Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys, my parents own a uromastyx and once in a while I stop by their house to check it out. I noticed this time that it had quite a bit of shed on the tip of its tail and hands. I am a gecko keeper, so from that frame I knew that shed buildup is bad news.

I removed the gloves and a 2 layers off the tail. I knew that tips of extremeties (like tails and fingertips) often collect shed in geckos and if stuck cause circulation to be possibly cut off.

Knowing this, the 2 layers of shed on the tip of the tail came off pretty easy, but the third was a bit soggy. I assumed it was because of humidity buildup underneath all that shed and slowly massaged it off. Well I believe I took off a few scales of new shed in the process... Looking back clearly it was a mistake to peel so much at one time but my "bad shed" alarm fired off and I got a bit worried.

Here are some pictures of the tail, it is hardening now, and my question is if there is something I could do to help this whole ordeal...Will it end up growing back new scales? Please let me know...thanks in advance guys!

I believe that the tail will get new scales on the next shed.
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M|tçh~å~paløoza
Columbia, Missouri

0.1 Iguana iguana (Green Iguana) ~ Taco 8/1/1994
1.0 Uromastyx maliensis (Mali Uromastyx) ~ Fluffy 10/1/1999
0.1 Pogona vitticeps (Inland Bearded Dragon) ~ Puff 3/1/2000

>>I believe that the tail will get new scales on the next shed.
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I have no experience with the problems you're describing, so wasn't planning to respond to this post. BUT, I do NOT believe the scales will grow back. I think once they're lost, they're lost.

If it were me, I'd get it to the vet to make sure no infection or fungus gets a hold in there.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.1 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, Tank, and Lilly)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

One of my malis had a bad tail infection when I got him from a friend. It took almost a year of medication, soaking and the right habitat for it to go away. He is shedding at the moment and the last remanants are just now finally vanishing. Here is a pic of him. You can see the white buildup on his tail still, from the dead skin and lack of spikes.

Not sure if this works here.

What are you using for substrate?I can't tell what that is.

Its carefresh. I have tried sand and newspaper. Sand is way too much trouble to change on a biweekly to monthly basis. Newspaper just doesnt absord any liquid and needs to be changed daily.

You don't have to change the sand that often,you can go as long as 6 months before taking old out and putting in new I change it every 3 months though.Also if you spot clean it every day it stays clean.And did you use washed and screened play sand as this is the safest sand to use.Never use any they sell in pet stores like calci-sand or repti sand the uro's usually get way too much calcium.You can get play sand in hardware stores in 40-50 pound bags just make sure it says washed and screened play sand,I also run it through a fine screen myself to make sure there are no large pieces in it and it helps cut down on the dust.You can also use bird seed consisting of mostly millet,I used to get finch birdseed.Make sure there are no sunflower seeds in it as this would and could cause impactions.And the uro's can snack on it when hungry.And it acts as sort of like fiber and cleans out the intestines so to speak.This is what Doug Dix of deer fern farms uses in all of his uro's cages!It gives it a nice look also kind of like desert sand.But don't use any substrate on uro's younger then a year old.

Damaged tail spikes will not grow back in.

firstly, it was a great that you noticed the problem with shedding, and wanted to come to the rescue. as you have noticed, though, manually shedding the skin for them is a tricky thing, which needs to be done delicately and slowly. next time, don't rush so much that you have to worry if you have shed too much. anyway, the little guy should be fine, but i do know that if you take him to the vet, they can prolly give you an ointment that will make sure the pretty scales come back, and that no fungus or bacteria developes on the damaged skin. in places like the tips of toes or the tail, the blood flow is not as strong and so infection is more likely to occur than on the body skin.

just keep an eye on it, and also suggest that your parents have a box for him to go into, which will naturally have more humidity and help prevent further shedding issues. www.deerfernfarms.com gives suggestions on box type and size, although our guy likes a box that is smaller than the suggested size. good uck.