• Hello guest! Are you a Tegu enthusiast? If so, we invite you to join our community! Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Tegu enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your Tegu and enclosure and have a great time with other Tegu fans. Sign up today! If you have any questions, problems, or other concerns email [email protected]!

Is this scale rot? Please help!!

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
***NEW PICS IN LAST POST***

Hey everyone, I got a huge concern with my tegu’s skin, her name is Merlot, and I’m gonna post some pics and maybe you guys can tell me what’s up with her skin? I’m about to change her bedding and make it all fresh. What could cause this? I give her a hot bath every week at least once a week and never had a problem. Could I be making her husbandry too wet? I use a mix of coconut fiber organic soil and sand. She about a year old or less and is about 28”

She had some serious growth spurts. I’ve been feeding her reptilinks with 5 diff types of animals of ground whole prey, quail eggs and blueberries and greens mixed. Premium diet lol. But I ran out for the last
3 weeks and have been traveling and a friend has been feeding her well and I been gettting updates. The only thing that is different is that she’s eating regular good foods and maybe my friend kept the enclosure soaked so much because I kept stressing humidity to him while he took care of her. I don’t know. But my next shipment of links is coming in tomorrow so she can thrive even harder again. But could this be bacteria? Growing too fast to shed? Because that happenes once wher she grew so fast she was walking funny until her skin started flaking and shedding then she was cool. But she isn’t acting any different but her skin doesn’t look the same.
 

Attachments

  • BBFAF8CE-3A40-4B6F-960E-A8A03DA2A0DD.jpeg
    BBFAF8CE-3A40-4B6F-960E-A8A03DA2A0DD.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 476
  • B374AD06-971E-4A7D-8BAF-F91B48A6A090.jpeg
    B374AD06-971E-4A7D-8BAF-F91B48A6A090.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 444
  • 3ABEA34A-C23E-4620-B855-7AA08E3360E9.jpeg
    3ABEA34A-C23E-4620-B855-7AA08E3360E9.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 441
  • 4C971658-7601-4042-BAED-857B7CDA9273.jpeg
    4C971658-7601-4042-BAED-857B7CDA9273.jpeg
    1.6 MB · Views: 450
  • 1F9FC263-1765-4DAA-A4DD-7F199CDD9B60.jpeg
    1F9FC263-1765-4DAA-A4DD-7F199CDD9B60.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 425
  • 59AB54AE-1F09-416F-BC06-96EDE60EB32E.jpeg
    59AB54AE-1F09-416F-BC06-96EDE60EB32E.jpeg
    3.4 MB · Views: 397
  • B633013F-A531-4B32-A0C1-E1BA56C7D4A9.jpeg
    B633013F-A531-4B32-A0C1-E1BA56C7D4A9.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 403
Last edited:

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
4,384
If pus, maybe infected. H2O2, sunshine and drier conditions will help.
 

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
Zero puss. Just dry and sore looking and painful shed, Almsot like skin stretched too fast but probably I’m just Uber paranoid. But it doesn’t look okay. Never had this with any reptile. The bedding has been quite moist. I’m about to change out the entire substrate and leave it fairly dry but a little moist. Do you think a shirt that I put in there with some cologne might affect her? I think the last one I wore for a few days might have had some cologne. I just don’t know what the hell did it.
 

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
4,384
No, I don't think the shirt is the problem. A very wet substrate would also result in belly sores. If not infected, apply coconut oil to shed.
 

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
Yeah my buddy just told me to go get some
Organic coco oil. I’m gonna change substrate and lather her up and see how it goes. Should I try and leave her lathered up for a day with out the heat lamp on so she doesn’t cook or just overnight while she sleeps

And no belly sores, I’ll double check again but it looked good
 

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
4,384
From the looks of it, it seems to be a bad section of shed. If so, basking temp can remain the same. Hide should have moistened sphagnum, and fish oil in the food often
 

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
4,384
You can put cod liver oil on food or break a fish oil pill in food. Great for easing shed.
 

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
About to take my baby to the vet in a few hours? Anyone wanna guess what they are gonna say? I got all new substrate and and disinfectant cleaner to change it all out when we’re done with the hospital
 

Attachments

  • 1C484C8C-7E8C-41B5-A1D1-EB5F0F921546.jpeg
    1C484C8C-7E8C-41B5-A1D1-EB5F0F921546.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 183
  • 9FEF371A-25A5-406F-92D3-248F3EBA7016.jpeg
    9FEF371A-25A5-406F-92D3-248F3EBA7016.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 208
  • 3D680402-5F93-4F8A-8674-62AF41DF0946.jpeg
    3D680402-5F93-4F8A-8674-62AF41DF0946.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 196
  • 97888DDC-10C5-4A60-8FEF-6CFD06586425.jpeg
    97888DDC-10C5-4A60-8FEF-6CFD06586425.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 201
  • AAE4B3C2-DDD0-47C2-8CD0-D4B47D3F243B.jpeg
    AAE4B3C2-DDD0-47C2-8CD0-D4B47D3F243B.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 191

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
They gave me this really expensive work up and they are a really good vet, I didn’t see the normal lady there that’s usually there who owns the practice. I feel like they were very empathetic but didn’t give me a straight answer on at least what there suspicions are, they seemed a little too salesy this time. So I started with a CANV test and fecal sample. They gave me some injectable antiobitoics and going to follow up. Changed substrate and disinfected tank and new furniture inside. We’ll see, she’s still very healthy, so I started with bacteria test and if nothing I’ll do a fungal test cuz that one alone is two hundred. And the blood test is 200$. So I spent about 160$ and we’ll go from there
 

