What to do if my bearded dragon's tail is black, hard, and peeling?

Have Mulan examined by your herp veterinarian. Tail rot can be caused by trauma or infection. If it severe enough, amputation may be necessary to prevent systemic infection. Stress can also cause body parts to turn black. Commonly, it is the "beard"/throat that turns black during stress or anger.

By your description, it could be tail rot. Chemmy would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for confirmation. In the meantime, confirm proper environmental parameters and make sure he doesn't have shed skin strangulation the affected portion of the tail. You can soak the tail in a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution once or twice daily. Prescription antibiotics may be dispensed by your veterinarian if necessary.

Thanks for reaching out about Spike and including photos. By the photo, it is probably due to the betadyne. Continue to monitor flexibility of tail, warms, and a gentle pinch/pain response. These might be indications of the tail dying. Bearded dragons can also dislodge blood clots to the tips of the tail or toes, causing de-vitalization and necrosis. If the condition recurs, a CBC and serum biochemistries are recommended through a veterinarian. Good luck.

If you can see bone, Alduin will need to be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. The tip may need amputation to prevent infection. Keep the cage clean to prevent contamination by stool. Keep him hydrated and make sure he is eating.

While it is true that these signs could be due to trauma caused by the other beardie, it is also possible that it could be due to inappropriate nutrition or environment. Make sure that you are providing your bearded dragons with adequate calcium (supplemented in the food), and sufficient heat and UVB lighting in their cages. I also recommend that you take Luchi to see a reptile veterinarian in case he was injured and requires pain medications. You can find a reptile veterinarian in your area on www.arav.org.

It does look like it could be improper shed in that area. I really think it is best to get him to a reptile vet for an exam. After they look at him in person they can probably give you better advice.

Thanks for your question, and I’m so sorry that this is happening to you and Peaches. Tail rot can be a bit tricky to manage, and ultimately Peaches may need a tail amputation. Unfortunately, the tissue needs to stop dying before an amputation can be pursued, or else the tissue at the surgical site is at risk of dying as well. Due to this, for right now, you’ll need to monitor for spread of the tissue death. I recommend drawing a line at the area where the tissue seems to be shrunken, closer to the end of the tail, and another line around the area where the tail goes from a more normal orange to the white color. You can do this with a permanent marker. It may be advisable to consider a course of antibiotics as well, especially if the tissue death doesn’t seem to stop spreading. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Peaches feels better soon.