Squinting during shedding?

Everything Blue Tongues! Have a question? Just got a BTS and want to introduce yourself? This is the place!
Forum rules
In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
This is also where you can have some FUN while sharing the enjoyment you get from your blueys!
User avatar
Hijinks
Bluey Enthusiast
Bluey Enthusiast
Posts: 633
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:04 pm
Country:
Location: Nutley, NJ
Contact:

Squinting during shedding?

Postby Hijinks » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:05 am

Forgive me...I searched around but couldn't find any posts about this exact behavior... I know it's important to remove loose shed from the eyes, but is it normal for the skink to squint or keep an eye shut before that shed is ready to come off of the eye? Yesterday when I got home from work it looked like my skink had EXPLODED all over the tank. Scales everywhere. I noticed he was sort of squinting one eye, and keeping the other shut most of the time. I took him out and rubbed him down with a damp paper towel. Some head scales were ready to come off, but not those toward the front of his head or the eyes. I gently rubbed around each eye with the towel then put him back. Being paranoid, I have a webcam on him all day so I can observe from work. I can see he's still got his eye shut. He is able to open it, though. When he does open the eye, it looks clear and bright -- I don't think there is anything stuck in it. It's like the scales are just very stiff and it's not worth the effort to open it.
KyleWeiss
Minister of Propaganda
Minister of Propaganda
Posts: 5015
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:03 am
Country:

Postby KyleWeiss » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:36 am

That's interesting.

There are scales on the eyelids, so maybe they simply shed a little strangely this time.

I'm not sure about this one.

KW
Goodbye, BTS.net -- We've had to good times. I do hope someone else will come along and make it the lovely community it once was.
User avatar
Lisa
Blue Mountains Beauty
Blue Mountains Beauty
Posts: 1072
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:04 pm
Country:
Location: Blue Mtns, NSW, Australia

Postby Lisa » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:23 pm

It probably is just shed annoying him. I reckon they look like the kids in South Park when they all got pink eye when they shed around their eyes.
There are so many tiny scales around the eyes and eyelids that it might be one you don't know about.

Wait till he's finished completely and see if he does still have it shut. And if it starts leaking or weeping then you should go see a vet.
1 Eastern, JUBBY, born January 2004
1 Blotchie, RALPHIE, born March 2006
1 Nutjob, SANTOS L HALPER (SANTOS), born February 2006
1 Shingle SHE'S THE FASTEST, born Feb 2008
User avatar
AndrewSeike
Sunset Skinks
Sunset Skinks
Posts: 415
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 12:11 pm
Country:
Location: California
Contact:

Postby AndrewSeike » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:56 pm

Hi Amanda,

I wrote you an email on this already but the shreds of shed is totally normal. You can email me your number and I can call you or you can call me? Whatever you'd like to do.

Please don't blame yourself for anything but trying to be a good mom. We'll talk about this in pm etc.

Andrew
http://www.bluetongueskinks.com with New Blue Tongue Skink Forum

Breeding and living with skinks since '88
Currently working with many representatives of the following Tiliqua:

scincoides.scincoides
scincoides.intermedia
scincoides.chimaerea
nigrolutea - alpine form
multifasciata
gigas.gigas
gigas.evanescens
gigas.keyensis
sp - Irian Jaya
User avatar
DeadEye
Bluey Enthusiast
Bluey Enthusiast
Posts: 676
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:02 pm
Country:
Location: Australia

Postby DeadEye » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:27 am

A few mates of mine ~ describe it like us having sun burn .And they roam the deserts of australia. Have alot to do with reptiles.
ive seen wacky stuff to. All sounds normal

sunburn ouch :urgent: squinting
"My appreciation of humanity is greatest when I'm isolated from it in the bush."
User avatar
Tattoo
BT Beldam
BT Beldam
Posts: 6669
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:18 am
Country:
Location: Vermont, USA

Postby Tattoo » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:25 am

Hi All,

I am a first time owner and am having the same squinty eye problem with my baby. Just went thru our first shed together and now eyes are almost always closed. :? Eyes look fine when they eventually open but skin around eyes is very dry and looks too small for the eye area. Was there finally an answer to this dilema? Will it clear up with the next shed?

Concerned mom ...
User avatar
aggiegirl
Bluey Addict
Bluey Addict
Posts: 807
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:19 pm
Country:

hey!

Postby aggiegirl » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:47 pm

My bluey has on occasion had some retained shed around his eyes. If you will take a soft towel with a bit of warm water and wipe over the eye area (gently), these scales usually come right off. If there is any drainage or other symptoms, you might need some further assistance. A picture would help if this continues...Good luck. I'm fairly new too, by the way!
User avatar
Hijinks
Bluey Enthusiast
Bluey Enthusiast
Posts: 633
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:04 pm
Country:
Location: Nutley, NJ
Contact:

Postby Hijinks » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:11 pm

Actually, I'm almost 100% sure my skink's eye problem was due to changing his UV source to a Reptisun 10.0 compact fluorescent. It began when I introduced the bulb (I believe the shedding to be a coincidence) and he is on the mend now that I've turned it off. It was a foot away from him, but that wasn't enough. I have found out that eye problems are not uncommon with these bulbs, and some of the products (including mine) shipped without a warning and operating instructions included. I was planning on making a nice long angry anti-Zoomed post with details. In the meantime, please look at these:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9236

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9190


:(


Image
User avatar
Leigh
Leigh of the Law
Leigh of the Law
Posts: 6695
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:23 am
Country:
Location: Bristol, England

Postby Leigh » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:57 am

His eye looks normal in the photo, thats why I use the flourry tube sort, spreads it across the length of the tank instead of focusing in a spot like a basker.Look for some skinky shades 8)
MMMmmmmm... Something???????
User avatar
Zach
Grand Cicada
Grand Cicada
Posts: 7550
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:38 pm
Country:
Location: Orygun
Contact:

Postby Zach » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:48 am

:chin:

+ 2.2 Irian Jaya (Slurpy, Nona, Sassy, Cool Moe Dee)
+ 1.1 Eastern (Eugene, Enzo)
+ 1.2 Northern (Niko, Pearl, Peach)
+ 1.0 Tanimbar Island (TQ)

Return to “General Discussion and FAQ”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 182 guests