Black Spikes...Yellow Fungus???Pics..

[FranktheTank]

I just noticed on Chloes head, above her ear, three spikes that have turned black. They were not there yesterday, and she's never had this before at least not that I've noticed. I am wondering is this some sort of rot, or early stage of Yellow Fungus? I'm freaking out here and pretty worried. Some opinions on whether or not I should get her to a vet asap for this would be much appreciated. Chloe is eating normal, pooping normal, she's alert and active, and her usual happy sweet self. These are the best pictures I could get as she is sound asleep:

It's a dull black, almost grayish black. It's just the tips of the spikes, and does not go all the way down the spike to the scales. It's very odd..

-Kaleen

 

[AHBD]

No, that is probably just some retained shed. Occassionally some spikes will become discolored from trauma but it's not the same as fungus. If you are worried, it wouldn't hurt to apply Lamisil or Monistat anti fungal cream, [ which would be the treatment if it WERE fungal ] it will at least keep it moist in case it is just retained shed, but it doesn't look like anything serious .

 

[Dooter]

I'm know pretty much nothing about Yellow Fungus, but that really doesn't look like any pics I've seen of it.

I would agree with AHBD, it looks like retained shed. Stella gets that on the same spikes, as a matter of fact. I can't tell by the pics of Chloe, but with Stella's you can actually see at the base of the spikes where the outer layer of skin isn't connected.

Give her a kiss for me!!! :mrgreen:

PS - I will get a pic of Stella's retained shed/spikes tonight and you can compare - it looks almost identical.

 

[snazzyglasses]

Our male had a few head-spikes that looked like that when we got him. Turned out to be retained shed also, and they eventually came off after a little extra attention in the bath. You could see where the little layers of skin weren't attached to the rest of his head too though, like Dooter & Stella said. And it doesn't look like yellow fungus to me either, so as long as the grey color doesn't spread I'm thinkin' it's just some stubborn shed.
P.S. Chloe is soo gorgeous! :love10:

 

[Goonie]

I don't see any signs of yellow fungus. The spikes look as if they'd been injured somehow. I say that only because I'd seen it from my girls when Pookie's in his hormonal craze and grabbing their back spikes. Luckily, the blackened spikes eventually went away with the next shed.

 

[FranktheTank]

I am keeping an eye on it, and in her bath tonight I'll give it some attention. Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly.. I am a worry wort and always assume the worst.

-Kaleen

 

[snazzyglasses]

I am a worry wort and always assume the worst.

Same here! I really do try not to over-worry, but it tends to happen anyways lol...

 

[Bwalter]

I thought that about my rescue girls spikes. I asked the vet today while there for full check up on her, I can tell she has some retained shed on her head and he said that about her spikes too. I was worried about yellow fungus as she has a yellow spot with a black spot on it, but its just retained shed.

 

[FranktheTank]

Well I tried to get it off her spikes in the bath and no luck... And honestly she hasn't shed in a while, why would it be showing up now as retained shed? I'm not trying to be a pest, it's just she's had such a rough life already it would kill me to have her suffer through something else.

-Kaleen