Dragon's skin tail split before shedding?

Status
Not open for further replies.

damogets

Member
iEjkevO.jpg


So a few days ago my son's beardie's tail skin started to split; unfortunately it looks like this has happened for some reason before his shed is due to take place. He has no other spots turning opaque and looking like they're going to come off anywhere else, and as you can see in the image it looks like the skin is split up the side right to the point where the skin goes back to normal from the opaque/'loose' looking skin that's normally the consistency during shedding.

I'm really unhappy to note that it also looks like it's causing him some sensitivity issues. Ever since this split has formed (we've known about it for about 2-3 days now, and I think that's when it must've developed being as he's been out every day and we didn't see anything like that before), he's been protective of his tail a bit, and if something does touch it, he does this weird wiggling motion with it, almost the same as they do with their tails when they're swimming, but at a slower pace. I'm thinking it's got to be somewhat sore for him, at the very least, as I've never seen him engage in anything like this before. I don't know if it's getting worse for him, or what, as I've also seen him doing it when he's basking up in his hammock now and nothing has touched the tail at all.

Last, but not least, I'm wondering if this may not be signs of a calcium deficiency. It appears that we had run out of calcium for awhile, but it slipped my son's mind to remind me to pick up more (and I didn't think about it when I was helping with the beardie at all until this happened, either). I don't think he had any supplementation to a diet mostly of pellets (I know it's bad, I'm working on getting him back into more produce and live food again) and kale for awhile here. Yesterday we got him calcium and some crickets again and he's been loading up on them heavily dusted with the calcium powder today.

Does anybody have any idea what may be going on definitively here, or know what I should do? I was thinking of taking him in to the vet today, but I've still got a few hours left before they open, so I'm hoping to find out if I really need to do that or not right now, as it's an expense that I can barely afford what with covid has done and everything.

Thanks for any feedback that you may have, guys, it is greatly appreciated!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
To me it looks like shed --- but we can have AHBD look at it and she can advise as to what to put on it -- what are you using for a UVB? coil or a tube ? Here is a website for nutrition please NO more pellets
ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
also he could use some worms in his diet like super horn butter worms - how old is the dragon?
Karrie
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Hi there, that just looks like shed coming off, they can get a little cranky /sensitive then. A short time without calcium generally has no bad effect on a larger dragon. Try soaking him + use a toothbrush to gently stroke that area. It should come off soon. You can put neosporin on after it dries.
 

WinFam01

Juvie Member
I also think it looks like shed (but I am a newbie).
Have you tried soaking him to see what it looks like after?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

No members online now.

Still Needs Help

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,897
Messages
1,255,656
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom