yellow fungus, coccidia

[khartley]

About a month ago I rescued 3 dragons, 2 babies and a juvenille, all being enclosed in a 20 gallon tank with no uvb. The smallest had bloody feces, so I treated all 3 for coccidia, and I left them together in a 40 gallon tank while being treated to minimize risk of spreading.

Now I have them all separate, all feces are normal. All eat well, gaining weight, getting proper uvb, calcium dust, acidiphilliz and bath soaks.

I noticed the oldest had what I initially thought was a stuck shed around the vent. It was a crusty, flaky yellow. She shed last week, and some of that came off, but allot of it stayed. Now I am concerned she may have yellow fungus, and if she does I am very worried for her, the other 2 she was housed with, and even my other 2 rescues, who occasionally run around on the same floor/bed (not at the same time though)

Just asking some opinions. The picture is this morning after I soaked her and gently rubbed the yellow areas to see if some would come off, which it didn't. I put an antifungal cream on the yellow area after bath, just to see if it changes at all.

I cleaned out her cage and just put paper towel in, and will keep the furnishings to a minimum, as well as be extra careful with hand washing/sanitizing until I know for sure. I gave the 2 little ones a close inspection earlier and saw no external signs, but I'm aware that a dragon can be infected for over a month before showing any symptoms.

I'm worried sick please if anyone can offer advice on what this might be, how to begin a treatment as quickly as possible for her, even a precautionary treatment for my other dragons, I'd be willing to do anything it takes.

This is a picture of the 2 she was housed with.

 

[AHBD]

First off I want to say what a great job you did with them, the babies look fat + healthy. I do also believe, sadly, that looks very much like Y.F. There are very few success stories when a beardie has it, but putting the cream on it is your first step. Don't bathe her, just offer water via syringe to hydrate her. Plain water would spread it, but I've read that some people bathe them in a weak chlorhexedine bath or betadine [ both watered down about 1-10 but I can't remember the exact ratio.] A vet could culture it to confirm, then it's itraconazole or voraconazole to treat . Keep the other dragons away of course, and don't let them in or on anything she crawls on. Hopefully they haven't picked it up.

Others will offer suggestions, hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

 

[khartley]

That's what I was afraid of, that just breaks my heart and I wish the ppl that mistreated these dragons would have to go thru the heartache I will of potentially losing one or all 3. They are so young

Thanks for the feedback tho.

 

[khartley]

Little update. Here's what it looks like today. The remaining crusts I was able to easily flake off in the tub today. However the yellow remains. Still think it's yellow fungus? The vet has been too busy to see her, I emailed a pic and info but he has not gotten back to me yet.

I'm curious how fast yellow fungus generally progresses? I'm watching her like a hawk and she just seems grumpy that I'm treating her differently now. I'm just at a loss cause I don't really know what I'm looking at.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Hm, it does appear to be yellow fungus, but it looks better after the second bath you gave. That is a hard call. They need to do a skin culture to see if it is fungal, but, as suggested, you can try to be proactive & get some topical anti-fungal cream such as lamisil or monistat.
I would continue giving a probiotic also, in case it is fungal, to help replenish & balance out the gut flora internally too.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

 

[khartley]

In the past 6 days I've given her 2 baths only, because I read that it could easily spread that way. I put an anti fungal cream mixed with coconut oil and a drop off tea tree oil on it every other day for the past week.

If it was yf, wouldn't it spread? Because in the month that I've had her it has basically stayed in the same area.. Where the crusts flaked off, it was healthy scales under.. And wouldn't the 2 housed with her start to show some signs? I check them often and see no discolorations.... Might be grasping at threads, but just really hoping like crazy that it isn't, because that would mean any of my other rescues could have it now too. Worried!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I do have to agree on that account, it probably would be spreading. Continue to treat as if it is yellow fungus, just in case.
I highly recommend trying to get a skin culture done to confirm. If it does happen to be yellow fungus then catching it early will be a sure way to cure it before it goes too far.
Is her appetite good overall?
I really hope that it isn't yellow fungus because the others would have been exposed to it also & that makes it so much harder!

