Closed sunken eyes

[evasachic]

Hi! I am having eye issues with my leo. Here are the stats... I am unsure if this started as burmentation and now developed into dehydration.... I need to buy a scale. He appears to have lost some weight, but he's not at the point that I would say he has a "stick tail". He looks about the size of the gecko in the first pic on this page.. http://www.wbeph.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/sticktail-in-leopard-geckoes.pdf (the one on the top left..) I am most concerned with his inability to open his eye when not in a humid container/bath. Any help or suggestions would be great appreciated!


About your leo:
- Sex- unsure
- Age & Weight- approx 8 months. unsure of weight
- How long have you owned your leo- 7 months
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend)- purchased at a petstore

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo- 1-2 times a week.
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. - Normally he is active, curious and interested in eating.
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe.- no problems before now
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal)- used to be normal, now there are very few due to lack of eating.
- When was the last time he/she went- a week ago
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on- Over the past few months, my gecko has become less active. I have a second adult gecko (in a separate housing unit) who has become less active as well. At first I thought it was burmentation. Now I am unsure. Over the past four or five sheds, my youngest gecko has had problems removing the skin from his head and his eyes. At one point I believe the eye cap was still attached, but since that time has come off. My gecko keeps his eyes closed most of the time. If I give him a bath or handle him, he will open one eye normally.. and the other will only open partially. (but from what I can see it is clear.) I now feel that the issue might be dehydration. His eyes appear to be sunken in.. in addition to being closed most of the time. He has become very inactive and spends most of his time on the warm side off his tank.

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size- 10 gallon
- Type (ex. glass tank)- glass
- Type of substrate- paper towels
- Hides, how many, what kind- one log hide on the warm (heating pad underneath, one dry on the cool, and one moist hide on the cool
B) Heating
- Heat source- heating pad, red bulb (60 watt)
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) hot side 92, cool 70
- Method of regulating heat source- I have different watts of bulbs based on temps required
- What are you using to measure your temps- zoo med- repti temp infrared sensor
- Do you have any lights (describe)- red 60 watt bulb on top of screen
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females)- 0
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much)- mealworms with the occasional wax worm (he always had a problem catching the crickets)
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect)- left in dish
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands)- zoo-med repti calcium- dusted on worms/ sprinkled in bowl
- What are you gut loading food with- mix of carrots, kale, grapes, etc.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

got any pics?

 

[evasachic]

This first picture is of his bad eye. He tends to squint and pull his eye further into his head. The second picture is of his good eye. (This eye is normally closed too when he is alone in his tank) The third is to get an idea if he's using up his reserves in his tail. Hmm.. I think he's going to shed again soon. His color appeared to lighten since his bath today.

 

[SC Geckos]

I would really consider taking this gecko to the vet ASAP. He looks like he is in pretty bad shape. I imagine that the eye issue is causing him alot of pain as well. Is that dried skin around his nose or some sort of discharge?
How often are you giving this animal "baths"?? They are from very arid areas and IMO should not be given "baths". Providing a humid hide and a water bowl is all that is needed for moisture. The only time I have ever gave a leo a quick soak was to assist with stuck shed.

 

[SC Geckos]

Do you offer any vitamin supplements??

 

[evasachic]

The white around the face is calcium powder that landed on his head while sprinkling in his dish.
The baths are a short soak in 1/4 inch water. He has some skin stuck to his back toe so I've been working to loose that up.

 

[evasachic]

No, not other than the calcium. The insects are gut loaded. I used to give his worms that orange cricket food, but ran out about a month ago and switched to veggies/fruit from the fridge.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Does the calcium have D3? It almost looks like he's got mouth rot, judging by the kind of wrinkly, rotten look around his mouth. What does the inside of it look like? Also, move the moist hide to the warm side. If it's over on the cold side, he's going to be much less reluctant to use it.

~Maggot

 

[evasachic]

Yes, the powder included D3.

Thanks, I have thought to move it over, but every where I read said to keep the moist on the cool.. but I know he loves the heat (at least now being that the house is cooler.)

I have read about mouth rot.. and I do not see any signs of that in him. His mouth is pretty pink inside.. no swelling, odd coloration, etc. His mouth is the last place to finish shedding tho. He's always having to scrap it along his hides to get it off.

 

[SC Geckos]

No, not other than the calcium. The insects are gut loaded. I used to give his worms that orange cricket food, but ran out about a month ago and switched to veggies/fruit from the fridge.

The gutload sounds fine. I would suggest getting a multivitamin supplement to mix in with the calcium and dust the feeders with. Something like Vionate (I use this) or Rapashy. Leave a small dish of these supplements in the enclosure at all times so the gecko can determine how much it needs.

As far as calcium with or without D3..... If you ask 5 different people you might get 5 different answers. lol. My opinion is calcium w/D3 is fine. I keep a dish with a mix of calcium w/D3 and vitamin sup. in all my enclosures at all times. I have been doing this with all of my leos for over 5 years with no ill effects what so ever.

I keep my humid hides half on the heat tape and half off. this works for me. Some keepers keep there humid hides on the cool side instead. I would suggest moving it around and try to get a feel for where your gecko prefers it.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I have read about mouth rot.. and I do not see any signs of that in him. His mouth is pretty pink inside.. no swelling, odd coloration, etc. His mouth is the last place to finish shedding tho. He's always having to scrap it along his hides to get it off.

Symptoms of mouth rot vary, but if you look at pics of it, you'll see where I got that idea:

As far as I can tell, your supplement doesn't contain any vitamin A, which would result in eye and shedding problems. I would suggest picking up Repashy Calcium Plus, which contains all the calcium and vitamins your gecko needs. Use it every feeding.

~Maggot

 

[evasachic]

Symptoms of mouth rot vary, but if you look at pics of it, you'll see where I got that idea:

As far as I can tell, your supplement doesn't contain any vitamin A, which would result in eye and shedding problems. I would suggest picking up Repashy Calcium Plus, which contains all the calcium and vitamins your gecko needs. Use it every feeding.

~Maggot

Thanks! I will pick that up tomorrow. I can see where the one picture may have appeared as mouth rot. After taking a second look, I think my little guy is in the clear.. as far as that is concerned. I'm hoping I can get him to eat soon and back on a healthy cycle.

 

[evasachic]

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to rearrange the furniture a bit so the moist hide can share a bit of the heat. I plan on picking up some Rapashy tomorrow. I guess instead of just dusting the insects.. and adding a random sprinkle... I will put a lid with the supplements. Hopefully this little guy will start to turn around!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I wouldn't just leave it in the enclosure. Since it has so much different stuff in it, your gecko can't really acquire the calcium without all the other stuff or vice versa. It's made to be used as a duster for every feeding. I would suggest following those instructions.

~Maggot