irreversible ; in some cases, calci worms seem to have slightly reversed MBD stricken reptiles but not always)

I used the repti sun MVB in the past, it was pretty good. I don't have any experience with the solar glo so I can't tell you much about it. I can only ask you if you're willing to chance it or go spend about $30 on an exo terra bask and compact uvb bulb, plus lamps to hold the bulbs or bask bulb and t5 tube UVB which also requires a fixture to hold the tube.

 

[KeyBlu422]

Note : in my previous post, if I came off as rude, I'm sorry. I was just trying to present all your options while also presenting the consequences of certain options should they be chosen

 

[EllenD]

First of all, the SolarGlo is notorious for causing issues with Bearded Dragons simply because it does not put out enough UVB light for them. As far as MVB lights go, it's at the bottom of the list for Desert Reptiles, but is fine for Tropical Reptiles that don't require such strong UVB/UVA light. Every single post I've ever seen written with these exact issues that had the owner using a SolarGlo MVB ended with the owner either buying a MegaRay or Arcadia MVB since they already had the fixture for an MVB, or with the owner simply adding a long T5 strength UVB tube on top of the mesh lid to the 40-gallon Breeder tank..however, if he's having eye issues, as already mentioned, I'd totally remove the SolarGlo and either order either a MegaRay or an Arcadia MVB (100 watt for a 40 Gallon Breeder Tank, not the 160 watt, that would cook him). This will not only resolve the eye issue, but it will head off the calcium deficiency and MBD that pretty much always comes along with people using a SolarGlo MVB over a Bearded Dragon. Again, it's not a "bad" MVB for a Tropical Reptile who doesn't need 13-14 hours a day of strong UVB/UVA light, but as far as the Beardies who have been put underneath them, the SolarGlo MVB lights always end in MBD. Always.

Here's an urgent question for you, that may very well explain his "hiding" and such, even more so than the SolarGlo MVB light, and is a very common issue for new Dragon owners:

What type of thermometer are you using to measure his temperature zones? I'm asking because you listed only 2 temperature zones, not 3. There are actually 3 temperature zones inside a Bearded Dragon's tank, and if you are only using stick-on thermometers to measure his temperature zones, then you have a serious problem, as stick-on thermometers CAN ONLY MEASURE AMBIENT/AIR TEMPERATURES, THEY CANNOT MEASURE SURFACE TEMPERATURES!

If you are using either a Temperature Gun or a Digital Probe Thermometer to measure his Basking Spot Surface Temperature, and that "107 degrees" you are getting is actually the Basking Spot Surface Temperature that was taken with either a Temperature Gun or a Probe directly on his basking spot/platform, then disregard this entire section of my post...

HOWEVER, if you are only using stick-on thermometers, and that 107 degrees is actually being read from a stick-on thermometer that is located in the Hot Side of his tank, THEN THIS IS NOT AT ALL HIS "BASKING SPOT TEMPERATURE", BUT RATHER THE "HOT SIDE AMBIENT (air) TEMPERATURE, WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE BETWEEN 88-93 DEGREES!!!

You see the problem, and it's a major, major problem. Again, if you're getting that 107 degrees from a stick-on thermometer that is located within the Hot Side of his tank, and you're mistakenly thinking that this is his Basking Spot Temperature, then this is your #1 issue, and it needs fixed immediately, as that stick-on thermometer located within the Hot Side of his tank should read 93 degrees maximum, and about 88 degrees at the lowest!!!

So this means that his Hot Side Ambient (air) Temperature is actually 107 degrees F, when it should only be between 88-93 degrees F. And it also means that his actual Basking Spot Temperature, which is a SURFACE Temperature that can only be taken with either a Temperature Gun or with a Probe Thermometer, and should only be between 105-110 degrees F maximum for a Dragon under a year old, and between 100-105 degrees for a Dragon over a year old, is probably up around 120 degrees or higher, as it is going to naturally be much higher than the Air Temperature surrounding it, which is why the Hot Side Ambient (air) Temperature can only be a maximum of 88-93 degrees.

So again, if you are using either a Temperature Gun or a Probe Thermometer, and that 107 degrees was taken by either of these types of thermometer right from the SURFACE of the Basking Spot/Platform, then you're fine...HOWEVER, if that 107 degrees came from a stick-on thermometer that is stuck to the glass in the Hot Side of the tank, then that is not the Basking Spot Surface Temperature, but rather the Hot Side Ambient (air) Temperature, as stick-on thermometers can only read Ambient/Air Temperatures, and should only be between 88-93 degrees maximum, and you're literally cooking your dragon, which is why he's hiding, severely dehydrated, and sick!!!!

 

[sparrowstune]

THANK YOU SO much for your help. I didnt get an email when you posted so I forgot to look at this post. Yes I am using a temp gun, THANK YOU! Also, I am very concerned about MBD because i'm using a MVB. I ordered a t5 10.0 TODAY and will install it ASAP. His jaw is making a clicking noise.

Here is a video of it. He has always has a kink in his tail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDfdBu_0LGM&t=6s