[Jateui]

So I picked up an Amyae yesterday. I got him off of craigslist, the person I got him from really made sure I did the research before getting the gecko. I set up a tank and everything before I got him, and the guy really knew his information. But he told me that the gecko was born without a tear duct in it's right eye. He used to go to the vet to have it drain, but it'd leave a small hole for a while that'd allow bacteria to get in. Him and his vet decided it was too much of a risk, especially since the gecko was on sand, and stopped draining it. From the sounds of it, and I might be wrong, but I guess the eye will swell up so large that it drains on it's own? I suspect this is why it currently has a layer of sand on it. The gecko was like this when I got him, and I was told that the sand will dry and fall off on it's own. The gecko was licking it a fair amount, so I'm guessing that the gecko eventually just pulls it off?



I apologize for the bad pictures, I had to use my phone while my camera is being "borrowed" and likely buried in the sand at the beach...
And although you can't tell here, his left eye is actually completely normal sized and colored, and definitely works.

I was told to take him off of sand for the time being, I'm really hoping that won't be a bad move as I've heard it can stress them out. He has sand in the corner of the tank in a fairly good sized pile so he can at least dig a little. Lots of cover, you literally can only see 10% of the bottom of the cage. Temperatures are roughly 89-90 directly under the basking spot, down to 78 on the other side of the cage. He's in a 20 gallon long, however I have a 40 gallon tank I can move him to. I've put up cardboard around his tank so he can't see me when I'm in the room.

I'm a bit confused as what I should do. I picked up a saline solution for sensitive eyes in case I had to give him some eye drops to loosen up the sand. But I know he was stressed enough as it is, since I only brought him home last night. He was getting to the point that he'd wiggle the tip of his tail every step it took to get him to his cage. I have been trying to avoid messing with him since.
The guy I got him from didn't seem too shocked that the gecko has a layer of sand over his eye. Should I just wait it out and let it fall off? Should I give it eye drops to help loosen it? I don't think it'd be an option to try to get it off myself, honestly the gecko has been through enough lately than to top it off with that.

[oli]

You should contact a good reptile vet with this one. Dont mess with the animal so it doesn't stress out in the meantime.

[Jateui]

Just going to copy and paste this from another post I made about it.

So I picked this guy up a couple days ago. I got him for free off of craigslist. I was told the gecko was 7 years old, and wasn't born with a tear duct in his right eye. To avoid stressing him, I have been avoiding handling him all I can. He was kept on jurassic sand before I got him, and I guess his eye got so big that it started draining, and the sand got stuck. I was told this tends to happen, and the sand will crust and fall off basically.

The eye was the same size as the normal one just literally yesterday. Now it's already swelling again, REALLY BADLY.

First, the pictures I got from the guy that had him before. This is how bad the eye can get. I've reduced the large pictures to links.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/753dd5b1.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/2adfd135.jpg

This is how bad the eye is right now.






http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/a3c313d1.png

I kinda noticed the eye looked a bit dark before, but I knew he was stressed for the first few days so I avoided handling him.
I think it might look all scrunched up like that because of the extra skin around the eyes being deflated? If that makes sense? Still a bit disturbing to me, and I'm trying to sell some large tanks of mine so I can take him to the vet asap. In the mean time, I have saline eye drops for sensitive eyes. I gave it to him the first day, but should I continue, to try to loosen the sand? What else should I do?

The gecko is currently on paper towel with a pile of sand in the corner for him to dig in. He was digging in it a bit the first day, but now seems to spend more of his time wandering. He feels really light for his size, so I'm going to check his weight soon. I'm currently selling all of my empty tanks in order to have enough money to bring him to the vet, I'm hoping to be able to bring him in asap.


[edit]
The gecko is 17.5 grams. Which seems extremely light for the body mass. Also got a fresh fecal from him, and it looks to be solid sand.

[mummabear]

That looks bad. I bought a gecko with sand caked around the rim of her eyes not long back. The sand has come off with daily spraying of water and a shed. This looks different as it is in the middle of his eye. Looks like his eye has had an injury and maybe seeping and the sand has stuck. I can only suggest spraying his face every day with water until you get him to the vet. I hope you sell those cages quickly so you can get him some help. 17.5g is light do you say he was 7 years old? I have a pair that are 6 months old and over 20g. For impaction i have in the past injected my food sources abdomen with oil on advice from a vet. I used paraffin oil that i got from the vet. Not sure what you guys call it im from Australia. I injected the abdomen of the crickets with the oil before feeding. I am told you need to be very careful with dosage. Just a drop. And not use it for prolonged periods.
Is he eating?

[Lunar Gecko]

The saline drops should work better than misting with water because it will also hydrate the eye and help it heal. Getting him on non sand bedding was a good move. If you still have the guy who you got him from contact info maybe call and ask who the vet was that he saw? That way you can see the same vet if they are in your area and have all of his past medical info.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Jateui ~

Thanks for these great descriptive photos! You mention that you left some sand in the corner of his tank so that he can dig. Perhaps, just to be safe, you should remove ALL the sand. I am wondering what the condition of the eye is underneath the sand. You say the guy mentioned that this gecko was born without a tear duct in that eye.

[Jateui]

I forgot to mention that removed the remaining sand when I found his droppings. Unfortunately that seems to be the only amount other than a much smaller pile when I got him.

I did get a picture of the fecal. It didn't come out too well, my camera made it really dark. I'm going to try to bring it in tomorrow for a fecal. I had issues getting hold of a local vet today in order to arrange it today. It honestly seems to be a completely SOLID sand piece though.



I really feel bad saying it, but I am not sure if I'll even be able to get the money in time for it to count to help this poor fella. If anybody might know somebody in oregon or washington that would want to take him that's experienced with this species, I'd feel better than he's in more experienced hands. This is my first Nephrurus ever, and honestly I'm horrible unexperienced when it comes to these sort of issues. I'd love to keep him as long as I can but I'm keeping his health in mind.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Jateui ~

Good to hear that you've gotten rid of all the sand! Have you been keeping the stool sample in the refrigerator? I imagine the vet will want it within about 24 hours of collection. Some folks advise wrapping the sample in a moist paper towel and then placing it in a ziploc.

What do you think about getting the sand over the eye really, really soggy with your saline drops so that it almost falls off, and then attempting removal?

Are you in touch with the gecko's former owner? What was the condition of the eye when you received the gecko? If the gecko has no tear duct, then the problem will not disappear. However, without the added injury of the sand, it might look better?