Reptile Q&A: Real Answers from Vet Experts

My bearded dragon has a lump on his lower back and has been having troubles moving his back legs. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do?

Thanks for reaching out about Mushu and including pictures. You should be concerned and a veterinary visit is recommended. The lump on the back appears to involve the spine. The rear legs appear swollen and front legs held awkwardly. First thoughts are around metabolic bone disease, which arises from calcium deficiency, whether lack in diet, lack of absorption or lack of ultraviolet radiation. A veterinary visit can help with diagnosis and prognosis, provide injections of calcium and vitamin D3, and oral calcium supplements. Good luck.

My gecko won't let me hold it and when I try to it runs away. How can a train it to be handled?

You will need to gradually acclimate Peanut to handling. Begin by simply sitting by the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and speak softly around her. She may retreat to her hide or to the far side of the cage initially. Don't worry, this us normal. When she becomes more accepting and calm, progress to placing your hand in the enclosure. Again, for ever increasing periods of time. She may once again retreat. Make no attempt to touch or hold her. Use small treats to coax her closer to you then onto your hand. Be patient and be consistent. The more you interact with her, the quicker she will become acclimated.

My bearded dragon sometimes swings his tail when I pick him up.... I am assuming there is something he doesn't like but sometimes he does it when I am just standing there holding him

Hello. Lizards use their tails for balance and defense. Most likely, Lewis is swinging his tail to try to regain balance as he is being picked up. The feeling of being held may be somewhat disorienting, making him search for solid footing. He could also be trying to struggle to get free if he isn’t keen on being picked up at that time. Make sure to hold him securely and if he doesn’t seem inclined to socialize, respect his cues and give him space. Hope that helps!

Our leopard gecko has dried skin stuck in his eyes, and he cannot open them, and on top of his head. How can we help him?

Hi, This is usually the results of abnormal shedding. Please make sure that you are providing Gecky with the correct conditions (care sheets are available online e.g. on the Petco website). As to removing these pieces of skin, you can wet them down 2-3 times/ day and rub them very very gently with a wet gauze. It may take several days before they come off. Be patient.

Please help! My bearded dragon has accidentally ripped her nail off and it is barely hanging on, what should i do? Should i wait for the nail to fall off on its own? Do i apply Neosporin?

If she will allow, remove it. Use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean the area daily. A dab of triple antibiotic ointment may be applied. Monitor fornredness, swelling, discharge, bleeding, lethargy or loss of appetite. Remove any loose substrate until the toe heals. If she won't allow you to remove it, you will need to have her seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for treatment.

What should I do if my gecko has shed stuck in his eye and he doesn’t like being handled

You really need to take Mercutio to a veterinarian. He is VERY thin and does not appear healthy at all. The vet can safely remove the shed. Honestly, though, the shed is the least of his problems. http://birminghamveterinaryclinic.com/

I'm afraid my leopard gecko has mouth rot. His appetite has been good and I saw him eat a couple of large meal worms three days ago. It could possibly be stuck shed.

From the picture it looks more like inflamed and ulcerated tissue then extra shed, but pictures can be deceiving. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon, before he becomes too sick. He will likely need antibiotics. Also double check that your temperature and humidity are appropriate, and that he is getting good night and daylight cycles (too long light cycles can cause stress). A good resource is www.anapsid.org Good luck and I hope he improves soon!

Hi, my leopard gecko has not been opening his eye for almost a month now, I assume he has some remaining eye caps in his eyes, he will open his eyes when I pick him up and it's all white. But since yesterday, I bought the zoomed repti shedding aid for the eye caps removal and sprayed on his eye. Today he left eye remains the same condition, but his right eye appears to have blood on it and he cannot open it fully, I don't know what happened to him and what to do

Place him in a warm, moist hide or container for about 30 minutes. Make sure there is adequate ventilation and that he doesn't get too cold. This should help remove the eye caps. Geckos usually have problems with the eyelid liner, not caps like snakes. If this is the case or if the cloudiness persists, have him examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.

I have a baby bearded dragon his arm got bit by my other baby dragon we have been watching it for a few days and putting ointment but now it’s completely limp and swollen and black . We separated the two dragons . What should we do ? He is eating still

Thanks for reaching out about Jasper and including a photo. This limb is necrotic tissue and non-viable. A veterinary visit is needed as this limb needs to be amputated before infection spreads further. Systemic antibiotics might slow spread but will not cure the limb. Sorry. Please call your veterinarian. Good luck.

How often Should i spray my bearded dragon with water? How many crickets should I feed it a day?

You can mist him/her 2-4 times daily. Monitor the humidity in the tank though, as high humidity can promote bacterial or fungal growth. Feeding amounts depend on age. Juveniles will eat more and more frequently. Feed in 10 minute periods 2-3 times daily. It is very important to feed appropriately prey, no bigger than the space between your beardie's eyes. Adults can be fed less frequently and should be fed more vegetables and less prey.

