Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beardie is a very healthy little girl and I have never had any problems, however she is shedding and I just noticed that the end of her tail looks very strange. I never noticed it before, so I don't know if it's due to shedding or not. The very end of it is hard, brittle and darker, it feels different from the rest of her tail. Is this common when they shed cause it has never happened to her before? I don't know if the tip will fall off or not but what is this caused by? Does anyone know? Please help!

Here are some pics of my baby...

it sounds like maybe some shed was stuck and its caused the circulation to be cut off to the end and therefore its died. Keep it clean with some betadine solution and keep an eye on it to make sure its not infected and spreading down her tail. Chances are that if its already brittle its not going to come back and it will just dry further and come off on its own, be careful when handling her not to break the tip off, it needs to come off on its own, unless infected and then the vet will need to amputate the tip. Best of luck with it, and dont feel badly, this does happen from time to time, sometimes its hard with the very tips, these guys seeem to have some troubles with that sometimes.
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reiko

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im guessing its from shedding um try soking his tail warm water and that doesnt work ( i hade the same problem with my beardie) take some like crisco vegetable oil put it on like a cotton ball or cotton pad and put it on the tail generously then wait like 5 minutes and saok in warm water the skin should shed in a few days

Thank you both for writing back! Your advise sounds very helpful! I am going to go try it and see what happens. I took a few pics earlier before anyone had responded so maybe someone might know what's wrong. I will still try what you suggested but here are the pics just in case it might look like something else. But hopefully it's nothing serious...if it looks like something serious PLEASE let me know!!! Thanks

np
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reiko

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The tail does look pretty brittle, my guess is that it will fall off.
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TheClassyLizard

np
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reiko

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Sorry let me try that again...hope it works now

look like old shed has cut off the circulation there, i would do as mentioned and give her good soaks and also use the oil, you might still have hope for it, but it does look rather dried. If you have any doubts i would take her to a vet, has the area gotten larger or stayed the same? if it does appear to be spreading at all, take her to the vet.
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reiko

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Thanks...I tried soaking it in pure vegetable oil for about 5 minutes and then soaked it in warm water for a few more. I don't think it did anything immediate but how often should I do this? I don't think it has spread, just gotten worse in the same spot. I hope it isn't too painful for her...my poor baby I will take her to the vet if this doesn't work, but if it doesn't get worse...how long should I continue to repeat this process for?
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- Harley -

you could do it a couple times a day, it looks very dry and brittle already and she probably will lose it, if it does not improve in a couple days time, i think it will just dry up further and fall off. I had a little one just tonight loose about 3/8th an inch of his tail that had been bitten by a sibling, the same thing happens really, the area just dries up and will fall off, took about a week for it to happen, just keep it clean with some betadine and thats about all you can do. I also had a similar situation with one of my older dragons, he lost about 1/4 inch of his tail due to a little bit of shed that was stuck, he has a very dark end to his tail so it went un noticed even though im very careful when my dragons shed to be sure they shed completely, somehow it was missed. Since its really hard to tell over a forum you might want to take her to a vet to have it checked anyhow, although to me it does look like and from what you described that shed was stuck and constricted circulation, it could be something else, and its best to have it checked out if you are uncertian.
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reiko

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Okay thank you very much! I will let you know what happens
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- Harley -

Just be aware it will most likely fall off by itself, unless there is a problem there is no need for the vet to amputate.($$$$).
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TheClassyLizard

Thank you soooo much for telling me that! I was just looking up a vet's number just in case! I will keep soaking it in oil and warm water and take her out in the sun and see what happens. I'll see what happens on it's own, I don't have the $$$ to see a vet at the moment, but if it were something really serious I would find a way to get the money! I will keep you updated. Thanks again!
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- Harley -