danville

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May 13, 2021
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San Pablo City
Hey all! Just got a baby sulcata last Sunday. I took him out in our garden to graze on some grass this morning. He was energetic and loved walking around the place.

Now, I noticed that it's left eye is not opening up as well as the right eye after it took a nap. Sometimes the right eye is fully open while the left eye isn't. I don't think it has something to do with humidity levels or anything since the right eye seems normal to me nor do I think that an ant might have bitten it since I watched him very closely. Temperature wise, it's between 30-32 degrees celcius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on average. You can see something in the middle area of the lower part of his left eye on the images below.

Could it be dirt or debri brought by the wind? I'm gonna try running down some drops of water over his eye tomorrow morning whilst soaking. Anything else I should do?
 

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Tom

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A few questions:
San Pablo Philippines, or San Pablo CA?
How long was the baby outside?
What types of bulbs are you using inside? UV? What type?
What substrate is the baby on?
Where did you get the baby and how was it started?
 

danville

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
San Pablo City
A few questions:
San Pablo Philippines, or San Pablo CA?
How long was the baby outside?
What types of bulbs are you using inside? UV? What type?
What substrate is the baby on?
Where did you get the baby and how was it started?
Philippines.
- The baby was outside for a total of 30 minutes in the morning. 15 for soaking in lukewarm water, the other half basking.
- I bought a 75W UVB light that I haven’t used since he’s we’re getting good sun in the morning the past few days.
- I’m using coco peat as substrate.
- I got it from a very reputable breeder locally. Eyes seemed normal and healthy when I picked it from the other hatchlings.
 

danville

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Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
San Pablo City
Here’s how its left eye looked like this morning during soaking. :((
 

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danville

New Member
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Location (City and/or State)
San Pablo City
And then in the afternoon, it looked really good and normal as I let it around the garden..
 

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Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Are you keeping the coco peat somewhat damp and hand packed?

Since this is just one eye, I suspect some sort of "mechanical" problem, like some dust in the eye, or maybe it got poked by something outside.

You shouldn't need a UV bulb in your climate, but you do need a basking bulb when the torotise is indoors, and possibly night heat if the temp overnight drops much below 80F (26-7C).
 

danville

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
San Pablo City
Are you keeping the coco peat somewhat damp and hand packed?

Since this is just one eye, I suspect some sort of "mechanical" problem, like some dust in the eye, or maybe it got poked by something outside.

You shouldn't need a UV bulb in your climate, but you do need a basking bulb when the torotise is indoors, and possibly night heat if the temp overnight drops much below 80F (26-7C).
Yes, I spray some water on it like what I've seen other owners do on YouTube. Breeder I bought from recommended I buy some matting to put on top of the substrate so I just ordered one today.

Thanks for the insight! Hoping it heals in the next few days.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Yes, I spray some water on it like what I've seen other owners do on YouTube. Breeder I bought from recommended I buy some matting to put on top of the substrate so I just ordered one today.

Thanks for the insight! Hoping it heals in the next few days.
Spraying water on the surface does very little. You need to dump water into the substrate to keep it damp. Also, coco peat needs to be compacted down. I smash it down with my hand.

Better to just use orchid bark if you can get it there. Also called "fir bark" or "repti-bark".
 
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