What am I doing wrong???

[Stacey2301]

Hi I have had my blue tongue skink for a year now he's 2 , he's a wonderful lizard very tame and full of energy and it is possible that I'm just a total worrier. He currently has mites which I am treating with frontline and baths and tomorrow I will be cleaning out the viv and replacing with paper until the mites are gone . I am also pretty sure he has internal parasites as his poo is very runny I have sent a sample to the vet . However 2 days ago I noticed him very heavy breathing which I have never noticed before he has no other signs of RI and he seems fine in himself I have an appointment to see the vet on the weekend and the vet suggested this could all be stress related due to having to have a toe amputated a month or so back. My question is what am I doing wrong ? His in a 4ft viv with a uv light and a cold end of 75-85 and a hot end 90-100 his substrate is repti-bark. I know it sounds like I must be a terrible owner but I try so hard I just can't figure out how he can have so much going on ?

[alichamp]

I don't think you are over worrying, these problems are likely due to a problem with husbandry. Have you had him since he was young?

My first guess at a cause would be chronic low humidity.

What species do you have? Can you post a pic of your bluey and your set up as a starter so we can have a look. It is a bit of a puzzle we just need a few more pieces to put together.
Also what do you feed, and how often?

Welcome to the forum by the way

[Stacey2301]

Thank you ,

He's an Indonesian blue tongue skink , I got him when he was a year old apparently he's captive bread but he had mites when I got him so I have always doubted this . I strive to keep the humidity at around 30% but my house is very humid . I have tried him on every type of live food you could imagine he just don't fancy it so he has a stable diet of high quality all natural dog food mixed with vegetables and he odd treat of food he gains wait well and the vet doesn't have any concerns in regards to health in that sense he sheds well except for his toes and his scales are always nice and shiny. I'm wondering if I need to change to aspen as iv beard wood chips can carry mites with them . The vet seems to feel that this is all stress related due to having a toe removed but I still want to make sure I'm doing everything I can . I will take a photo and send it over

[Stacey2301]

Sorry I meant odd treat of fruit . I feed him every other day

[Stacey2301]

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Here is a photo of him and his viv

[alichamp]

I have no personal experience with the Indo species but I have been around and learned from the forum posts for a little while now. I'm confident that you have a Halmahera, and these guys do very well and stay healthy best with humidity as high as 80+%. We have seen health problems for skinks kept too long in chronic low humidity.

You haven't said how or why he "lost a toe" but perhaps he lost circulation or something in it due to stuck shed? If this is the cause then he is not shedding well. Have a look at the threads on Humidity and humid hides and substrates for some tips on how to improve the humidity. Also check out the Species specific care sheets on Halmahera.

He does not look in too bad condition though, except perhaps some bumpy scales on his head, but given the other issues you mentioned I think it's vital to address this husbandry issue ASAP for the ongoing health of skinky. Good for you in noticing signs and looking for ways to improve his care!

[alichamp]

Oh, also you can cut back on how often you feed. Once a week will do him at this age and into full grown adulthood. Over feeding will make them very fussy and overweight. But you are offering the right foods, dog food mixed with some vegetables and small amounts of fruit. Check out the thread on feeding and Diet chart. A good calcium + d3 powder supplement is a good idea also.
But maybe just check with the vet on results of faecal and that he is in good health just to make sure he doesn't need any extra nutrition before cutting back.

[Stacey2301]

He lost his toe unfortunately due to a combination of factors when I first had him he hurt his leg badly myself and the vet couldn't figure out how or why he had hurt his leg but during this time he struggled to shed on that particular leg which led to construction and loss of the toe . His leg is now 100% better and the shedding issue has improved dramatically over the last year he has a little to no issue with shedding now. I'm constantly learning and trying to adapt and I think changing substrate will be my next move as I don't think the repti-bark is suiting him. I can't get to the vet until Sunday however I have just noticed him sunbathing with no breathing issue that I could see but to be safe I will still go to the vet. His stool today is also better although it's moist it's not too loose instead it maintained some form.

[Stacey2301]

Also I currently do use d3 powder and calcium supplement. And the bumps on his head I think it's more something in the picture he's head is actually extremely smooth in person

[aaronhouts]

Welcome to the forum!

