I think my Green Anole is sick

Question
QUESTION: I have noticed two days ago that my anole has not been eating and barely drinking and not moving alot. His left eye is swollen. He can open it a little but closes it right away. He's been moving into the corners of the tank. He's been opening his mouth. My children and I are really worried. He has a vet appt for Friday? Please help

ANSWER: Hello Michelle,

What type of lighting are you using for him, & do you use any UVB lighting?  If so, is it a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?
What are the temperatures in the tank?  What type of thermometer do you use to measure the temperatures, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
Can you post a picture of him for me?
Do you supplement calcium several days per week?  What type of foods/insects do you feed him?  Have you left any crickets in with him that could have bitten him?  
How old is he?

Tracie


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Walter   QUESTION: Hi Tracie thanks for your reply. We are using the fluorescent tube bulb UVB lighting, I have the stick on temp gauges there are two one reads environment and the other the temp it stays between 75 to 80. We do the calcium but he has always only eaten twice a week, he used to have frequent bowel movements they always seemed a little liquid but solid. There were crickets left in the tank that could have bitten him but i am mot certain he doesn't have any marks. We got him from the kids science teach when he was baby but not newborn he was I would say a year and a half maybe. Posting a pic

ANSWER: Hello Michelle,

Which brand of fluorescent tube bulb are you using, is it the Reptisun 10 by Zoomed, or the Reptiglo 10 by Hagen Exoterra?  This is important.  If you are using the Reptiglo 10, then, it has had a lot of problems due to low wavelength UVB output.  It has caused some eye problems, as well as overall health problems, too.

If you put crickets in there, don't leave them in there longer than an hour or so, if he is not interested.  Crickets will bite because they are so carnivorous.  Perhaps try some mealworms, to put in a little feeding dish, in case he is not interested in the crickets.  

How is he doing today?
If he is not seeming like he is going to eat, you may need to start intervening.  Get some chicken or turkey baby food & use a plastic syringe or plastic dropper to get some food into him.  Mix the calcium powder in with that as well to help him out.  You could get some bee pollen to help him out as well, & just add a small pinch to his baby food feedings.  Start with .5ml of food, twice daily to help him out.  Just drip it onto the end of his nose, & hopefully he will just lick that off of his nose.
The stick on temperature gauges are not real accurate.  I think maybe you should look into getting a digital probe or a temp gun, just to make sure the temperatures are accurate.  

Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie

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QUESTION: Thanks, I don't know what bulb he has but i will purchase what you recommended. we do use meal worms we alternate them with the crickets. He is doing a little bit better i have put him in my room and turn the heat up in there. He's moving a little bit better he took a few sips of water last night, I will try feeding him with the syringe. still not opening his eye and when he does he still closes it right away. He is now opening his mouth and jump like in a shock like he's trying to regurgitate, or something is hurting him. He's going to the vet today. I will keep you posted.THANKS SO MUCH!!! Oh were you able to see his pic?

Answer
Hello Michelle,

Great, the Reptisun 10 tube bulb NOT the compact/coil light is the best here in the US.  Yes, I was able to see his picture, he did not look like he was feeling very well.  He is good sized though.  
Let me know how things go at the vets today, I hope that he is doing better!  Did he like the baby food?  

Tracie