Re: Sulcata Problem

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Posted by Georgia on December 16, 2000 at 10:46:34:

In Reply to: Sulcata Problem posted by Dan on December 16, 2000 at 05:53:23:

For his eyes...try a little saline solution used for contacts to rinse out his eyes. The change in ground cover maybe irrating his eyes. Just a tiny drop in each eye. If it doesn't get better take him to the vet. You should anyway for health check...very important. I think the tort nurse is right.

: I have a Sulcata hatchling that we have had for a month now. At first he was kept in a 10 gal aquarium with Calci-sand as a substrate, but last week we built a larger enclosure and use some kind of Zoo-Med reptile bark chips as a substrate. On the sand the little fellow (Travis), was doing fine. Now I notice he seems to be rubbing at his eyes now and then, and his eyes seem like he can't open them. After I give him a nice soak, his eyes open, but they don't look as good as they did before. Also, his appetitie seems to be down. In the old tank he ate like a pig, now it is so-so. I do think I had the new enclosure too warm. I had the under-tank heat pad, a 150 watt heat emmitter, and a 150 basking bulb all on at once during the day. I have 3 thermometers in the enclosure, one read 90, one under the basking light read 120 (but if I felt where it was it didn't seem that hot, then in the cooler spot it was about 75. I think this is too hot, so I removed the basking bulb and put in a 40w.

: What do you think, is it the substrate, the heat, or do I have a sick Sulcata?

: Thanks,

: Dan

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: For his eyes...try a little saline solution used for contacts to rinse out his eyes. The change in ground cover maybe irrating his eyes. Just a tiny drop in each eye. If it doesn't get better take him to the vet. You should anyway for health check...very important. I think the tort nurse is right. : : : I have a Sulcata hatchling that we have had for a month now. At first he was kept in a 10 gal aquarium with Calci-sand as a substrate, but last week we built a larger enclosure and use some kind of Zoo-Med reptile bark chips as a substrate. On the sand the little fellow (Travis), was doing fine. Now I notice he seems to be rubbing at his eyes now and then, and his eyes seem like he can't open them. After I give him a nice soak, his eyes open, but they don't look as good as they did before. Also, his appetitie seems to be down. In the old tank he ate like a pig, now it is so-so. I do think I had the new enclosure too warm. I had the under-tank heat pad, a 150 watt heat emmitter, and a 150 basking bulb all on at once during the day. I have 3 thermometers in the enclosure, one read 90, one under the basking light read 120 (but if I felt where it was it didn't seem that hot, then in the cooler spot it was about 75. I think this is too hot, so I removed the basking bulb and put in a 40w. : : What do you think, is it the substrate, the heat, or do I have a sick Sulcata? : : Thanks, : : Dan

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