New Blue Tongue Skink can't keep eyes open?

[Hookster1021]

I just got a baby northern blue tongue skink a few days ago. All is going well but is seems as if he/she is having a hard time keeping it's eyes open. It keeps squinting or closing it's eyes, sitting on the warm side of the tank. Almost like its to bright or something. It will only fully open them when I get close and it gets scared. Even then it seems to have a hard time. I tried feeding it yesterday and it ate, but continues the same behavior. Warm side is about 90-95 degrees. What should I do? is it just stressed?

[kingofnobbys]

How long has this been a problem ?

Hunch : sounds like photoconjuntivitis to me , you don't happen to have a cheap shop brand UV globe or tube ?
Could try turning off the UV source for a week or so and only giving natural UV from natural sun light. If it's a cheap Chinese made shop brand UV , ditch it and replace with new globe or tube I(Arcadia or Zoo Med or Exo Terra brand ONLY).

any other symptoms like puss around the eyes (viral or bacterial or fungal conjunctivitis = needs vet attention and eye drops) ?

Has a vet seen your BT ?

Need much more information and details on your skink's setup and your husbandry otherwise we can't even hazard a guess.

Here's my Cheat Sheet :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/vi ... 0#p1806050 - Yes I know the cheat sheet is mainly targeted at beardies, but still worth working through it (making appropriate adjustments for your species of BTS' specific husbandry and setup needs). If you work through it methodically , the chances are there are likely a lot of issues that need to be tweeked or changed and they will pop right out at you, if you can give very detailed answers we will then be in a better position to offer help.

It may prove necessary to involve a reptile vet if your BTS has serious health issues.Are you in a position to afford to take him to a good reptile vet should this prove necessary ?

[Hookster1021]

The skink does not have any UV lighting nor has it ever. Temperature gradient is fine. Humidity fine, about 30%. Forest floor cypress mulch substrate. I use 150 watt basking bulb in 40g tank. The skink has not been to a vet as I've only had it for a few days.

[kingofnobbys]

The skink does not have any UV lighting nor has it ever. Temperature gradient is fine. Humidity fine, about 30%. Forest floor cypress mulch substrate. I use 150 watt basking bulb in 40g tank. The skink has not been to a vet as I've only had it for a few days.

Wow !! that's a powerful globe for such a tiny viv !!

How are measuring the viv temps ?

I'd get a good t5ho UVB tube and reflector hood for starters , being a baby it needs lots of UVB & dietary calcium & appropriate proteins (live insect IMO) to grow and thrive and avoid MBD.

Is the substrate dusty or got lots of fine sharp particles / splinters or resins in it (I'm in Australia and not familiar with the stuff you mention - this might be contributing , scratched eyeballs or getting under the eyelids and behind the eyeballs I(BTS's love digging and tunneling) ?
My BTs only have natural gumtree leaf litter (I collect from off my front lawn) mixed with dry course grade Kritters' Krumble and I've never had an issue due to it.

Worth a vet visit if turning off the basking globe for a week or so doesn't see an improvement.