It's good that you were able to compare to older photos. If the mark is visible in those and hasn't changed, then it's just a natural scale color. Think of it like a freckle. They are common and harmless. Also a good way to help identify dragons since the marks are unique.
Thank you! Of course my mind was jumping to something horrible like yellow fungus. I never had a close up photo of the mark, but it looks the same in the older photos from far away as it does in photos taken today at a distance. She's also seen multiple specialists since then so I'm hoping they would have pointed it out if they thought it was something bad. Still, next time I go to the vet I will ask about it just to be safe.
I just wanted to give an update that Liz laid 31 eggs yesterday--the most ever! I feel bad because she looks so skinny now. Still, I'm very happy that she was able to lay. Thanks everyone for your help!
Thank you! Yes she is resting right now. Had some superworms and veggies so hopefully she'll look less skinny soon. It's not uncommon for her to lay another clutch just a few weeks later, but last year she only laid one and I'm hoping this year will be the same.
She certainly does! I'm out 500+ dollars at the vet because of my worrying about her! Not sure if it's because of where I live but exotic vet visits sure are expensive! :?
And will do! She ate a lot today and we dusted everything with calcium. She already looks a little less skinny to me.
Small animal = big bill every time. Good to hear she finally laid. What an ordeal, but you did the right thing. Egg binding can easily go sideways - just make sure to bulk up hercalcium from now on during laying season. With 31 eggs, I think we know where it all went this time.
Small animal = big bill every time. Good to hear she finally laid. What an ordeal, but you did the right thing. Egg binding can easily go sideways - just make sure to bulk up hercalcium from now on during laying season. With 31 eggs, I think we know where it all went this time.
Thank you! Yes, absolutely. We're making sure to replenish her calcium! It's extra hard on her because she has MBD. But she seemed to be in a good mood and very hungry today!
Wow, 31 eggs is exhausting for sure! I hope that she gets some well deserved rest now.
At least she ate some superworms & veggies for you so that should help out. I am sure that
she will eat more & her weight will go back up. Hopefully she wont lay more eggs anytime
soon this year.
I'm sorry to bring up this part of the post again, but what's odd is that this mark I was concerned about in this post seems to have faded significantly. In older photos I can see that there was always a darker spot there (like how it looks now) but it doesn't look nearly as dark as it did in this photo. I'm so confused why she would have a dark spot that would get darker, then get lighter again. Has anyone ever seen this happen in other beardies? Can they have a freckle that sometimes darkens and then gets light again?
Thank you everyone for your help.
Pic from a little over a week ago:
Pic from today:
Pic from a few years ago where you can kind of see a dark spot there (sorry, I had to zoom in a lot because this pic was from far away):
lizdragon":d5rvwnbm said:
Thank you so much for your responses! Liz has not laid yet, but the good news is that Liz has been showing signs of laying eggs again. I'm wondering if maybe she just wasn't ready before. If she still can't lay soon we will take her back to the vet.
I do have a question about something unrelated. We noticed not long ago that she has a dark or discolored looking scale next to her right ear. It's not noticeable under her bright light and it's pretty small, but of course I'm still worried. I posted two pics, one is very close up so you can clearly see it. In the farther out photo you can see just how much it blends it. Does anyone have any idea what this may be?
My guess is that the scale has a color pigment that can be changed. The color seems to match the color of the beard scales in both photos. Lighter scale with the lighter beard, darker scale with a darker beard.
The lower part of the beard is darker in that photo too. I'd probably consider it a feature that will adjust along with beard color. You may also see it more when she darkens if she's cold or is basking. My dragon has some similar scales but they're along his tail.
The lower part of the beard is darker in that photo too. I'd probably consider it a feature that will adjust along with beard color. You may also see it more when she darkens if she's cold or is basking. My dragon has some similar scales but they're along his tail.
Yes I think you are right! Her beard doesn't look black but it does appear to be darker in the pics where the dark scale is more visible. As long as it doesn't seem like anything concerning I'm happy. She's been acting totally normal and like I said, it looks like this mark is visible in photos from years ago. I'm glad to hear your beardie has something similar!
I have to say, I love Liz so much, but I really feel like I worry about her 24/7. I think I have beardie health anxiety (along with my other anxieties)!
The worry over them certainly goes with the territory. It can be tough to determine their mood and health since they don't speak or make sound. It gets easier over time but the anxiety never completely goes away. I worry about my guy a lot too.