• Hello guest! Are you a Bearded Dragon enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Beardie enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your dragons and enclosures and have a great time with other Bearded Dragon enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Nail / tail issues

DragoBan

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Some time over the past few days / up to a week or so, my bearded dragon's tail has grown considerably darker in the last two inches. Additionally, over the past couple of weeks the one nail has turned sideways. Pictures in album:


Aside from this, she went from weighing 435g in December to 475g in February with no further weight gain since then and no change in diet, behavior, activity, no black bearding or stress marks, isn't hiding more than usual, basking her norm amount, etc.

I'm unsure how urgently she needs to see a vet or how concerned I should be. I'm currently gauging on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) with

1. Wait until next Saturday vet apt at closest specialist (1hr drive) due to no PTO
4. Family member takes on next available month appointment
7. Either of us drive to the next closest specialist (2-3hrs) on next available sat/sun
10. Urgent vet specialist this weekend with assessment fees starting at $200 and treatment starting at... more

The local non-specialist vet has admitted they're out of their depth since the weight gain, so I don't see them being helpful with the nail or tail. Input appreciated.
 

Josh

Administrator
Staff member
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
1,483
Location
Redlands, CA
Sorry for the delayed reply!! Have you made a decision yet?
I'd probably monitor her and wait. It is super odd that her tail would darken. The weight issue doesnt seem like as big of a deal. Unless you think it's an emergency i would avoid the vet specialist and emergency vets.
 

DragoBan

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Vet specialist wellness check wasnt too bad at $93. The one an hour away referred me to one that was 5 minutes away. The only thing they said, unrelated to the rail, was to increase calcium intake and she will be fine.

Ngl it didn't really calm my nerves in regards to the tail. It's not normal, flat out. I know her dark colors, it's not just that.
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
10,690
Vet specialist wellness check wasnt too bad at $93. The one an hour away referred me to one that was 5 minutes away. The only thing they said, unrelated to the rail, was to increase calcium intake and she will be fine.

Ngl it didn't really calm my nerves in regards to the tail. It's not normal, flat out. I know her dark colors, it's not just that.
Does she have feeling in the tail? It looks like coloring or possible shed coming on but I want some one else to take a look-- are you using a hammock in the tank?
 

DragoBan

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Does she have feeling in the tail? It looks like coloring or possible shed coming on but I want some one else to take a look
I'm not too certain how to check if she does. Two things to note are that she reacts to her tail going underwater during a soak by flicking it back up and her tip is lighter today than yesterday or days prior.
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
10,690
I'm not too certain how to check if she does. Two things to note are that she reacts to her tail going underwater during a soak by flicking it back up and her tip is lighter today than yesterday or days prior.
If shes got feeling in the tail that is good I do see shed on the end of it and its more than likely the coloring -- I am having someone else take a look
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
10,690
It's too hard to tell if anything's wrong, once the shed is over it will be more apparent if there's a problem. Since we can't see the dragon's over all body color there's no way to see if the coloring is off. Right now it doesn't look worrisome to me.
 

DragoBan

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
The rest of her body matches the lighter colors shown in her tail, though that doesn't provide an idea of how she appears when she does darken.

That said, she's never been  this dark, nor for only <2 inches of her tail.

Edit: she's 4yr 8-9mo old. I've had her since 2mo old. For reference when I say never.
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
10,690
The rest of her body matches the lighter colors shown in her tail, though that doesn't provide an idea of how she appears when she does darken.

That said, she's never been  this dark, nor for only <2 inches of her tail.

Edit: she's 4yr 8-9mo old. I've had her since 2mo old. For reference when I say never.
Let it shed then go from there
 
Top