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I just got a resuced Northern fence lizard. I was told it was a western but I'm think it's a Northern. I wasn't told that it had any problems but when I got it home I took a close look at it and one eye has some kind of growth. It covers her eye completely. The other eye appears to be closed. It can open it somewhat, but when she does I can't get a good look at her eyeball. It seems to be either slightly sunk in or maybe there is some growth or something in her eye.

She seems to have a similar growth on her anus as she has on her eye.

The rescue group I got her from is a german shepard rescue. SO they know nothing about reptiles. I don't know how long they have had her, but she was kept in an aquarium in a big window. No heater of any kind. No basking light or anything. The substrate seems to be some type of mulch. They have been feeding her small dusted meal worms.

Do you guys have any idea what's wrong or what I need to do. Do you think she has some type of fungus?

She really don't seem very happy. But she's looks like she's strong and well fed.

Did you look at her at all when you got her?? Seems to me you should have noticed at the very least the growth on the eye. That being said I would be more than happy to help you but I will need a picture, can you please post one here? I can quite tell by your description. Thanks

I didn't really look at her close until I got her home. Since it was from a breed rescue, I assumed that they would have told me if something was wrong. At this point I'm not sure if they even knew.
I have posted some pics of her on another forum, here's the link.

http://www.petflytrap.com/cgi-bin/ib312/ikonboard.cgi?s=934ffb9cb9a2f3b85938dce25f61a8f6;act=ST;f=19;t=17988;st=0;&#entry177578

I'm taking her to a petstore that where there is a reptile expert to see if she can help me with it.

Thanks
Mark

I would forget about taking it to the "reptile expert" at the pet store. I know a lot of them to and well we wont get into that now. I am loading the page you posted now. You should take her to the vet. I have fewed the pictures and unfortunatly I am at a loss. I can tell you that that indevidual is verry verry ill and not to bring you down but Fence lizards "Or at least Sceloporus Occidentalis" Dont normal pull out of it once they are gone that far. You should get it to the vet right now or first thing in the morning.

I really don't have a lot of hope for her. Since I got her late yesterday, today was the first time I have had to watch to see how she acts. All she does all day is just lay there. I got her a heat lamp. I got rid of the mulch and got new corn cob bedding. I cleaned the tank and everything in it with bleach water.
I took it to a petstore, and had somebody there look at it to get her opinion. She said that the growths look like scabs. It looks like maybe they were scatched and now have scabbed over. She said it looks like waste have gotten stuck and she can't pass it. She put some turlte eye drops in her eyes, and told me to soak her in warm water. She told me to give her pedilyte, and mix can dogfood with water. I have never heard of giving them dog food mixed with water but, I guess it can't hurt.
I'll keep you informed on how it turns out.

Hey there,

I took a really good look at your lizard, and am not sure its a fence lizard at all. In fact it reminds me of a Curly-Tailed lizard. The reason i say this is because it has a dorsal ridge. Correct me Jason, but i have never seen a sceloporus occidentalis with a dorsal ridge. The thing with Curly-Tails is that they are a tropical species, certainly NOT native to any areas where S.occidentalis occur. That being said, I don't really know whats going on with the poor thing, a vet would know better. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

regards,
-Phil

I think you're right it is a curly tail. I've don't have any experience with lizards except for anoles and geckos, I'm mostly into snakes. I looked up info on the curly tail and it's an exact match. I did a scale count over the eye. I have yet to see him curl his tell though. He also does the tail twitch, kind of like a cat does.

Now an update, He has seemed to move a little more, I think the he may be impacted. After soaking him in warm water hasn't loosened anything up, I've decided that if I don't do something drastic he'll die. I am in the process of trying to pull the matter out with tweezers. I have removed some of it and I'm letting him soak some more right now to loosen the matter up a little more. I have been trying to feed him but he doesn't want to eat. I think he's getting a little bit of fluid and dogfood down. He is very fiesty. He'll take off runnig when you try holding him. He bites the syringe when I feed him. I sure hope he doesn't get ahold of my finger, it looks like he can bite really hard and he doesn't let go.
Well that's where it stands right now. I still don't think he'll make it.

something I have found a help for any reptile that needs soaking... I have been using Melafix which is used to repair damage on Fighting fish when they get injured breeding... it is great on the reps too... We use it when a snake gets injured and someone hauls them in to us to fix... happens alot... hit first ask what it is after... I don't know if your zard has mites and that may have caused the scratching or if it got caught by a cat or something... All are possible but if you know anyone around you that has fish ask them for a spoonful add it to warm water soak the lizard then rinse. Helps with shedding also! Just something we use... might help! Cat

Good news, He took a big giant dump.

Now how do I get him to start eating again?

Have you taken it to see a vet yet? It dose not matter how good it looks like or you think it is doing it should be seen by a qualified vet ASAP

My reptile research and collection

I have personally observed such a ridge in individuals that were very very malnourished. I to could still be wrong but I have observed this before.

My reptile research and collection

I know this update is long past due but I have been very busy because I had to go to NC for a death in the family.
I had to take the curly tail with me. I thought that the ride there might kill him but I knew if I left him here he would defiantly die. I took him there and he made the trip fine. He's been doing a little better everyday. The growth on him eye, I'm sure it's his eyeball that has ruptured. While I was in NC he opened his other eye and looked at me. He keeps it closed most of the time, but some times he opens it and looks around. I am now feeding him bearded dragon treats. He opens his mouth when I pick him up, to warn me that he's going to bite me and I shove a treat in, lol. I'm still giving him water with a syringe.
He moves around a little more than he did before and he seems to be more feisty when you pick him up. All are good signs. I actually think he may make it now.

Glad to here he is doing better. Have you talked to a vet yet?

My reptile research and collection

Is it just me or dose anyone ells feel the question of weather or not he has taken the indevidual to the vet or not is being avoided?

My reptile research and collection