My baby has moldy looking spots after being boarded. (PICS)

[pavanne]

Hi everyone,

I boarded my beardie at a reputable local reptile shop for 12 days over winter vacation. When I picked him up from the store, he looked very dark, stressed, listless, and his beard was completely black. I had never seen him that color before. The store said that he was probably just a little agitated. He has never been this color under our care, even when we try to agitate him!

I got home, gave him a warm bath, which usually returns him to his yellow coloring whenever if he is a little dark. This spot on the front of his snout did not turn to yellow- it is permanently dark-- it actually looks moldy.

There are also permanent black spots radiating from his chin. They are symmetrical. I imagine his tank not being clean and perhaps he may have rested his chin in a certain position on feces for too long?

Some info:
- He was shedding when I dropped him off before i left for vacation
- He is 14 months old


Is this a skin infection? a bruise? Will it spread? Please any information would greatly help!

 

[AHBD]

One thing you could do immediately is to give him a soak in lukewarm water and gently rub it with an abrasive hand towel or soft toothbrush. This should tell you for sure if it's a stain[ which would come off easily ] or some fungus [ which most likely WOULD'NT come off] I think you should have a talk with the " boarders". Doesn't sound as if their care is up to par, I would never use them again. Keep your pictures in case he needs a vet visit and proof of his condition before and after boarding.

 

[Goonie]

Not to scare you or anything, but that doesn't look like dried up poop smears to me. It looks like a burn or even fungal infection.

Did he stay in his own viv while being boarded or whatever the petstore supplied?
Could he had possibly gotten too close to a heat lamp and burned his chin?
Did he have a heat mat in the tank?
Does he wince away if you touch that spot?
Did you ask the store about how he was cared for during those 12 days?

Have you tried to rub off the black spot? Lightly wet a q-tip (don't saturate it) and gently rub the tip of his chin. If any of the blackness comes off, and normal coloring and scales are shown underneath, then everything's ok; if nothing comes off and he reacts to the touch, you'll need to 1) contact the petstore and file a complaint and 2) take your baby to a herp vet.

 

[lovemybeardies]

I rescued a beardie that had a spot on his chin similar to your beardie's. It turned out that this poor beardie had been banging his face against the wall of his viv repeatedly which resulted in this sore, calloused area. I imagine it was due to stress and/or being able to see other beardies in the area of his viv. I put paper around his viv so he couldn't see out, I held him a lot to calm him, and I cleaned the area with betadine daily. It eventually healed with no residual scar. Is it possible your beardie was stressed because of your absence and possibly he could see other beardies/reptiles in the area he was boarded? He might have done the same thing... banged his face into the wall of the viv resulting in that sore.

Just a thought.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh that is too bad, sorry that he was not cared for properly!
How is he doing today, did you give him a bath? You can use some antibiotic ointment on his chin to help if it is a scrape or a burn.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[pavanne]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for the replies!! I did confirm that it was definitely not a stain, and he does seem annoyed when I touch it. I bought some neosporin and applied it last night.

I finally called the reptile shop to complain and find out what kind of conditions they have-- and the guy told me that on some of their tanks, they use a metal screen as the front sliding door, and that some animals will rub against it the rough surface, sometimes causing damage to their skin. He says that they usually move those animals out of those tanks, but I have no idea why they didnt move my beardie out of his. Anyway "lovemybeardies" was right in pinpointing the problem. I have seen my baby do this at home, but the sides of my tank are smooth so he never has hurt himself.

Anyway im glad to have found out the cause. He is still very edgy at home- he is dark all the time (except when he has his bath). He used to run around like a crazy chicken when I would let him out for his jog, but now he's very slow, cautious and jumpy- stalking around with his head low. He must have really been traumatized at the store

Thanks again to all.

Tip for everyone: If you are having you beardie boarded, make sure you ask the see the tanks first!!