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and I don't know what to do about it. I've got a 7-8 year old iguana who up to about 2 months ago hasn't had a problem. About that time his tail started drying up, for lack of a better description. Fully a foot and a half of the end of his tail shriveled to dried skin and bone. He started getting that hung up in things so, out of fear of him breaking it, I snipped it off about 5 days ago. It seems now that the remaining foot or so of his tail is now starting to shrivel. Anyone got a clue? He seems healthy and has good color otherwise. I'm stumped. Thanks in advance for any help y'all can give me.

Quig

Wow...
The case at first sounds like a classic example of shedding skin cutting off blood circulation and making the extremity die out (such as the tail, can happen to toes as well).
How are his toes by the way?

Is he well hydrated? Is it properly humid in his enclosure?
Has he whipped his tail at someone or something that may have resulted in damage?

I would rush to a vet asap and have him take a look at it.
Maybe a spreading infection?
Such tough health questions are hard to properly answer here.
But, even if some of us here will reply to you, it is still common sense and a priority to go see a vet and have him/her look at it. The sooner you do it, the better for ur iguana.
Best of luck, and let us know what the doctor finds out.

-IJ

Thanks for the reply. One thing it's not is a shed problem. Checked that right off. I have made an appointment for him at the docs, but can't get him in till monday . And it does look like an infection of some sort. The end inch and a half of his tail is oozing a bit of something but it's not puss. It's a clear fluid of some sort. The strange thing is that he looks good otherwise. We'll find out monday and hope it's soon enough.
Thanks again.

Quig

That's classic dry gangrene. At least that's what they call it on other iguana forums. A section of the tail gets infected, dies, and shrivels, while the infection ascends the tail. The longer you wail, the more tail he'll lose. Ultimately the infection gets up into his body, he gets septic and dies.

Ask that question here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IguanaMail/messages
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdvancedIML/messages
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IguanaDen/messages

Roger

Roger, Thanks for the links, Bro.

Quig