Black Tail

[Fitz]

I am a new owner. I have had my beardie for 3 months and in the beginning he was rather aggressive, but now that he is being fed adequately he has calmed down, but about a week ago I noticed the end of his tail was black/darker. He is eating with possibly a slightly lower appetite and today his beard was black for seemingly no reason. No vets around me can see him for a couple of weeks so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what is wrong?

 

[Skybug]

Ooo that is a dark tail…. Can u please go over ur lighting with us? (NO COIL UVBs, these hurt beardies) what is he being fed? Is he close to a window? Do u have cats or dogs or little children that could be stressing him? Can u take a close up picture of the tail, his beard , his next poo,,…He’s definitely upset for a reason…. Hopefully its just something minor.

 

[Sadie]

I am a new owner. I have had my beardie for 3 months and in the beginning he was rather aggressive, but now that he is being fed adequately he has calmed down, but about a week ago I noticed the end of his tail was black/darker. He is eating with possibly a slightly lower appetite and today his beard was black for seemingly no reason. No vets around me can see him for a couple of weeks so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what is wrong? View attachment 28246

It is pretty dark --- I am not seeing any nips or injuries on the end --- keep a close eye on it here is some info on tail rot -- I am not thinking that it is as I cant see any type of injury to it
Causes of tail rot are:
1. Injuries/trauma - caused by falls, or by any other bearded dragon.
2. Malnourished - make sure he has a balanced diet and he gets the nourishment he needs
How to identify tail rot:
1. Dried out - Decaying tail won't be able to retain moisture, check if it's dried out completely.
2. Very thin, brittle - Decaying tail won't be able to process nourishment, causing it to become more thin and brittle.
What to do after finding out it has a tail rot:
1. Go to a vet - very recommended

For more info, please see the link: https://reptile.guide/bearded-dragon-tail-rot/
Ask yourself these questions:

Was the tail recently injured?
Was a part of the tail open (eg wound/scrape/cut)
Was flesh exposed?
Is the tail constantly dark? or does the darkness ever go away (eg when in the tank, different environments)

If you didn't answer yes to basically all of those questions, it's not tail rot.
Tail rot is extremely rare. It's an infection of the flesh, from a wound or injury to the tail.
Tail rot is really kind of just a fancy name for an infected wound, one of which is affecting the tail.ail Rot

As far as the black beard -- it can be several causes --- incorrect UVB -- coils are bad--- basking temps can be too hot --- what are they are how are you taking them? NO stick ons please --- any animals in the room like cats dogs etc birds are bad --- they will all stress dragons out --- is he near a window that he can see out ?

 

[Fitz]

Ooo that is a dark tail…. Can u please go over ur lighting with us? (NO COIL UVBs, these hurt beardies) what is he being fed? Is he close to a window? Do u have cats or dogs or little children that could be stressing him? Can u take a close up picture of the tail, his beard , his next poo,,…He’s definitely upset for a reason…. Hopefully its just something minor.

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know coils were bad and I had one since I got my beardie from someone else and she included all the lighting so I never thought to look it up. I changed out the bulb. I do have a puppy but the bearded dragon is in my bedroom, and the puppy is almost never in there. He is under a window and I make sure to take him outside as much as possible. I did just change his reptile carpet (after tail turned black, before his beard did) I have now switched it back. I feed collard and/or turnip greens daily, crickets every other day and superworms and blueberries as treats.

 

[Sadie]

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know coils were bad and I had one since I got my beardie from someone else and she included all the lighting so I never thought to look it up. I changed out the bulb. I do have a puppy but the bearded dragon is in my bedroom, and the puppy is almost never in there. He is under a window and I make sure to take him outside as much as possible. I did just change his reptile carpet (after tail turned black, before his beard did) I have now switched it back. I feed collard and/or turnip greens daily, crickets every other day and superworms and blueberries as treats.

Keep an eye on the tail I posted what to look for- your dragon is in real distress as black as his beard is--- please get that uvb changed out ASAP-- get a 24" zoo med sunblaster or Arcadia they are all good fixtures- the Arcadia pro T 5 on pangeareptlies comes w/ a bulb get the 12% bulb--- the zoo med get the 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb--- please do this ASAP-- please no colored bulbs no heat mats or rocks or sand--- shed will cause different colors pale white opaque or the dark -- see if the end of tail has feeling in it - pinch it at the end see if he moves it--- if he does the tail is good

 

[Krystal0]

I am a new owner. I have had my beardie for 3 months and in the beginning he was rather aggressive, but now that he is being fed adequately he has calmed down, but about a week ago I noticed the end of his tail was black/darker. He is eating with possibly a slightly lower appetite and today his beard was black for seemingly no reason. No vets around me can see him for a couple of weeks so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what is wrong? View attachment 28246

none but confusion