New BTS owner with health question: problem with eyes

[Evan_Boatwright]

I've had my little halmehera for around 2 months now and he's been the perfect little pet for me. He has never bitten me and I haven't had any problems with him biting at me or any health issues. But about a week ago I noticed he started keeping one eye closed (it would open when I would most him down or soak him) but I noticed his left eye begining to bubble up when he would open it. Is there anything I can do to help him? Going to the vet is a last ditch effort because I am sixteen and would rather try to fix it myself if possible.

I also have other question(I will post more pictures to give more information):
Is it a male or female?
I have him on Eco earth, could that be causing any of his problem? I'm planning on switching to aspen would that be better?
In a 12 inch high tank is a 100 watt intense basking spot bulb too much for him/her?

Thank you for any and all of your help
And like I said I will post more picture to try to give more info.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Here is another picture of Vaas (that's his/her name)

[Evan_Boatwright]

And another

[Evan_Boatwright]

And an under the tail incase yall needed it to tell.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Oh an he/she was born in August incase you needed to know

[Dakota]

Looks female, but I think that should be the least of your worries right now.

Bubbles occurring in the eyes can be a sign of a respiratory infection. What are your temperatures at night, day, and basking? What is the humidity?

[Evan_Boatwright]

At night it gets around 90-93 deg. F and in the day around 100 and the humidity stays between 23-28% (this is all on the hot end) and his basking spot gets around 103-106 degrees.

I'm switching him to aspen bedding and moss for frogs so I wanted to know how can I keep the humidity up in the cage?
But anything you suggest for me will help (and I did get a vet appointment now because I don't want to take any risk).

[Dakota]

90° at night?? That is very, very hot. Don't go over 80 for the cold side even during the day. The basking temperature sounds good. It is natural for a small temperature drop at night, let it dip down into about 75° or so, but always turn the basking spot on during the day. So, there's one problem.

Halmaheras are the most tropical form of Bluetongue. They live directly on the equator. That humidity needs to be WAY higher. And Aspen won't help. Use Cypress mulch with sphagnum moss. You can get it at Lowe's for very, very cheap. Spray it accordingly to get at least 60-70%. This probably is what's causing the bubbles in the eyes.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Ok yeah I had always wondered if it was too hot but he always seemed to still like to sleep under the red light even though it was hot. I have his lights set on an automated switch so it always has the basking light and his uvb bulb on during the day.
What would probably be the lowest you would let the temperature drop to at night?
Also would you put the moss on the warm side, cool side, or both?

And thank you so much for all the help you've given me. Not many people in my area know much about blue tongues (not even reptile breeders that work at the pet shop I work at) so I'm really greatful for you helping me and my little buddy out.

[Dakota]

Lowest? Hmm.. 70° at night, maybe. Make sure not to let it get too low, this can also cause a respiratory infection. I put moss on both sides. I'm not sure where you are located, but I live in south Florida, and since moving them in from outside, I spray twice a day to keep humidity up to a sufficient percentage.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Ok I just got an under the tank heater today (I work in a pet store so it's easy). I live in southern Louisiana so we're probably about the same maybe. So I will start spraying more.
So now that I started doing all of these things so you think I should still go to the vet? Or might the infection work itself out and my little guy may get over it?

Have you ever had trouble with RI infections in your lizards?

[Dakota]

My first BTS died of an RI, so yes. But I caught it late. Treating a RI is pretty cheap, so a vet would be a good idea.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Oh ok well then I'll keep my appointment then.
Did you find that the skink would stop eating when he had an RI cause I don't know if he just isn't hungry right now but ive been feeding him a huge just mix of radishes, carrots, broccoli, romane lettuce, and beef dog food. He won't even eat super worms (one of his favorite foods) when I try to feed him.

[Dakota]

I'm not sure. I was brumating my girl, but me being ignorant, it got way too cold for her, and she developed it and passed within just a few days while I stayed with my grandmother, but this was probably a very serious case of RI. If you fix what you did wrong, they tend to fix on their own, if they are mild, but nothing wrong with speeding the process of healing.

Good luck, keep us posted on how she does. She is very beautiful, by the way! You're very lucky to have a female.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Oh well I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks so much for all of the help you have given me. I'll try to keep giving updates on her all throughout this process. Hopefully she's strong enough to pull through this.

And thank you so far that I've had her she's been the perfect little girl. No hissing or biting, the only behavioral problem I've had with her is that she tends to like to pee or poo on me when I sit down with her or let her sit on my lap (never when I'm standing up holding her) but I usually put up with her cause she's just so beautiful and sweet.
So I just hope that my little girl can get the help she needs at the vet and that she can pull through the RI.

[Dakota]

Have you adjusted the temperatures accordingly as well? You said you bought an UTH, but I recall the current set up already being way too hot.

And no worries, I'm glad I could help. Bluetongues are very hardy little lizards. Unless the severity of this infections is greater than what I thought, you can pretty much count on her surviving with the proper adjustment of temperatures and humidity, as well as the medications prescribed.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Yeah I took off the night bulb which brought the temperature to 73 and the humidity to 50% so it about the perfect UTH for her.

Well we'll know how she doing after tomorrow cause I'll go the vets in the morning and hopefully get everything fixed up and make her right as rain!

[Evan_Boatwright]

So I just found out she has a mild infection and intestinal parasites. Hopefully now the antibiotics and worm medicine the vet gave me will fix all of the problems with her.

[Teacup]

Oh ok well then I'll keep my appointment then.
Did you find that the skink would stop eating when he had an RI cause I don't know if he just isn't hungry right now but ive been feeding him a huge just mix of radishes, carrots, broccoli, romane lettuce, and beef dog food. He won't even eat super worms (one of his favorite foods) when I try to feed him.

This is normal. It's like when we're sick; we don't always feel like eating, even our favourite foods. My bearded dragon always went off food when she had an RI, and I sometimes struggled to get her eating again.

I saw that you have meds from the vet. Once those kick in, hopefully your skink will regain his appetite and be back to normal. If not, just let us know. There are some tricks you can use to get lizards eating again. Best of luck! Hope your guy feels better soon.

[Evan_Boatwright]

Still no positive progress with the girl. Today is the last day I can give her the antibiotics and she still hasent made any progress. Of course I hope that she pulls through this but I don't know how the odds are right now. She won't poo unless I soak her in warm water. She won't eat on her own. She isn't basking ever. And she isn't drinking water as far as I know.
The only option left is what my friend at the pet store is saying and to try giving her tetracycline. But after that I don't know what to do. It's hard to see her suffering so I'm incredibly desperate an willing to take any and all advice anyone will give me at this point.