My bearded dragon named Rex has black spots on his belly and is acting normal and us craving attention but should I be worried

Thanks for reaching out about Rex and including a photo. Unfortunately you did not include a photo of the belly and black spots. But, Rex appears thin and dehydrated in the photo. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess health and to examine the black spots. Good luck.

Bearded dragon has a lump on his face. Not sure what it is, I read somewhere that it could be this think called mouth rot. I don't have much money right now...will he be okay for a bit till I can take him to get treated? If so what can I do or use to help him till then?

Your suspicions are likely correct for Red - the mass could be related to stomatitis, or mouth rot. This disease often has a husbandry related component, so I would recommend taking a close look at Red's enclosure and its components to ensure that all parameters are perfect. Often temperatures and/or lighting are the culprit - please ensure your UVB bulb has been changed within the last 4-6 months and that it is appropriate for bearded dragons (i.e. it is for desert species). Please also ensure that it is appropriate for the height of Red's enclosure - if it is too close or too far away, Red may experience problems related to it. Temperatures should be measured using digital thermometers located at Red's level, and not elevated in the enclosure. You can find parameters online using a bearded dragon care sheet, such as one found on Reptiles Magazine. Please ensure that Red continues to have an appetite, and that his diet is appropriate. The majority should be made up of a salad of dark leafy greens, with protein supplemented two to three times per week and fruit once per week. Diet can also be involved in cases of stomatitis. It would also be advisable to weigh him every other day to ensure he is not losing weight. This can be done using a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section of most department stores). If you appreciate a decrease in appetite or weight, I would recommend having Red visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. Until your veterinary visit, I would evaluate the husbandry as outlined above, and make adjustments as needed, and monitor him as outlined above. Your veterinarian will closely evaluate Red and his mouth, and may take a sample of the mass to confirm that it is an infection and not another process. They will also ensure that the jaw is stable, and they may recommend radiographs (x-rays). Treatments may include antibiotics and pain medications, depending on the findings. Please do not give Red any human medications, as they can be harmful for our scaled friends. I hope this gives you a place to start, and good luck!

My red eared slider turtles is sneezing. I’m not too sure what this means.

Thanks for reaching out about Drax. Sneezing is often associated with water or infection in the sinus cavities. If it is water, it should abate after a few minutes. If it does not clear up very soon or is persistent, a veterinary visit is needed as antibiotics need to be prescribed. Vitamin A deficiencies are commonly related to respiratory diseases in turtles/tortoises. Check temperature, both water and environment, to assure optimal. Good luck.

How long can turtles live out of water for?

An aquatic species of turtle may survive a few days out of the water before being negatively affected. It really depends on the age/size of the turtle, general health and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. A hatchling shouldn't spend more than an hour or two out of the water.

What kind of wood stain is safe to use on a bearded dragon’s enclosure

Any wood stain an be used. A water based product would be safer than an oil based one. Sealing the wood after staining would be strongly recommended. Use a water based polyurethane sealant. Allow complete curing/drying before using the enclosed. The general rule is if you can still smell the paint/stain/sealant, then give it more time to dry.

Reptile Vet Q&A

My bearded dragon has a lump on his lower back and has been having troubles moving his back legs. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do?

My gecko won't let me hold it and when I try to it runs away. How can a train it to be handled?

My bearded dragon sometimes swings his tail when I pick him up.... I am assuming there is something he doesn't like but sometimes he does it when I am just standing there holding him

Our leopard gecko has dried skin stuck in his eyes, and he cannot open them, and on top of his head. How can we help him?

Please help! My bearded dragon has accidentally ripped her nail off and it is barely hanging on, what should i do? Should i wait for the nail to fall off on its own? Do i apply Neosporin?

What should I do if my gecko has shed stuck in his eye and he doesn’t like being handled

I'm afraid my leopard gecko has mouth rot. His appetite has been good and I saw him eat a couple of large meal worms three days ago. It could possibly be stuck shed.

I have a baby bearded dragon his arm got bit by my other baby dragon we have been watching it for a few days and putting ointment but now it’s completely limp and swollen and black . We separated the two dragons . What should we do ? He is eating still

How often Should i spray my bearded dragon with water? How many crickets should I feed it a day?

My bearded dragon named Rex has black spots on his belly and is acting normal and us craving attention but should I be worried

Bearded dragon has a lump on his face. Not sure what it is, I read somewhere that it could be this think called mouth rot. I don't have much money right now...will he be okay for a bit till I can take him to get treated? If so what can I do or use to help him till then?

My red eared slider turtles is sneezing. I’m not too sure what this means.

How long can turtles live out of water for?

What kind of wood stain is safe to use on a bearded dragon’s enclosure