Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Going to pick up a Mali uro today.. Hear it has an odd shedding problem though..
Seems scales are coming off the tail..
I can't be sure what the owner means by it till I see the lizard, but I can't imagine that's too good.

Are there any typical shedding hassles in Uro's? I've done a great amount of research on them, but it's been a few months and health concerns weren't what I looked a whole lot into.

Going to post pictures later if I can't figure it out on my own, or if nothing else, just to show off a cute little Uro, my first.

Getting the Male, 10" long (approx), 3 years of age, eating healthy and as often as it can.. Overall I can't see any big issues with husbandry, though I haven't asked about Lights or Calcium supplements.
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2.3 Leos
2.0 Beardie
1.1 Common Boa
0.1 Sav (Bosc) Monitor
1.1 Ackies
0.1 Giant BW Tegu
Thousands of Roaches, T's, and Scorps.
Wish for: Candoia Sp, Frilled D

Beware of purchasing this animal although it sounds like you have already. Post pics as soon as you can or take it to a vet because it almost sounds like you are dealing with Tail rot.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.0.1 Egyptian
0.1 Weimaraner

Just as a pretty good rule of thumb, never purchase anything (houses, cars, animals...) the seller admits has an "odd problem". Sometimes the seller doesn't admit it and you have to find out on your own, but why on earth would you invite problems?

Don't buy it unless you already have, in which case, take it to a qualified vet who specializes in reptiles...

Definitely post a pic if you can.

One of my mali's has no more spikes left on his tail. It took me medicating his tail for more then a year for the infection to finally clear up.

There are still some minor spots were the skin is still stuck on and I have been waiting for the past 4 months for his tail to shed again so I can see if they will finally come off. If its what mine had its a real nasty infection that took weekly baths, baby oil, silver sulfadiazine cream and a new cage for it to really clear up well. My vet told me it was some kind of filamentous bacterial infection.

This is from the website of the vet I took it to.

"A specific dermatological condition has been described in the uromastyx lizard causing a chelitis associated with a filamentous gram-positive bacterium. 48 The disease is characterized by a chronic hyperkeratotic dermatitis involving predominantly the lip region, but has also been associated with dorsolateral skin folds, the nuchal region, and the tail spines. Culture and sensitivity is unrewarding and a diagnosis is made on histopathology with the presence of gram-positive pleomorphic filamentous bacteria. Treatment involves systemic and topical antimicrobials based on biopsy and culture and sensitivity. See Table 2. It is important to ensure proper humidity in the environment and for these lizards to have a very high basking temperature (110-120F)."

I would not freak too much yet, but find out more what exactly ab "obscure shedding problem" is. It may be nothing. Some people seem to freak out about things that are completely normal with uros. Still worth checking out though. Good luck!

JR
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