My lizard's tail is dark at the end. Is it tail rot? What should I do?

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 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.

Hello, thank you for using Petcoach (now Boop). The end of the tail looks to be a healing injury to me. The tissue does not look necrotic (dead). I think you can try to treat it at home with this product: ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-small-animal-topical-spray ) Use as directed on the label. If after a week or so, it is not improved or if it looks worse at any time then take Autum to an exotics vet for evaluation. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for your question about Yoda. From the photos that you included, the tail appears to be of a normal size. Often with tail rot, the affected part of the tail will shrink somewhat. I would recommend to feel the tail along its length to see if it all feels the same - it should feel like the skin is a bit elastic and the muscle should be a bit squishy. If the skin is hard and the muscle feels dry, then this would be concerning for tail rot and not just a normal shed coloration. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Without an image or physical exam, it is difficult determine what is happening to Tye's tail. Serious rot (bacterial infection) or fungal infection should be addressed by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Clean and sanitize the cage and change out the bedding. Use paper towels or plain butcher paper to make cleaning easy. You can gently clean the affected area using a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution but he may need systemic treatment to recover.

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.

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.