Swollen beard with a lump! *PICTURES*

[jerichosmom]

I just went in to take Jericho out and he was laying across his drift wood. His beard was kind of resting on the wood. His right eye was bulging so I picked him up. It stopped bulging as soon as I did that. But I realized his beard is really swollen. I was touching it and theres a lump right in the middle. He also has some swollen lumps on both sides of his chest, kind of like little boobs. Has anyone ever seen this before? I'm not sure if it's just because of the way he was laying, maybe the wood was cutting off circulation and making it swell up?

 

[jerichosmom]

Here are some pictures!

This shows the lump in the middle. It is squishy.


These show his puffy beard from the side. It feel swollen, like its full of fluid.




This is kind of hard to see, but this is his side lumps.

 

[StreetMoggy]

could be swollen lymph nodes? but I'm unfamiliar with were exactly their lymph nodes are located. probably means infection of some sort

 

[Buddysfam]

I always thought those were their fat stores... My guy has the same thing (I think) and he's healthy! Hopefully someone else jumps in who knows for sure!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Those areas under his arms are fat pads/stores, which is normal for most to have.
As far as the swelling on the beard that can be fluid retention. What supplementation do you use & are you using a UVB light currently?
How long has his beard been a little swollen?
It could also be a localized cyst if it is a soft tissue. Could he have injured himself somehow?

Tracie

 

[jerichosmom]

We stopped using vitamins and calcium when we stopped feeding crickets. We do phoenix worms and greens. He has 2 uvb bulbs, one 36" which sits on top of a screen (we have a showcase cage) and then we mounted a 24" in the back of the tank, which is only a couple months old.
It has been 4 days since I first noticed the swelling. It is still swollen, and it's even all around. I don't think it's fluid retention or a cyst. I'm concerned that he has some kind of infection. Unfortunately the only reptile vet around here is not very close, and they're closed on Sundays. I won't be able to take him until Tuesday. I don't know if I should be doing anything for him. I gave him a bath on friday and he pooped, and he ate some phoenix worms. He doesn't have any stress marks, but he looks very sad and tired. Any thoughts?

 

[mazais]

Baltumins has those too! But they aren't that big.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Which tube UVB lights are you using?
How long has he gone without calcium now? How many feeders/insects does he receive each week being an adult?
It can also be caused by a vitamin or absorption issue too. Is he basking on his own or is he lethargic now?

Tracie

 

[jerichosmom]

We use reptisun 10.0 for our uvb's. He hasn't gone without calcium, he's eating phoenix worms. He usually eats about 25 worms a day, plus his greens. He's always been a very healthy eater. He comes out to bask, but he's slow about it. This is the same time last year when he started slowing down, and then brumated from november until march.

The swelling appears to have come down a little bit. He's still pooping and eating and moving around, so we're keeping an eye on it.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great to hear the swelling has come down some, that is good news.
I would still give some supplemental calcium a couple of days per week to be sure he is getting enough.
The phoenix worms while they are calcium rich, they are small, too.
The swelling usually indicates that something with fluids, or other nutritional issues can be present. Perhaps he wasn't absorbing something very well for awhile. I hope he is feeling better soon!
The Reptisun 10 tube is on top of a screen, so how far is it from him? The screen can filter some of the UVB light out also. Did you mount the other tube on the back wall of his tank, correct? Could you post a picture of the tank & light placement?


Thanks.
Tracie

 

[jerichosmom]

The UVB has been in the same set up for over a year, so I know that's not the issue. We replace the bulbs every 6 months too. The swelling is coming down more, I'm really starting to think it was just from the way he was laying on his driftwood. I think it was cutting off circulation and caused a back up of fluids in his beard. As long as he remains alert and eating and the swelling doesn't come back, I think we're out of the woods. Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great to hear! Things like that can happen but at least the swelling is coming down.
I was just trying to make sure the lighting was correct & that it wasn't glaring in his eyes.
I am happy to know that he is doing better each day! Let us know how he progresses.

Thanks.
Tracie

 

[Lpsouth1978]

It is great to hear that he is doing better!

However, I agree that you should still be supplementing with calcium and multivitamins even though you are feeding phoenix worms. I also feed my guy Phoenix worms and for a time was not supplementing. When I took him to the vet (a fantastic herp specialist and breeder with many reptiles of her own), she said that I should still be dusting the worms. She said it is virtually impossible to over dose on calcium when eaten, so it is better to give extra calcium than not enough. The multivitamin should still be given as normal.

He looks like a healthy boy though!