Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:35 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

hahahahahaha - that lightened my day. I was looking at them and wondering what the hell they were too.....!!!

[/quote]

Yep

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:47:17 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]I forgot to mention in the OP that I had spent a minute or two puzzling over those areas myself, using lighting and magnification, worried they might be areas of necrosis. When the owner realised what I was looking at she volunteered the information that they are actually felt pen marks - this was lizard no. 11 in the clutch![/quote]

hahahahahaha - that lightened my day. I was looking at them and wondering what the hell they were too.....!!!

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Mark Rowland — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:09:36 GMT

Ha Ha ha Ha Ha No 11..... of course.

its about to shed the skin on its tail.,

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Niall Taylor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:45:48 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]These guys dont shed their tail.[/quote]

OK... I've learned something already - I thought it was a bit high up for that to be happening.

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]I would be concerned that the tail is becoming devitalised[/quote]

Not a hint of that so far - it's mobile and sensitive. But I guess it's early days in poikilotherm terms.

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]Interesting are the 2 black areas which represent the position of the hemipenes or kidneys...[/quote]

Ah... yes... about those... .

I forgot to mention in the OP that I had spent a minute or two puzzling over those areas myself, using lighting and magnification, worried they might be areas of necrosis. When the owner realised what I was looking at she volunteered the information that they are actually felt pen marks - this was lizard no. 11 in the clutch! I guess I should have mentioned this earlier - sorry

[quote user="Mark Rowland"] Amputation this high would likley interrupt the blood supply to the renal tissue so I wouldnt advise it at the moment. I would wait and see since if the lizard is about to shed the skin on its tail (they shed their skin in pieces), bath it and watch it foa a week or so then check to see if the tail is starting to go crispy and possibley xray[/quote]

That's just the sort of thing I was looking for - I hadn't realised they shed the skin in bits. Hopefully that's what it is - as far as the lizard is concerned it doesn't seem to realise there's a problem.

I'll keep folks updated - I've asked the owners to send photos as the situation changes.

Cheers,

Niall

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Julian Earl — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:35:50 GMT

I'm going to have to look this up, but I think there is a specific condition relating to these lizards losing their tail tip - I don't think it is just the "normal" loss of lizards' tails in relation to predation.

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Niall Taylor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:33:07 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Keir"] Nice picture Niall; taken with your new camera?[/quote]

Thanks Sarah, that's praise indeed but I'm afraid it was just the practice point and shoot! I haven't yet got comfortable with the idea of lugging the Canon around the practice - must try harder.

[quote user="Sarah Keir"] I succumed to buying frenzy at christmas and got myself a Nikon D7000 - love it! Off to practice my photography in the Danakil Depression in a few weeks [/quote]

Wow - we can look forward to some pretty impressive pics when you get back then.

Niall

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Sarah Keir — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:21:39 GMT

Nice picture Niall; taken with your new camera?

I succumed to buying frenzy at christmas and got myself a Nikon D7000 - love it! Off to practice my photography in the Danakil Depression in a few weeks

Sarah

Re: Bearded dragon with depigmented tail

Mark Rowland — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:12:41 GMT

These guys dont shed their tail. its possible a skin shed may be going on, I would be concerned that the tail is becoming devitalised. Interesting are the 2 black areas which represent the position of the hemipenes or kidneys, Can you see these on the underside? do you know the sex or post a pic of the underneath?

Amputation this high would likley interrupt the blood supply to the renal tissue so I wouldnt advise it at the moment. I would wait and see since if the lizard is about to shed the skin on its tail (they shed their skin in pieces), bath it and watch it foa a week or so then check to see if the tail is starting to go crispy and possibley xray

Nice picture, Goodluck