Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The very tip of our growing guys tail has up to now looked like it was kind of dry and dead. Last night the tip (about 1/8th or less of an inch) came off. Is this a normal thing due to growth? Will the new area heal quickly? Is there anything we should do to help make the situation better? Thanks for any insight.

There are two things I can think of that might cause this. One is that there may have been retained shed on the tail tip. It may have been very tough to see, being at the very tip of the tail, or at least on the last 1/8", and you may not have seen the retained shed. It can cut off circulation as the animal grows, and ultimately if left there will kill the tissue, causing it to fall off.

The other thing I can think of is trauma to the tail tip. Maybe it was caught in something and was injured so badly it was taken off.

Only your vet will know. Take the snake in. Meanwile, a neosporin type ointment can be applied, the kind without pain killer. Watch the area and make sure the animal is on clean bedding. If you use woodchips, switching to paper towels or newspaper might be a good idea until he heals. Good luck!

P.S. It isn't probably life threatining or anything . . . yet, but a vet visit is always the best.

I would bet on the retained shed, as BC said.

What happens is, if a band of unshed skin is retained around the circumference of the tail, it shrinks as it dries out, cutting off circulation and the tip falls off by itself in due course.

I have seen a few tipless animals,(not in my collection) and my vet said he sees a few cases a year.
In fact I saw one this weekend, it was a male that someone needed sexed.

anyway thats my opinion
TomChambers

Thanks for the info. We've put on the cut cream and he is healing quickly. Should have a shed in the next few days we will be careful to make sure the tail is clean.