Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 collared lizards and both are now starting to have eye trouble. The3 year old ones eyes are shut most of the time and I when I clean them there is some crusty and sticky stuff that comes out of it. I have been to the vet many of times and we have tried just about everything, I have the right amount of heat and a brand new uvb bulb and I am feeding both of baby food with vitamins and giving them regular doses of calcium that the vet gave me. The other lizard just recently started having eye trouble and we treated him for an infection not much changed. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what was going on and if anyone had ever experienced this. The vet and I think for now that it could be a viral infection do to the consent weather changes. I have the reptile sand from zoo med, I tried the reptile carpet and they had an allergenic reaction to it. I also tried paper towels a news paper for while. The temperature in the tank is at 95 right now, when it is warmer outside it is around 100 to 110 and the other side of the tank is at 88. The humidity is at 25 percent. They are in a 55 gallon tank with a couple leopard geckos which are doing great. I went to the vet with them and there are no signs of illness in them only the collared lizards. I know it is a territory problem because they have lived in the tank for about 3 years together. No new animal has come in and everyone has been wormed. I did go ahead and order a new uvb light bulb just in case that is the problem. I live in an apartment at school and the 55 gallon tank is in an armoire where there is enough air to circulate through it. At night the tank is around 78.

If anyone has any ideas please let me know

It sounds like you have quite the setup. A question; was this happening before you switched to the Zoomed substrate? Perhaps try something else. (If all else fails, you can go to newsprint. If no changes after treatment, then it's probably not substrate related. ) With the eyes, we often consider irritation from the substrate which is why it's being discussed so dilegently. I know with some substrates, if the humidity isn't bang on, it'll become irritating, while it's perfect at other times.
Another, perhaps unrelated tangent, is that desert animals often utilize hide spots with higher humidity and cooler temps. With my leopard gecko I'll lightly mist her hidespot on the cool end every few days. This may or may not be related to your animal's problems.

How are the lizards doing overall? If you want to persue this, perhaps call your vet and ask for a referral. Every vet will hit a dead end at times, and while a referral may be in the animal's best interests, it's also sometimes a relief for a frustrated vet.

Good luck with your collared's, they are really a handsome species

Ian