Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if my allis were dehydrated. Today, i was observing them VERY closely, amazing none of them really cared i was 2 inches away from them and continued sleeping lol, and noticed that there were these "bags" under the eyes of the lizards. I remember reading in a older post stating that if there are dark spots under the eye, then they are dehydrated. I can't find this so, since i mist everday, and i have a constantly filled water bowl. Would any of you guys have suggestions to rehydrate my lizards?

My recommendation is to stop misting. Dark spots could be the aftermath of the individuals habitat being to moist. I have lost lizards do to this. I have done dehydration studies and found if the lizard knows where its water source is and the source is dry it will commonly sit in the bowl in anticipation for water. As long as the water is available I would not worry about it. Another note, I don’t mist mine at all and they always seem happy

My reptile research and collection

It doesn't sound like they're dehydrated. Maybe you could post a picture? As long as they are of good weight, appear healthy and are eating normally I wouldn't worry.

-Alice

I can't post a picture right now, as my dad's camera got sacked at the airport (lol). I never knew misting was bad for them, thanks for that tip. So you guys are saying that lizards WILL find and use their water bowls? I have one in my big alli cage and all they do is poop in it >_<

What i meant about the dark spots are that they seem to be more prominent. I see this, i guess, imagine dark "bags" like what you or i would get if we didn't sleep for a while. I find this weird since one of my alli has this and the other seems to have less of it. My question was what does this mean, and i thought they were dehydrated but i guess they can find their own water. Thanks for the help!

There's no problem with occaisional misting. If you suspect that they're not using their water bowl, it's a good idea. I occaisionally mist my juvies because it helps with shedding.

I'm really just guessing about the bags, but they could be fat deposits. I had to cut mealworms totally out of my guys' diet because they were getting obese, their lids did look a bit swollen, but it was pretty subtle. Are you supplementing with a phospherus free calcium supplement? Sometimes calcium deficiency can cause physical changes like this. But, if it were calcium deficiency, you should also be noticing things like diminished jaw strength.

Could you fill us in on your husbandry and feeding regime?

-Alice

As far as deficiencies go the first sign I have always noticed of MBD setting in as swelling starting at the rear of the lower jaw as well as in the limbs. I should also note I have never observed MBD in E. Multicarinata. Most of my knowledge of the disease comes from a couple I. Iguanas I had acquired several years ago “Both individuals died from it” As far as misting goes. I had a hatchling Physignathus Cocincinus a couple years ago. I was told to mist the cage daily as I did and the individual developed sores all over its body. They started out as little spots of discoloration on the skin and after a week or so they were scabbed over. There must have been 80 different sores on it. After posting pictures here on kingsnake.com and consulting a vet we determined the soars were do directly to the relative humidity in the enclosure being to high “My fault” I lowered the humidity and started treating the soars “Sorry I don’t remember what I used” The individual died a few days after treatment started. That is the extent of my experience with the subject. As stated before I have done research on reptiles dehydration specific to E. Multicarinata and found all my study individuals when dehydration would begin to set in they would virtually spend the whole day sitting in there water dish as if they were anticipating the wet season setting back in, much the same way Crocks in Africa burry themselves in the mud when the ponds dry up. The best bit of advice I can give you is to run the individual to your local vet. It should only take a quick office visit to find out what the “bags” under the eyes are. My vet only charges about $10-15 for an office visit and since there was a 2 year downtime in the species occurrence here the little bit of cash is well worth it. If it is dehydrated more pet stores who carry herp pets or products sell a special med that helps to rehydrate lizards and snakes. Please keep us informed.

My reptile research and collection

just how the allis are. ive noticed what you are talking about before on most all of my w/c individuals, and its jsut how they are. as you know, most of their body is covered with large keeled armor-like scales, and to me, this area seems to be an area not covered by those large scales. its just a spot of soft skin, thats all. i dont know what it serves a purpose as, mabe to reduce the glare of sun into their eyes while basking or something...
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1.1 Western redback chuckwallas(philbert & unnamed)
5 green sunfish
Striped raphale catfish
Common Plecaustomouse
3 coyfish
0.1.1-sandiego gopher snakes
1.3-coturnix quail
0.1-cockatiel( R.I.P)ironic she was named casper...
1.1(fixed) cats-eddie/buzz
Where the heck would a cali. kingsnake run off to?!?!?!

Those "dark spots" are visible on my current Alligator Lizard too. Like herpsaremylife said, they appear to just be skin that isn't covered by scales.

I have a ~20 gallon TALL tank. I use as my substrate paper towels, and for decoration i have a large basking/climbing stick, plastic bush, and water bowl.

Temp is around 90 degrees on hot side.

Not sure about humidity though. But i don't mist as much anymore.

i ALWAYS use calcium supplement for my allis. Unless you count those times when my dad decides to do me a favor and feeds them himself w/o the powder. BTW, my powder is Reptocal: Calcium and Vitamin D3 Supplements. This IS the correct one right?

Here's a somewhat older pic:

I did changed the substrate, and removed that cheese log since he kept hiding in there

Your als all look great, fat and happy. I don't see anything out of the ordinary with them. Your husbandry also seems fine. I don't think you have anything to worry about

-Alice