Eyes half open?

[bentzin]

My beardies eyes have been half open for about the last 2 days with every now and then see him fully alert but my dragon also hasnt been eating a lot. Cheeto just got done sheeding and seems like the colors are darker which i am sure is normal.

but any help will be great

 

[catUK]

What lights and UVB are you using? Bad UVBs can cause eye problems so it may be that. The not eating is probably down to the shedding- they can loose their appetite during a shed so no worries there.

 

[Adama]

Our beardie did that because of a bad UVB. We switched to a Reptisun 10.0 bulb and never looked back.

 

[reillyrebekahann]

Yeah, my boy Lance developed an eye problem kinda like that after I started using the Powersun 100w. Yet my girl Gilbert was fine with it. I stopped using the Powersun on him and am hoping that all will be well in a few weeks. He has shown no attempt to get away from the bulb though which is odd. He keeps his eyes closed then opens if it seems like something around his has changed, then closes them again.
Learning experience....

 

[bentzin]

I am just using the repti glo 10.0 with just a white spot light thats a zilla brand

 

[Adama]

Zilla was the bulb we had problems with. It was apparently a common issue. ZooMed Reptisun bulbs are great.

 

[BadCon]

If you are noticing eye issues with MVB's or any UV source, the first step should be to asses the minimum distances in your setup. For 100w MVB's, this should really be 13-14" from the TOP of the animal. The 12" figure quoted on the box is often a bit to optimistic, as even at 12" the UVB output is significantly higher then any flourescent tube UVB light. If you are using a higher power MVB, then the minumum distance is going to be significant...20" at least.
If you are using a florescent UVB source, such as a Reptisun 10.0 or Reptiglow 8.0, then make sure they can get between 6-8" of the bulb. These are generally safer at closer distances however (reptisun is anyways)...and rarely do these two bulbs have reported cases of eye issues. There are other brands on the market...none of which are highly regarded (sans our UK brothers/sisters and their Arcadia bulbs). So if you are using a UVB coil or unknown UVB tube, its probably best to get a Reptisun 10.0 and call it a day. The only two bulbs that are pretty much universally recommended for bearded dragons are the Reptisun 10.0 and the Arcadia D3+ 12%.

My biggest beef with MVB's is their "1 bulb" advertising...using 1 bulb for light and heat can often make it next to impossible to get a correct setup with either. At the safe UVB distances, there isn't enough heat. Move the bulb closer to get more heat and you are suddenly blinding your dragon. Its best to plan on using a separate heat source no matter your UVB source. At least this way you'll be prepared for anything.

 

[BadCon]

Zilla was the bulb we had problems with. It was apparently a common issue. ZooMed Reptisun bulbs are great.

Zilla spot lamps dont' emit UVB...they are just rebranded halogen spot lamps. They shouldn't be causing eye issues...they shouldn't even be capable of causing eye issues. You might be talking about another Zilla bulb however.

OP, are you using a Reptiglow 10.0 tube or coil bulb? Coil bulbs are small and screw into a normal socket, tubes are long and skinny, and need a specific ballast or fixture.

 

[Adama]

Sorry I just read Zilla and posted. I misread it and thought that was the brand of the UVB, not the basking light. Apologies.

 

[bentzin]

Yeah i got the tube bulb. the basking stick is about 2 inches from the top screen which has the white bulb right on top. the repti glo tube bulb is about 6 inches from my dragon

 

[BadCon]

Do you have any way to measure temps at the basking spot? 2" from the screen sounds pretty close...what wattage bulb are you using in the fixture over the basking spot? As for the reptiglow, just make sure he keeps his distance, and see if the eyes clear up. Its not uncommon for dragons to close their eyes when basking...and if its later in the evening or early in the morning, they might be partially asleep...hence the closed eyes when you reach down to grab him. If the eyes are closed for the majority of the day however, that's not good. I would look at diet and other possible issues. He could be suffering from parasites and that is sapping his energy.