Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey gang! Been gone on vacation for a bit, but I'm back! Bindy's doing great...more active than she has been in a long time! (though still not eating much) I've been letting her out every day to explore, and today when I opened her cage she literally jumped out! lol

My question is about her tail. The last 2 inches or so is very dark. Her last few sheds didn't make it down that far. Is this normal? Is she in danger of losing her tail??

Thanks guys!
Niddy & Bindy

if she has several layers of unshed skin on the last two inches of her tail, and now its gone very dark, almost all black, then it is highly likely she will loose the tail tip. Unshed skin can restrict blood flow as it gets really tight as it drys out. It should have been soaked and gently removed a long time ago to prevent this.

You can also get a vet to amputate the tail for you. However, if there is no sign of swelling and the dark area doesn't spread further up the tail, you can just wait till it dries up and falls off itself.
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PHLdyPayne

"It should have been soaked and gently removed a long time ago to prevent this."

OH NO! I didn't know this! Every time I soak her, she holds her tail way up outta the water. Do you think it's too late? Should I start soaking it??

How dark is it? Like black or just dark? When girls beards darken often so does the last 1/3 of their tail.

If it is only an inch then it is probably retained shed like what is suggested. You don't have to soak her for these thinks you can start spraying it a couple times a day. Also be sure that you do this for the ends of her fingers. Sometimes they get a ring of old skin that can cause them to constrict and fall off.

If it's retained shed then they're often sensitive if you toch her tail. I'd just keep wetting it as much as you can. It may be OK since you are doing something rather than ignoring it.

Thanks, Bdlvr! You give me hope! I'll start spraying her. I just snapped a few pics of her tail:

oops lets try again:

Wow that's a massive tail. It's not going to fall off either. You should be able to see the line where the last shed ended. Spray it with water till it's drenched. Then go back when it's dry and do it again. I'll bet if you do it 5 or so times you'll be able to get it to split if it's retained shed. Then just work towards the tip.

I'd use warm water. Sometimes when you do it they'll help and start moving their tail around like a snake to loosen it up.

Whew! thanks again, Blvdr! I'm on it! After that 1st response I was feeling sooo guilty!

Here's a pic. of one of my female dragon's tail. She is getting ready to shed but not just yet.

Now that is one fat tail.

Now that i see a picture of her tail, it doesn't look as bad as you described it. Misting the tail and gently working any unshed skin off will help definitely. Though from the picture, i can't really see any retained shed...it may be just natural dark pigmenting...but doesn't hurt to be sure and do that misting.

When soaking, you may need to hold the tail tip down underneath the water. Dragons always do that tail curl when they are alert and exploring their environment or encountering anything that excites them (ie food)
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PHLdyPayne