Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have noticed some problems with the skin of my frilled dragon, Jack, particularly on the frill and head. As you can see on the pictures below, there is a large white patch on the inner/top right side of Jack's frill. I have no idea what this is (it looks like regrowth, but I don't know of any damage ever being done to that part of his frill). There is also an area of similar discoloring above his left eye, which has been there for awhile since a little bit after we used medication to stop swelling of the eye. Last, there is a hole on the left side of his frill which we thought may have been the result of a burn, and it seemed fine at first, but the skin around the hole has been turning dark recently.

Please help, so that if I need to go to a vet I at least have an idea what is wrong with Jack's skin.

You need to change his substrate. Even if that substrate is really "safe" it could be contributing if not causing the problem. I recomend newspaper (shreded?) or even sand. You can try putting iodine (cant spell) on the area, but since it seems to have spred, i would go to the vet asap. where did you get your frilly? just wondering.

drew.

Thanks for the suggestion. I got my dragon from a locl breeder at a Pittsburgh reptile show just over two years ago. What is "the area" (where I should apply iodine)? I got a suggestion from outside the forum that it may be some sort of fungus, could that be it? Also, I don't think it has spread; the area above the eye was like that - and it isn't exactly the same look - at least a year before there were any problems in the frill area.

Thanks again for the suggestion; I'll change the substrate right away.

Don

the area is the place infected. it probably is some sort of fungus/rot. if you caught it early applying iodine and/or peroxide to the fungus may treat it. But i think you should go to the vet asap.

Thank you very much for the help! I'll repost back soon to update on Jack's health.

it may also be from the lights being too hot and direct. i had the same problem about a year ago, and i rearranged my lights and it did not get any worse, but it did scar.
good luck
jake

I've got the same with my frilly.
Maybe because I changed the lights (Zoo Med Compact Fluorescent 10.0 UV Bulb - 26watt, a basking spot 75watt and an Exo Terra Heat Wave Lamp - 60watt)
It looks like burned skin, but he can't reach the lamps.
I don't know what to do, and I will contact a vet. immediately.
But is there anyone out there who can help me with this, I'm afraid that something is seriously wrong, although he acts rather normal.

Please help me and my and my precious dragon by replying!
Greetings, Giel from Belgium

Image

Yeah that looks alot like what I'm talking about. Let me know what you find out

UPDATE:
I went to a specialized veterinarian and he told me that his very fragile frill was damaged (dried out / burned) because he staid in his basking spot for to long. (Although the temperature isn’t to high – about 35° Celsius and the UV bulb isn’t on all day) Now parts of it are ‘dead’ because some blood vessels dried out and now parts of his frill will probably disappear in time. He now gets a special liquid in his drinking water to help shed dead skin. The vet ensured me that the lizard itself has no pain and will not be handicapped or something like that, my pet will only never as beautiful as before...
(Now the basking lamp is a bit further away from his favourite basking spot)
The vet also took a sample of his skin to be sure it is no infection of some sort, and I have to rub his frill with special oil. This also keeps the frill “humid” (I don’t know the word in English)
In his droppings, the vet found nothing harmful.
In two weeks I have to go back to check. If something new comes up, I’ll post it.
In the mean time, I am very happy that my loved pet has no serious illness and he will be okay. And than again, he is very sweet and a lovely pet, so it doesn’t matter what his frill looks like, as long he is healthy!