Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

My eggs have finally hatched this week and I have 19 beautiful little guys running around in a 10 gallon tank for right now. I'm pretty new to all of this, so I will explain my setup and situation with hopes that somebody can help me.

I have a UVB/heat lamp above keeping the temperature in the tank between 85-100 and a mat for ground cover made for reptiles (looks like astro turf, but is more like cloth than plastic). I have a shallow water dish and a zoo med heat pad underneath one side of the tank. They are misted and fed greens everyday with some baby iggy food mixed in and I am slowly introducing crickets and a few of them have been eating them while others are still a little too young.

I've noticed that a few of the babies rub their eyes with their hind legs, and sometimes rub their eyes into the carpet and along the glass of the aquarium. They seem to eat and their activity seems normal, but I think they might have some sort of an eye infection. Although there isn't any mucous, or swelling, they just seem to be scratching a lot. If anybody has any insight into this, your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

BTW...These little guys are a riot. As this is my first experience with breeding, I have spent hours watching their behavior and it cracks me up. Never have I have owned a reptile with such personality.

Thanks in advance!!

It's hard to say what it could be, infection? egg substrate?
Does the substrate they are on have little fibers that could be getting in their eyes? If you see more then one of them doing it, it sounds like there is a problem.
Having them all in a 10 gallon tank is pretty risky. It would be better to get several rubbermade containers and put 3-5 beardies in each one. I'm not sure how you are getting the temp gradient they need in a 10 gallon with a UTH. With that many together, you may have tail and toe nipping in no time.

Thank you for the advise! I've removed the substate and went for paper towels for ease of cleaning and then separated them in rubbermaid sweater type boxes with 5 per box. Everybody seems to be fine and the eye scratching has stopped. Thank you again!