Bearded Dragon Tail Rot

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

My bearded dragon is a male that is about 8 years old. The tail rot is several months old and has not even infected an inch of the tail, which is a good sign.

Now, I have absolutely no idea where this problem originated from. I was on vacation and after a few days I notice the tip of the tail darkening. It was clear I wasn't present during the issue. I did lend him to my grandparents' house whom my cousins lived in temporarily (17 years and older), but it's only a chance that they could have caused it.

I thought it was just a case of the bearded dragon shedding it's tail, but then it became very hard and immovable. However, I managed to take him daily baths and apply Neosporin on it. After a bath, the infected area would significantly soften up.

The lights I provide him is a Repti Glo 10.0 UVB bulb (I am aware that it's UVB emission is slightly too intense for beardies, so I compensated by placing it over mesh screen) and a basking light that's 100 Watts from Exo Terra. I provide him with superworms almost daily and vegetables/greens as much as I can provide. I supplement sentient matter with calcium, vitamin D3 and other vitamins on a regular basis. His overall health is moderate. He shows absolutely no signs of tail rot except his hardened tail. No lethargic symptoms and he eats just fine, though has become less excited. I believe it is just an improper shed. Humidity I have heard is a factor in bearded dragon tail rot, and it may be the cause. Humidity was something that I took a tad to lightly.

More recently, I have given daily baths and sprayed him and the enclosure almost daily, thus increasing humidity. I don't know how to measure humidity, so I can't express it as a percentage at the moment.

So what do you think? What's the issue to my old man's tail and how do I treat it? If I am to construct a veterinary appointment, how much will it cost me?

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Also, I've confirmed it is a shedding failure. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Don't lurk, help!

 

[Billybatz9]

I see noone has helped you out lol. Probably because they saw a long post and was like I am outta here haha. But I won't lurk

If several months have passed already. Do not worry. With a few soaks in a bath, a few sheds, and more time, the tip should just fall off. If you see it starting to move up the tail even a bit, a vet will be needed. I dont know the costs as I have not had to take my beardie to a vet before. But I would not worry too much if I were you. Doesn't look that serious. But just keep an eye on it

 

[Esther19]

The affected area should fall off on its own. Just make sure the tail does not darken above the currently affected area. Daily baths are fine. Misting the cage to increase humidity is not recommended, as it may lead to respiratory infection. A ReptiGlo 5 does not have the appropriate wavelength UVB for dragons. A Reptisun 10 tube is the one preferred by most on this site. Let us know how his tail progresses.

 

[popsickle18]

As others above me have said the tip will fall off on its own. One of my bearded dragons had that on the end of his tail. It happened out of the blue and we didn't know why or how. It just continued to harden, turn black, and one day it kind of snapped off. I did put a little bit of neosporin (without the pain reliever) on it at the time because the very tip was red. It healed up soon after and gave him no problems for the rest of his life. Just watch out for the black to continue to rise up and show no signs of stopping. Then that is tail rot and you need to get the proper treatment right away. It doesn't look like he has that though!

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Thank you all so much. I read about the increase in humidity being a cause of respiratory infections recently, so I kept the sprays at a more lenient rate.

It hasn't spread since that picture. Except the constructed area is a darker red, presumably a result of immune systematic blood clotting. I'll give an updating image of what it is now hopefully by Tuesday. The tail has not fallen off yet.

I'll probably change the UVB bulb in a bit, but I will nonetheless have a problem setting it up under the mesh lid, haha.

 

[Esther19]

I use long zip ties. Good luck!

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Thanks. Say, that was a very quick reply. I haven't even returned to the forums by the time you posted, heh.

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Funny zip ties were the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Esther19]

We all do the best we can to help when we can. Sometimes, nothing comes to mind when reading a post.

 

[PogonaTrainerAISP]

Yeah, sorry. I always overreact on my bearded dragon's health. Tail rot is very serious in my eyes, and I bet it is, so I want to make sure that I can properly diagnose my Pogona vitticeps if needed.