Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Reptiles > Sick Frilled Lizard

Sick Frilled Lizard

22 13:29:23

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a baby frilled lizard (Victor) in May of 2010. He seemed fine. He ate and was very active. The last week of August 2010 Victor started keeping his eyes closed. Then I noticed that his eyes were crusted over. When I would mist him his eyes would get better. But shortly after I would mist them his eyes would get crusty again.
After a couple of days of this I noticed he was not eating so I took him to the vet at Petsmart (this was a Friday). They said he might have a respiratory infection and an eye infection. The doctor gave us eye cream and meds for the respiratory infection. The vet said come back on Wed for a checkup.
During the following weekend my husband built Victor a new cage that was 4 feet wide, 3 feet tall by 2 feet deep. He has (2) tube bulbs 5.0 reptilight, a basking light, a heat light and an automatic fog machine. The temp ranges between 80-110 and the humidity ranges between 50-75.
Victor did not seem to get better so on Monday I took him to another vet. They said to force feed him and turn off his lights incase there was a problem with UVB exposure. There was no change. We turned the lights back on and started giving Victor baths several times a day and offered him hours of real sun exposure. He seemed to get better and was eating on his own. He was like this for about 2-3 weeks. Now his eyes are starting to crust over again. We still give him baths just not as often.
He does not seem interested in eating, however he is VERY active and he drinks water daily. My question is "Is this common? Should I stop using the fogger and just mist him?"

ANSWER: OK first the ranges of Temperature worry me a lot.  I'm sincerely hoping that the ambient is 80 and the basking is 110 and thats not the daily fluctuation.  If it is then this is definitely a contributing factor.  The UV is not the issue The fogger is OK for part time but now full time running.  Even the ambient of 80 which I am presuming here is a little low try for 85 to 90 ambient.  The crusting over of the eyes is in my observation a sign of respiratory or eye injury or infection.  It would also seem to me like you are taking the lizard to a 'regular' veterinarian instead of a reptile vet which are specialized in the treatment of reptiles specifically.  Baths should be once a week if that as this can cause mold to grow on the scales in the folds of the frill.  Natural sunlight is of no benefit unless its 12 hours of exposure.  anything less will most likely not be absorbed.  I need to know what the diet is as well please get back to me on what you are feeding and how often etc.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Victor's cage is big enough to have a cooler area and a hot area. The temp in the cool area is always 80 F. The area where his heatlight and and basking light is always 90 F. Except for when the lights go off for his bed time. The heatlight is always on is it will drop a little at night.
Before we moved him to his new cage we had a problem keeping the humidity up. So when we started using the fogger in the new cage the humidity levels are great.
As for the natural sunlight, when we take him out to feed him or handle him he will run for the window and look outside. He would do this for about 2 hours and then he would move back to his cage.
I do take him to a regular vet. I looked for a reptile vet but the closet one is over an hour away. I told my husband that I look for the close vet and schedule a time for a visit.
I did not know about the water causing mold and I will not do the bath thing very often. We do however mist him heavy in the morning to uncrust his eyes.
My husband puts him in our cricket cage everyday for about 10 minutes to eat (This is around 3 pm our time) When I have to force feed him I will use freeze dried worms and animal nutrition. I try this everyday but he is very difficult to feed and I hope he does not associate me with the process.  

Answer
I think this is either one of two things.  There maybe a blockage where he is not interested in eating.  or The UV is not enough to stimulate appetite.  When was the bulb last replaced they must be replaced every six months to retain efficiency.  That's as far as the diet thing.  The Eyes crusting over seem to be a bacteria.  Is he wild caught or captive bred?  Also if he is wild caught was there a veterinarian check before you brought him home?