A few questions about hypos(?)

[Oriheme]

I know a few weeks ago I was asking about Dragonites nails being clear. I've never seen a dragon with clear nails before so I was really curious. I think it was determined she's a hypo dragon. so my questions have to do with stress marks and nail clipping..

I've noticed these last few days shes been really dark in the mornings and her belly has stress marks, but they are grey-ish instead of black like Boba Fett.. is this normal?
~And~
Once she gets big enough for her nails to really start to hurt, is it going to be harder to clip the tips off? I barely cut Boba Fett's nails, but I am really worried about her nails because its going to be harder(I think) to see the quick.

any info is really appreciated! Thank you so much

 

[AHBD]

Hi there...if she's a hypo, that's why her stress marks are grey . Hypomelanistic means lacking melanin which is the the dark pigment. So she lacks the dark stress marks , epaulets [ shoulder pads] and other markings. As for nail clipping, just estimate how far the other one's nail's are cut, you'll get the hang of it.

 

[jerichosmom]

Our boy Jericho is a hypo citrus, and his stress marks are like a dark grey. We don't clip his nails though, his viv has tile flooring so that keeps his nails nice and dull. I'm too nervous to clip those tiny little nails.

 

[Oriheme]

I rarely clip Boba Fetts nails, its too intimidating! But it does hurt whn they get older and bigger esp if they start digging on you! Boba Fett does that a loot. I need start using a different substrate I guess.. right now they r on newspaper or paper towels w/e I have handy eventually I wanna get them on tile to see if that helps the sharp nails!

As for her stress marks, thanks it does make me feel better knowing its normal. She just recently started stress marking in the am when I woke her up lol I can't believe how much her colors change when she is stressin! My kids thought she was a different dragon and didn't believe me that it was her the :lol: other day lol

 

[jacody]

I use slate which has a rougher surface than tile and is cheaper to buy.. I actually found mine at a local store that specializes in the making of gravestones and they had thin pieces for next to nothing.. also masonry businesses should have scraps also.. my Omni was a hypo and I clipped her nails easily just doing the bare minimal w/ the tips and that helped w/ the scratches, also if you place a light directly under before clipping you will see the quick and then you can tell how close you are to them to make yourself feel more confident..

 

[Oriheme]

I use slate which has a rougher surface than tile and is cheaper to buy.. I actually found mine at a local store that specializes in the making of gravestones and they had thin pieces for next to nothing.. also masonry businesses should have scraps also.. my Omni was a hypo and I clipped her nails easily just doing the bare minimal w/ the tips and that helped w/ the scratches, also if you place a light directly under before clipping you will see the quick and then you can tell how close you are to them to make yourself feel more confident..

Oh I never thought of that! I will look and see if any of the stores around here sells slate, I doubt it but it doesnt hurt to check! We have a hardware and a feed store here in town LOL thats about all.. its what sucks about living in a small town!

 

[Soulwind]

I use slate too, but I still need to take the needle tips off of my scalebaby's claws
now and then.

IMO, a hypo's nails are actually easier to cut. The blood vessel is much easier
to discern in the clear nails than in regular dark nails.