gzambran
Member
About two and a half years ago, three of my class mates and I all got 6-week old baby beardies from the same clutch. They were from a private "backyard" breeder, not from a reptile show or reputable/ experienced breeder. The babies were all normal and healthy at the time of purchase. They all did well for about one year. Since then, my beardie Alejandro got cutaneous Aspergillus. We thought it was the dreaded yellow fungus at first, but Asper is much less serious. However Apsergillius is a ubiquitous organism in the air, and usually only colonizes immunosuppressed individuals. His husbandry and diet were optimal and there was no reason he should have acquired an infection just from being exposed to the air... He was treated with Miconazole, Ketaconazole and MONTHS of Betadine baths. It took almost 8 whole moths to resolve. He has since recovered nicely. I am concerned today because I learned that one of his clutch mates died of a necrotic hepatic abscess. Hepatic lipidosis was present as well but was not thought to be the cause of death. The necropsy report just came in today. Another clutch mate died suddenly in May but the owner did not want to do a necropsy. Alejandro and one other dragon are the only ones left alive from the clutch. I am very concerned that they may be inbred and have a congenital / genetic immunodeficiency. Has anyone heard of any cases of this? I am trying to look through the literature but have not found anything. I may post something on VIN as well and try to see if any veterinarians have documented cases. Alejandro appears completely healthy at the moment, but I am extremeIy worried that he could face an untimely death like his brothers did. Both dragons were only 2 years old at the time of death 
. I'm not sure if I should bring him in an have a CBC/Blood Chemistry done just to see if we find anything... or just assume this is all a conincidence and be thankful that he is currently healthy and happy. I will definitely buy my next dragon from a proven breeder with a solid reputation.
. I'm not sure if I should bring him in an have a CBC/Blood Chemistry done just to see if we find anything... or just assume this is all a conincidence and be thankful that he is currently healthy and happy. I will definitely buy my next dragon from a proven breeder with a solid reputation.
