Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I work at a Petsmart, and we have a sick dragon. I can't remember what type it is, but I belive its a Chinese.

Anyway, we have 3, kept in a large tank, with a big cat litter type tray about 4 inches deep with water, and a smaller water bowl as well. There are fake plants and they are on bed-a-beast. They havea a basking spot of about 90, and eat crickets (gutloaded and dusted) everyday.

Hwever, one of them for about a week now has his eyes sealed shut with mucus. He was isolated as soon as I noticed (I'm in petcare), and I have been soaking him in lukewarm water with nutralyte mixed in. When I dunked his head, and held it under for a few seconds, he is able t open his eyes, but other than that, they stay shut.

I don't know if he is eating or not, as I'm only a junior in highschool, and work part time, so I can't tell if he eats all his crickets or not (None of them will eat infront of us, unlike the brown anoles lol). One time while soaking though he has a BM, so he must be getting something.

Thanks!
He should be going to the vet soon, but I would like to know anythign you guys have to say on the subject as well
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

If he's got his eyes sealed shut with mucus, its probably an infection or maybe he has something in his eye. Just today I had a bearded dragon with his eye sealed shut with gunk. I rinsed it out with a reptile eye rinse and it turns out he had sand stuck in there, so I changed his substrate.

I don't have too much experience with dragons, but the one I just rescued wouldn't eat crickets at all. If you can make him a salad of sprouts, parsnips, dandelion greens/collard greens and escarole, its easier to tell if their eating. Wax worms are also good to tempt him with. If theres any way to put a notepad over his cage and get people to record what they feed him, it might help to keep track of his diet (which is something the vet will ask)

Is he holding himself up and acting normal? Is he basking? For my sick dragon, the vet instructed me to keep temps between 80-90 degrees.
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1 crested gecko
1 RES
1 leucistic texas ratsnake
3 bullfrogs
1 dusky conure
4 australian shepherds
3 cats

Thanks for the quick reply

Basically, he just soaks all day his his bowl. When he opens his eyes, there is nothing in them, just mucus.

And the notepad idea is good, and I'll try the salad! Thanks!
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

I don't know where that other guy is getting his info, but water dragons don't eat salad, or anything else that isn't alive. At least mine never did. Waxworms are good though, and so are superworms or earthworms.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

____

sig file

Edited on January 29, 2005 at 09:35:37 by phwyvern.

Water dragons do eat greens, not as voraciously as say a bearded dragon, but it should be incorporated into their diet.

I would get him to the vet ASAP, it could be a variety of things and only a vet can really diagnose.

It sounds like you are doing well by him for the time being.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html

It has a feeding list and instructions for what to offer in the salad.
Link

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1 crested gecko
1 RES
1 leucistic texas ratsnake
3 bullfrogs
1 dusky conure
4 australian shepherds
3 cats

Ok, he went to the vet, and he has an eye infection. He has an oitment to put on, and he gets baytril every so often!

Thanks!
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix