Cork Bark problems with Eurydactylodes??

DDReptiles

New member
Hey,

Well I was looking at one of my female Eurys the other day and noticed what looked to be stuck eye-cap. I have never had humidity issues before with any of my geckos and the humidity was fine in the cage. When I looked closer I noticed the eye was clear on the top and bottom but had like a milky center on the eye. None of my other Eurys have this problem and this female is otherwise in perfect condition.

Then tonight I talked with Clark Tucker and he was telling me how he had something similar and that it was due to the cork bark in the cage.

Has anyone else had this? Or heard of this? It would have never of occured to me, but figure I would look more into it.

Thanks Derek
 

Lunar Gecko

New member
Never heard of it before but there is always the first time. Did he bake it, did you? It could be something that came in on the cork bark, maybe? I use cork bark a lot and have never had any issues. Good luck and let us know.
TTFN
 

DDReptiles

New member
Never heard of it before but there is always the first time. Did he bake it, did you? It could be something that came in on the cork bark, maybe? I use cork bark a lot and have never had any issues. Good luck and let us know.
TTFN

Hey,

Yeah I have never had any problems with it in any of my other geckos, and I have it in quite a few cages. I did wash it and bake it before I put it in the cage, it was also was brand new cork, direct from the grower. So don't know what is the deal, nor do the reptile vets I talked to. But I figure I will treat it and leave the cork out and if it heals, then all is well.
 

DDReptiles

New member
Hey John,

She seems to be doing pretty good. I treated her with a moisterizing cream to keep the eye moist that also had a antibiotic in it. Can't say it really helped, I also had a vet look at it and he didn't give me any real advice (he's pretty much useless when it comes to exotics, but he's the only "exotic" vet around).

But shes eating and fat, and she moves around the cage throughout the day/night so I am not really worried about her.

Thanks Derek
 

van_veen456

New member
Thats good to hear!

I also have corkbark with my animals, but I don't really experience problems with it.
Have you found anything else in the viv that might have caused the problems?
 

DDReptiles

New member
Thats good to hear!

I also have corkbark with my animals, but I don't really experience problems with it.
Have you found anything else in the viv that might have caused the problems?


Yeah I doubt it is the cork bark as I use it in a ton of my enclosures and had it in all of my Eury enclosures and this female was the only one that developed a problem. I don't know what else could have caused it, still don't :?

Thanks Derek
 

Lunar Gecko

New member
I just had a newer piece of cork (about a month in the tank) pop out a strange beetle a few days ago and I bake the crap out of mine...but its the only new piece in the tank? The thing was crazy looking and not local as far as I know. I should have got a picture of it but I got all freaked out and killed it asap. Maybe something like that bit her and/or she ate it?

TTFN
 

Kostas

New member
Try conducting a human ophalmologist...If you are a client of his,he may be willing to take a look at your geckos eye and he will most likely know what its caused by and how to treat it correctly...My mother(ophtalmologist) has helped me a lot at treating eye infections on fish with great success...She also has accepted to see pets of his clients with eye problems and has treated them successfully with human medicine...;-)

Hope she fully heals soon!
 

clarksgeckos

New member
Hi all,
I had 2 Eurydactylodes out of 10 when I first started working with them that came down with eye infections as well as one with a skin infection on its back. The only thing different about the setups were that the 2 animals that became infected had Cork Bark in their tanks. I have never had this infection before or after on any of my Eurydactylodes. I talked directly with Ken and he said that he had the same problems with his Eury's and no longer used Cork Bark with this species and has had no further problems. I have since had no more problems but, I do not use Cork Bark.
Derek, This was just advice given to try and help. I may be wrong but, I am pretty sure that I am not. I keep well over 30 species of geckos and have had this problem with 3 geckos that had been in new caging that utilized Cork Bark (2 Eury's and 1 Eastern Form Strophurus intermedius) I still use Cork Bark but I do not use it with Strophurus or Eurydactylodes. Its kinda funny isnt it that the only species that came down with this problem were Strophurus and Eurydactylodes (somehow related from way back before the land masses shifted) with the same infections in not just your collection but mine and Ken's.
All of the geckos infected were treated with the ointment that I told you about and were placed in sterile cages with paper towel substrate with plastic dowels or baked Oak Branches for climbing. It took some time for the infected areas to deminish but once healed they were totally fine and have been since. The affected Eurydactylodes female as well as the male successfully bred and produced vigorous and super healthy babies last year and are at it again this year. The affected S. intermedius female produced babies as well this year that are perfect as well!
I dont know where everyone elses Cork Bark comes from but I am sure that there is Cork Tree Plantations in several places throughout the world. There is no telling what causes the problem but, I can assure you that I will not be using it on anymore Strophurus or Eurydactylodes!!!
Best Regards,
Clark Tucker
 
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