Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was doing some cage maintenance today after work. My girl was all pissy and heated up. I tried to avoid her for my own safety cause she was throwing tail whips now and again. She cracked the side of her enclosure pretty good and a chunk of her tail broke off. OK I guess I shouldn't say a chunk, but about an inch. The after result was kinda meaty, and a little bloody.

Ever happen to anyone else?
Is it normal?

Thanks.

She is a 5' blackthroat. Well 59" now, lol...

Yes and no, yes, tail tips fall off. But not from a new tail whip.

In MY experience, captive stress often is manifested in poor circluation in the smallest parts, like tail tips and toes. Then these can fall off because they are very weak and already stressed.

But no, I have never seen that with a healthy individual. I have not even seen one break a tail. And I have seen lots of wicked tail whips on all manner of materials, issued by a wide varity of species.

And yes, albigs can throw a wicked tail whip. Cheers

I saw that once many years ago (about 16 years ago). The monitor was a bosc I kept in not so good conditions, yet good enough to live several years, grow big and appear perfectly healthy to me as a new monitor keeper.
This bosc ran under a table and tail whipped repeatedly at a table leg (about 6-7 times before I could stop him), I still dont no what spooked him or what he was looking at when this happened (nothing or noone was nearby.
The tail tip died (about 2-3 inches), then fell off.
In another instance, an albig that a friend had until just a few days ago (had for several years). This monitor was a fresh import at the time and small, he repeatedly tail whipped hard objects over a period of weeks, the tip of his tail died and fell off.
None of these were single tail whips, both were imported animals, and both kept in not so great conditions. Keep in mind that both monitors never lost a piece before or after these situations regardless of how much or what they tail whipped (the albig did that alot for years, ouch!).
Take a good hard look after a break from thinking about this situation, you may see plsces to make improvements that can make the difference.
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice.

I forgot to mention the tip was very meaty, soft and bloody. The exact opposite of a tip that had been broken, dried out, then snapped off.

I may have worded it wrong, leading to think it was one whip, but it was several, maybe a half a dozen.

The only thing I can think of is she hit the 90 degree edge of the outside corner of a hide box. This actually may have had a knife like effect on her tail tip, kinda like if you were to karate chop the corner of a wooden box... Not so fun.

I really can't think of anything, husbandry wise that would partake to this. I am no expert, but she seems to be acting completely normal and stress free. She is eating fine, thermo-regulating very routinely, and she is nowhere near shy.

The humidity here has been high, in the 70-80% sometimes even higher depending on rain.

All I can think of is what I stated above, she must hit the corner of her box, I don't know???