Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have seen the pictures on ReptileRooms.com about yellow fungus. I have been wondering if anyone could give some information on how to tell if it is the fungus or just a few damaged scales?

The reason I ask is because snows have that yellow skin and mouth and a dead scale would look just like the fungus because of that. So am wondering if there is any profound way to tell for sure.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks

YFD is actually something on the scales/skin, not part of normal coloration. The best way to get a good look at scales or the area is to take a close up digital picture and look at it on your computer. YFD will be eating into the scales, they will be jagged, like tiny bite mark, it can also have a small lesion area when in the intermediate stage.

A bacterial infection can also eat at the scales, but usually has raised areas around the scale or the scales curve up slightly at the tips.

Those are the ways to tell if there is a problem. The only way to diagnose for sure is by a tissue biopsy of the area. Scrapping cultures usually will not work, as most skin/scales have some non problematic yeast fungi on them and you may get a culture to grow that is not a problem or a mold fungus that will not culture in the traditional way and can be a very serious problem. If you culture the skin of a healthy normal lizard, you have over 60% of chances to grow an Aspergillus or a Penicillium, but they may not be the problem most times.

The really hard to treat and cure mold fungus that is appearing on some bearded dragons and in some breeders colonies is one called Chryosoporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV), it can only be diagnosed by a tissue biopsy and properly read by someone who knows what they are doing and looking for.

Traditional treatments of nolvasan washes/rinse and lamisil will not cure this very deadly mold fungus like Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and the CANV, they need oral antifungal meds that need to be closely monitored by a vet and they are hard on the animal. The nolvasan and lamisil may slow it down for awhile, but it will come back, where those treatments do seem to be effective on yeast fungus such as Candida, Malassezia, Trichosporon.

If you do think there is a problem there, we can furnish you with the name and contact info of a researcher that will work with your Vet for the biopsy to know for sure what it is and possible treatments.
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www.reptilerooms.com

This is a few basic dermal problems that dragons can have and a guide to help recognize the difference

This baby was brought to us limping, swollen arm and the owner thought and advised it was a calcium problem. Using the digital camera we found this spot, which from going over husbandry found out it was a cricket bite. Avoid this by not feeding babies in the same enclosure they live or clearing out the enclosure including the substrate and all furnishings.

This is a minor bacterial infection from a bad shed, nolvasan washes and neosporin cleared it. Keeping substrate clean and the dragon misted or hydrated can help avoid this. Note the curling scales on the tip and the black spots all over the foot. A dragon may need oral antibiotics if it does not clear this way.

This is a yeast fungus, and treated with nolvasan washes and lamisil, you can see the dead skin shedding off after treatment

This is a dragon in very early stages of a mold YFD, note the yellow discoloration and it has advanced to a few lesions. This dragon was put down several months later after many trip to several vets who could not identify what it was, failed scrapping cultures and he no longer had a good quality of life. Since that time, this same fungus has been treated successfully in other owners dragons. The necrospy showed it was the mold fungus mentioned earlier.

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www.reptilerooms.com

Thanks for the replies. I know it is not any of the first three. But the scales look similar to the fourth photo. The only thing is that it is not the scales that look yellow to me, the scales just look a little shrivled and then his yellow skin behind them that gives them that yellow color.

Are there any other behaviors that are associated with the disease? Like lethargy and lack of appetite? He is active and eats and tries to get the girls and everything, his babies are fine and the female he has been mating with is fine too. Wouldn't she have some similar signs?

By the way, I want to note that the animlas I am talking about are not mine but belong to a friend locally who I am working with. I am also sure to thoroughly wash anything they touch and more before and after handling.

Thanks

Phil

By the way, I can take some pictures tomorrow and post them here so you can make a slightly more educated judgement. Thanks again.

Phil