Keep us posted on her.

Tracie

 

[khartley]

Appetite is great and she spends all her time basking, poo is consistent and normal. She eats some salad daily and likes raspberries. There isn't any feeder that she doesn't readily go after. Still gaining weight and length, I keep a log of all the dragons. She will literally eat the dropper when I give her acidophiliz, apparently she really likes that. Health wise there isn't any indication that she is ill other than the yellow... I just don't know what to think.

Fingers crossed.....

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Absolutely, I hope that it isn't for both of your sakes! When are you going to try & get her into the vets for a skin culture?
I am happy her appetite is doing well & she eats anything in front of her. LOL That is a great indication anyway & is positive.
Keep us posted on her.

Tracie

 

[khartley]

The vet just got back from vacation and has been really busy. I'll give a call tomorrow again to see if I can get in this week. I'll keep you posted.

 

[AHBD]

Make sure your vet is familiar with Y.F and can do the culture. You can also contact this organization...www.vetdna.com/test-type/reptiles......they can test a swab that you send in for a low price. With Y.F., it seems that it can appear to get better + clear up, then sometimes comes back. But there's always hope, so keep up the antifungal cream as well as the other natural products you're using if they are antifungal. And the babies may not have picked it up [ if it is Y.F. ] so hopefully their being young + strong will give them an edge.

 

[khartley]

I am absolutely going to send a swap to that place, thank you so much for the link and info, that will be extremely helpful in the future as well.

In the meantime, I honestly can't tell if its getting better or not, it seems to lighten in color some, but it doesn't really change size. Per all the info I found, I stopped feeding fruit and removed the water bowls from all the dragon cages and will be just giving them water via syringe for a while. I will give her an occasional soak with the betadine.

I am worried about applying the fungus cream too long, because of the stories of actually poisoning their bodies, and doing harm to the liver. Is this true? Should I be doing the cream every other day? She is a 3-4 month old, about 70g. Her appetite is still good, although she didn't eat quite as well today but I moved her to a different tank in a different room so it could just be that.

The cream I made up is about 3 parts coconut oil to 1 part 1% corticozode (sp?) antifungal cream, with a couple drops of tea tree oil added. Is this ok for daily? Or less? I've been using clove bud oil as a hand sanitizer for myself after I touch anything dragon related. It is a very potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in one, I figured that way both my bases were covered. Clove bud oil is far more powerful than tea tree, but may have more powerful adverse affects along with it. Should I stick with the tea tree? Or go for the gold and really try and knock it out quickly?

Also I read that apple cider vinegar is great for fungus because it creates an alkaline environment that the fungus cannot live in. Would this be a good addition to the bath soak, or do you think it would sting or burn? I don't want to hurt her She is already upset with me, thinking she is being mistreated, poor girl.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor girl, how is she holding up this evening?
I would continue with the cream combination you have made up & hold off on the apple cider vinegar. Though I understand the reasoning behind it, creating an alkaline environment so it cannot thrive. I would keep the baths to a minimum so it doesn't contribute to spreading, but a few are fine.
I have never used the clove bud oil. Does it seem to bother her or have you used it yet?
The tea tree oil works well, as long as it isn't too strong. Sometimes overuse of the cream can cause marked lethargy so it is good to cycle the use of it, correct. The creams can be strong since they do absorb directly into the skin.
Are you also giving probiotics too in case it is fungal?
I am glad that she is still maintaining a pretty good appetite as well. Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[khartley]

Yes probiotic almost daily. So should I apply the cream every other day? Or perhaps alternate between a mild one and a more potent one? The clove I have not used on her but it's what I use on myself, and I know if I use too much clove with too little carrier oil, it will burn. But it is incredibly powerful stuff, I've noticed a considerable improvement overnight on a staff type infection. It is antibacterial and anti fungal, which I like because both bases would be covered that way. I will see if the tea tree helps, if not, I will try a very diluted mix of coconut oil and clove bud oil. I will get a pic of her tummy right now to post the difference. I just can't tell if I'm making progress or not.

 

[khartley]

Both from about ten minutes ago, different lighting.