Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ive used the cypress before and i keep going back to carpet because he keeps getting mouthrot. He needs to be able to burrow so i put the mulch back in. Anyone have the same experience or any advice? Tegu is male arg. B/W 38'
Thanks -Nick and Slash

Hey man,

Sorry to hear that your Tegu keeps getting mouth rot, one of my snakes currently has it as well. Although, I don't think the mouth rot is being caused by the Cypress Mulch, but I could be wrong.

From what I was told Mouth Rot is usually caused by an underlying cause, such as Respiratory Infection, or something else. I would bring him to a vet and get him checked out. Also, are you sure it's mouth rot, and if so, what are you using to treat it?

Here's a pic of my kingsnake that has mouth/body rot for comparison.

-----
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

d

-----
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Mouth rot is caused by a secondary bacterial infection .
If your animal is getting mouth rot it is because it has a bacterial infection . You should take him to a vet and have him checked out . Bacterial infections need to be treated with the proper antibiotics.(Usually associated with respiratory infections)

Cypress mulch is a safe wood and bedding but like any other bedding it must be kept clean just like all water bowls , cage furniture , and the cage itself . Keeping the bedding clean means changing it often .

I never keep more than a couple of inches of bedding in any of my indoor cages so that I change it very often . I do however pack their hideboxes full of it making just this area deep so they can burrow in it .(they will rarely mess where they sleep) Your bedding does not have to be so deep that they get lost in it through out the entire cage . It should not be so deep that it is a chore to change .

If you are having problems with bacterial infections in any reptile you should look at husbandry practice first

1) Water source always kept clean - If the water source is big enough for them to climb in and soak it may look clean but be loaded with bacteria .This is especially important when dealing with any carnivour , especially one with toe nails which feces can get trapped under . (think drinking out of a toilet )

2) Soaking - Their feet etc. get dirty ... you put them in a bath .. they drink the bath water and get ill .

I can still remember my mother telling me in reguards to my daughter "Don't let the baby drink the bath water " It makes a lot of sence .

Soaking reptiles is a very poor husbandry practice even though many people promote it . If a captive born and raised reptile is dehydrated enough that you feel it needs to soak it is because something is very wrong with the way it is being kept .

This is not saying that you should not clean your animals ... A quick shower with a garden hose will usually do the trick as long as the weather is nice =)

3)Is there anyting in the cage that they could be rubbing their face/mouth on such as wire ?

4) Heat /humidity - Not enought degree days of heat can cause stress ... stress can lower the immune system ... a lowered immune systems can leave you more open to getting an infection . Same goes for humidity ... serious lack of humidity leads to animals that sit in their water bowls all day . If you are finding and Argentine BW/red tegu or a blue sitting in a water bowl all day something is very wrong .

5) Dirty cages - dirty bedding / dirty glass / dirty cage furniture
-----
Stella St.Pierre
www.bluetegu.com