Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired a chuckwalla from the Mojave Desert. Unfortunately, I am having trouble getting him to shed properly, and I think that he may be experiencing what someone recently called bacterial dermatitis. I took him to my vet, and she prescribed ceftazidime and SSD cream. I have been treating him for almost a week now, and the initial torn skin appears better, but he has not proceeded to shed the rest of his skin. I am afraid that this may be the result of high humidity levels (I live in Santa Cruz, CA), as was mentioned as the cause to bacterial dermatitis in the aforementioned message. I have also been giving him daily baths to try and loosen dead tissue. Any recommendations as to how to deal with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Would an undertank heater help to decrease humidity? I only have overhead lighting at this point. Thanks!

What temps do you have in the tank?
I live in Michigan which has pretty high humidity but have never experienced this problem. (My chucks are CB, so this might play into it too.) If the tank is warm enough it should take care of mostof the humidity problems, in my estimation.
Are you sure your thermometer is accurate? Many if the ones in the pet stores can be off by 5-10 degrees in either direction. I would make sure mine was accurate first, then recheck the temps. What is the temp under the basking spots, and in the cool areas of the tank?
Can you measure the humidity in the tank? If you have AC in your home that should pull out excess humidity from the overall environment.

The temp beneath the basking lamp is between 110 and 115F. The temp on the cool side of the tank is about 88-90F. I have checked this with what I would call an accurate thermometer. I unfortunately do not have an AC, so I can't solve the problem that way. Would an undertank heater decrease the humidity in the cage? Any recommendations on helping the animal to shed? I have been soaking him daily, but this seems counterintuitive, and I don't know if there is a better way. Also, should there be a water bowl in the cage to allow the animal to stay hydrated. As far as checking the humidity, I don't have an accurate hygrometer. What about the ones they sell in the pet stores? The T-rex gauge? Anyhow, thanks for any info!

When you soak her add a few drops of Chlorhexidine to the water. I have done this with a Chuck and a tortoise. If you can't get this from your vet, go and check at the local Pet supplies store and ask about a Chlorhexidine Gluconate that is sold for dogs and cats. I have also used it without diluting it when I've applied it directly on a foot abcess. Let it air dry before placing the animal back in the tank. Keep away from eyes, nose, and mouth for obvious reasons. This is a good product to have on hand for flushing out wounds and sanitizing tanks.
Humidity - I would go for a small room dehumidifier before the under the tank thing. I have read reports that some of the under the tank heaters have been known for starting fires. I would definitely get some type of humidity gauge for reference. I have never used them, but at least it would give you a reference point. You might check on line to see if there is a product review.