Attachments

  • 0F390A58-3D3C-435E-A0FA-B5497EC7BBB1.jpeg
    0F390A58-3D3C-435E-A0FA-B5497EC7BBB1.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 83

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
She’s loving the temporary new digs. I went with more of sand coco husk mix, along with another type of cocohusksoil blend led product that was organic too. She loves the newsubstrate and it’s a nice new blend. Going add a little more probably today or tomorrow. I scrubbed the living hell out of that tank it’s crystal clear. The fake plants I just bought are a little rough so I’ll prob get some new softer ones and lots more. What is up with stores not having any good size logs/branches or anything any more? I went to like 7 places literally and only one guy had nice ones but they were huuuuuuge like for a walk in enclosure. I’m talking some serious branches and stumps. Thought about buying his smallest one and cutting it down but not sure if I wanna go that route. It’s was pretty crazy that no reptile or chain stores had anything for me to dress up the enclosure. Might have to look online. But she’s been super active and after two days of antiobiotics and a nice meal still digesting she seems to be looking better and actaully seems like a closer bond after taking her to the vet, strange but awesome. She comes to me first now even more, like every Time she sees me she wants to get picked up right away when I normally have to to initiate. Comes right up and says, Hello! I’m here!!!!!
Will keep you updated on health progress but seems to be doing great right now
 

Attachments

  • AC029AB3-1BC1-4ED4-B42B-0133B0C2621E.jpeg
    AC029AB3-1BC1-4ED4-B42B-0133B0C2621E.jpeg
    3.8 MB · Views: 107
  • D8FEE9BE-EA42-4F42-AD2D-04A574DDDA1C.jpeg
    D8FEE9BE-EA42-4F42-AD2D-04A574DDDA1C.jpeg
    3.8 MB · Views: 105

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
What do you think you guys? I’m freaking out over here. Mixed signals from different people. How do you think this tail looks? It’s fat and she’s a chunker, the discolored/yellowish/brownish scales aren’t kind of coming off and I’m trying to help peel
It little by little. It’s a little light colored underneath or discolored. Could she be growing so fast her skin can’t handle it? She seems great all round except for this skin fiasco. Heyyyeeeellpppp! Whatcha think folks? Sorry I’m a tweeter here but I love this baby so much and never encountered anything like it. And with it looking a little different every day I can’t tell if it’s getting better or worse, bad shed? And anticipation waiting on the vet is killing me. I almost want to run back and get the other tests going. Something keeps telling me she’ll be okay but the little devil on the other shoulder keeps on screaming over here
 

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
And the dryness of her skin is killing me. Her head was shiny and slick like I just buffed and waxed her just a short time ago. One of the little large round scales/spots right above her snout looks wierd. It just pains me. I could be over reacting but also not
 

Attachments

  • 1BEB468E-65B0-4E4C-81C9-B93B5E0A6688.jpeg
    1BEB468E-65B0-4E4C-81C9-B93B5E0A6688.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 194
  • 689437B2-E8B9-4740-8519-E0A74EB31B8E.jpeg
    689437B2-E8B9-4740-8519-E0A74EB31B8E.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 193
  • FBE36EA9-023C-48EB-AF3C-0426BBA90676.jpeg
    FBE36EA9-023C-48EB-AF3C-0426BBA90676.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 175
  • 493A9E2E-407F-4F3A-8967-55BEA3F2C2C3.jpeg
    493A9E2E-407F-4F3A-8967-55BEA3F2C2C3.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 176
  • 04C9485B-BCBC-48CA-BE0F-C2F4432CE317.jpeg
    04C9485B-BCBC-48CA-BE0F-C2F4432CE317.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 166
Last edited:

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
Hoping that’s all it is. I’m trying to attribute it to something and find some sort of justification. I was thinking because how fast she’s been growing, every time I measure her I can see the growth. I strive real hard to make sure of the husbandry and atmosphere is humid and clean. I was thinking maybe something I put in there like the decor could’ve had something on it. But I feel a little more hopeful with it just being a bad shed. Hoping this stays true. Thanks for the responses. Lol even those short comments help me feel some relief.
 

Zyn

Well-Known Member
Messages
609
Soak her then lather her in cocanut oil it’ll hold in the moisture and give her a large dose of cod liver oil or break some fish oil capsules in her meals till it comes off.

Sev had a bad shed after brumation that was thick and stiff last year, a few days of this and it came right off.

This to me looks like more than one layer of stuck shed pealing apart. Like on the tail the yellow is the to top layer and the whitish cloudy part is the 2nd layer id say at least two layers. The good news is, it can be fixed :)
 
Last edited:

Merlot

Active Member
Messages
139
I was gonna lather her up right away in coco grease/oil when I started becoming suspicious. I emailed the vet and she said don’t do anything like that yet until we know what it is so it doesn’t potentially lock in bacteria. When lathering in coco oil/grease, should I leave her in the tub for a while and let’s her sit in there without water to let it soak in. Wrap her in a towel and hold her a while? Just put her back in enclosure? (Substrate get stuck all over her?) I’m taking a lunch break now going to the health food store to buy some cod oil and coco grease. Also is it okay to rub on top of her about on the shiny part of her head or just avoid it?

You guys are the best! This is a great forum I came across. And I love the user interface here. No third party hosting site can upload pics direct! Thanks for all your help so far, all your responses are VERY much appreciated
 
Last edited:

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
4,384
While you're at iy, pick up sphagnum moss, moisten and set in his hide. It is a darn good antisceptic and will provide moisture to the skin. Use always.

Keep posted.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
20,091
Messages
177,789
Members
10,316
Latest member
Juiced
Top