Please keep in mind that the following is just my opinion, but we have two Halmaheras ourselves (which were imports from Indonesia) and here's what I'd do:

1. Definitely get rid of those mites. Remember that you can kill every single mite that he has right now, but there are eggs that will be hatching after they're gone so you'll need to repeat the process once a week for the next three to six weeks. You have to break the life cycle of the parasites.
2. I think you're right about the internal parasites. If your vet is comfortable, ask her/him to please treat for internals whether or not they find any. False negatives can occur because most fecal tests are looking for eggs. The parasites are not always laying eggs. Also, remember that you'll need to retreat for at least a two week cycle to kill any internals that haven't hatched yet. Again, you have to break the life cycle of the parasites.

Next is your enclosure which everyone has a lot of different thoughts about. Again, these are only my opinions:
3. Switch to under tank heating of some sort. Bulbs and ceramic heat emitters (which it looks like you have) suck the humidity right out of the air. This causes all sorts of problems for Halmaheras. Where people go wrong here is that they cheap out and get low quality stuff. I'm talking about high quality heat tape and-most especially-a high quality thermostat. I'm NOT talking about pre-fab under tank heaters with preset temps and definitely not heat rocks.
4. I'd also go with a smaller enclosure. Halmaheras are shy and secretive. If you search through the posts I've made, you can see where I detail exactly what gear we use and how we set our guys up. Again, this is just my opinion, but our Halms shed perfectly now and we no longer have the eye and toe problems we used to have.

One parting thought, in our first cages, we had lights inside them on timers. They HATED them. We now light the room, but the animals have no direct lights in their enclosures as they live in tubs.

Again, these are just my opinions. I've been hesitating to post a response, but you seem like you're really trying and I wanted to give you this option.

[Stacey2301]

Thank you for your suggestions ,

The mites are priority number 1 and I will be taking a fecal sample to the vet in regards to the internal parasites.
I do actually have a smaller viv in storage so that's defiantly something to consider. The humidity at this moment is 70 which is a lot higher than a few days ago but I am worried about it being that high just because I'm so used to it being lower.

[Stacey2301]

At this point my big worry is I think he has a RI but I can't physically get him to the vets until Sunday and I'm worried if he'll be okay in the mean time . He's breathing quiet heavy.

[alichamp]

I'm a little loathe to suggest anything before you see the vet. But as you are concerned about his health and it looks like an issue from chronic low humidity I have pulled together a few things that have been suggested by other experienced keepers on the forum - this is actually a reasonably common issue because people either don't realise the species of bluey or don't know the humidity requirements because of bad advice. If you search the forum you will see this. (I myself have zero experience with Indo species or respiratory infections)

I don't know whether a sudden massive change in humidity while sick has any beneficial or negative effects. You may be better to offer a humid hide until you can talk it over with the vet. The key is to make sure the humid hide stays under the heat and it creates a "sauna" rather than anything soggy.

Others have also stripped out the substrate and used paper towel until bluey recovers. You will need a little in the hide though to make it humid. They have also suggested to bump the temperature up a little too to help them fight infection. Susann has said:

Keep an eye on the humid hide and make sure it is under the heat

This is important. When he is fighting a respiratory infection, any moisture or wetness needs to be warm, and changed out frequently to prevent bacterial growth.

for the rise of the temperature about how much?

make sure the cool side in the tank stays above 26°C. It is good to have a medium size basking area in the tank that reaches 40-45°C, with the rest of the warm side staying in the 32-35°C range. This way he can bask to digest his food, and can cool down as well without getting too cool while fighting his infection.

Again, I don't want to assume things until you see the vet but thought I would add these things for you to consider until then and to discuss with the vet on Sunday. It is important that you catch these things early (which you are doing) as we have seen much much worse so at this stage there's no reason not to be hopeful.

[Stacey2301]

Thank you all for the advice ,

He's still breathing quiet heavy but isn't showing any other signs of RI there's nothing leaking from his nose or mouth and he's still breathing through his nose and eating normally but I will keep you updated.

[Stacey2301]

Hi , I just wanted to let you know the outcome from the vets . Anakin did indeed have internal parasites and a RI so he's been given treatment for both and we have to go back in 1 week. The vet wasn't too concerned however as he's gained weight since our last visit and was very bright and alert so it would seem my instincts were correct and I got help early .

In regards to the set up in the viv the vet suggested I put him on paper for the next few weeks then look for a substrate that isn't too dusty so any recommendations for substrate would be highly appreciated.
Thank you

[splashy07]

Hi! Best of luck with your pet's issues, glad you are tending to them! As far as substrate when I kept Halmaheras I used to use repti-bark, cypress mulch or those coco husk bricks that come in a dry rectangular block that you add water to. All three substrates worked well for them, I would use them alternately or mixed together. Humid hides work well also, with sphagnum moss or similar inside. I'm sure he will recover nicely with all your good efforts.