Eye issue

[ladygypsie]

Maybe this doesn't belong here but I'm FREAKING out! Sebastian's one eye is closed and he's being kind of moody. I left for a few hours and came home to this eye issue. What do I do?

 

[Spikey07]

What type and brand of UVB bulb do you have?
Is it a tube or coil bulb?
How close can he get to it?
What substrate do you have in his tank?

 

[ladygypsie]

It's a Repti Glo 10.0 UVB 26W coil bulb.
He has repticarpet in his cage.
He is about 5 or five inches from it in his basking spot

 

[Kaiser]

It could be the particular UVB bulb you are using.

The best UVB light is a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube (Or Arcardia 12% in the UK). Compact or coil bulbs do not emit the proper amount of UVB light for a bearded dragon, and should not be used. Other brands, such as the Zilla Desert Series and ReptiGlo have been known to cause eye problems and other health issues with bearded dragons, and should be avoided. The reason that some UVB lights (Zilla, ReptiGlo, coils/compacts, ect.) are considered dangerous is because the wavelength of UVB that they emit is shorter and more intense than the wavelength of the "safe" lights (ReptiSun, Arcadia).

This excerpt is taken from the following stickied thread: http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=148006.

What is quoted here is what many of the users on this site believe. If you think that this may be the cause of your bearded dragon's eye issue, you should turn off the UVB light (they will be okay without the light for a few days) and invest in either the ReptiSun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12% (which is now sold in the U.S. as well, not just in the UK) and try it out to see if it makes a difference. You can order either through online retailers (e.g., ReptiSun 10.0: http://www.petco.com/, http://www.petmountain.com/; Arcadia 12%: http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/ in the U.S.), or check your local pet stores (I know only some Petco stores stock the ReptiSun 10.0).

Also, with all UVB lights, make sure your bearded dragon is at a safe and recommended distance (e.g., typically 6 to 10 inches, but may vary depend on the type and brand of bulb) from the UVB light.

 

[ladygypsie]

So if I buy a long light tomorrow should I put it on right away?

 

[Kaiser]

Yes, you could try it out right away if you get the chance.

 

[ladygypsie]

Would it be better to get a shorter basking place? Maybe he's too close to it

 

[Kaiser]

You could try that if you think that the light itself is not the problem. But if the problem persists, it may be the light itself. Safest bet would be to just switch to one of the recommended brands/types and adjust the distance accordingly.

Note that even if it were not the light causing this particular eye problem, the type of light bulb you have right now is not recommended in general due its inadequate UVB output for bearded dragons. It'd probably be better to just invest in one of the recommended brands for safety and proper lighting.

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

Coil bulbs seem to be causing a whole bunch of eye issues in beardies, and I highly reccomend for you to switch it to the Reptisun 10.o tube or the arcadia. The sooner the better, but you should turn off the one you have now. The UVB light has an uncanny effect on the health of your beardie, and is one of the most important things in the setup.

Please keep us informed on his health! I hope he feels better soon!