Not Opening One Eye

[Kellsterk]

I have had my beardie "Rex" for one week. He was purchased at a chain store and is believed to be about six weeks old. He measures about 6" long. Yesterday he started not opening one of his eyes. He will open but then close and keep closed most of the time.

Here are specifics:
Housing: 40 gallon breeder tank
Substrate:Non-adhesive shelf liner
UVB: Reptisun 10 tube 24"
Basking Light: GE ENERGY efficient Halogen Indoor/Outdoor Flood Light (replaces 90-120 watt) 1900 lumens, 2900 kelvin
Add'l Lighting for cool side brightness: 25 watt clear regular household lightbulb
Feeding: crickets, collard greens, mustard greens, acorn squash (cooked), Apple and repti cal Juvenile Bearded Dragon pellets

Gut loaded crickets are being dusted with Flukers calcium w/vitamin D3 first feeding 5x weekly and Rep-Cal Herptivite first feeding 2x weekly. Eating at most 15 crix daily though that is at most. Eats a little salad maybe 2-3 bites per day. Has water dish in tank, veggies misted several times each day and has had three baths. Also have misted him a few times.

Thus far I have always had to move him to his basking spot each morning even though his lights have been on already for an hour. Has been quite active at other times running around tank, trying to climb walls, etc.

Today has not yet eaten or seemed interested in eating and of course crickets keep moving to his side with closed eye. I am going to run and get saline solution to try and flush his eye but wondered if anyone had other thoughts??

Thank you and so glad I found this site before getting "Rex" as I am sure would have incorrect setup otherwise. Pet store asked no questions and just handed him over

Thanks for any input/advice!

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. What are the temps on the basking surface? How do you take the temps? It sound like it might be to hot for him. Also is your basking light right beside the uvb? How far is he from the uvb?

 

[Kellsterk]

Thanks for responding and trying to help us out. His UVB light is hanging inside along the back wall of his tank. His basking spot is in front of that light and he basks anywhere from 8 to 8 1/2 inches away. His basking temps have been running around 104-107 and are measured with an infrared heat gun. I purchased saline drops from the infant section of my local drug store but how do I rinse his eye if it is shut? I tried to gently open his eye lid without success. I don't want to hurt the little guy! Any help is greatly appreciated. He has not eaten anything today.....seems to have zero interest and has not passed a stool today either.

 

[Dante]

well when my beardie was smaller she did this to me also but she still ate lol. does your beardie close the eye facing you or no?

 

[Kellsterk]

It is his left eye. Though now I'm wondering if it has something to do with shedding as late this afternoon his entire tail shed. Guess that explains why his tale was looking so dull. He did have a BM and ate 8 crix too. Just trying to make sure he's healthy and happy as we love him already!!!!

 

[destiny1998]

Well your set up sounds good. So I guess just keep up with the drops and hopefully its just a shed starting. Good luck

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Could you post a picture of your tank setup?
You mentioned the Reptisun 10 tube bulb was mounted on the back wall, so it isn't directly overhead correct?

The eye could be irritated from shedding but also from some glare off of the light of the UVB too. When they are mounted that way, it is too close to eye level & the UVB refracts outward instead of downward onto the dragon. Can you try to mount it directly overhead underneath of the screen top?

Your overall set up sounds great though, so everything else is fantastic. Do you have a picture of your dragon too?

Tracie

 

[Kellsterk]

Here are a couple pix of our setup. Please let me know if light is mounted incorrectly. His eye seems to be a lot better so was thinking it had something to do with shed. I flushed a couple of times with saline.



Also since you asked, here is a close up of our Rex!



Thank you for helping!