Vet Q&A-Reptile

My bearded dragon ate a couple substrate pellets accidentally as he was trying to eat food. Only the next day did I notice around his lips look white/gray. Is this a side effect? Are the pellets safe to eat?

One or two pellets will likely pass through uneventfully. Monitor for lethargy, loose droppings or loss of appetite. You can soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. During the soak, gently massage his abdomen from front to back to stimulate defecation. Consider using slate, reptile carpeting or plain paper towels as a substrate in the future to prevent accidental ingestion.

I have pet snapping turtles that refused to eat since yesterday. A white infection is also visible on their tail. Plz advice

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and eventually antibiotics are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I have an African Sideneck turtle, and here recently algae has been growing in his tank. Is this hurting him?

I would try to keep the algae to a minimum. Algae growth is caused by combination of too many nutritions (food left-overs) in the water, not enough current in the water and more than enough light. So you need to re-visit your husbandry to make sure everything is 100% correct. If the water current and lighting are correct then chances are you are over-feeding him. If you can reduce the left-overs you'll probably effectively remove the source of the algae growth. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I am about to get a crested gecko and have done lots of research, but am nervous I'll kill my crestie. You see, lots of people have different opinions about additional lighting. 1 breeder said a heat lamp killed many of his crested geckos, while another breeder said it killed her geckos when they DIDNT have a heat lamp. Should I get a heat lamp? (My tank is a 12 by 12 by 18, of that helps at all) Also, should that size tank be good for 1 crested gecko for his entire life?

Hi there! We have a Crested Gecko and have so much fun with him! Don’t worry, they are a great starter reptile and are pretty easy to keep. In the winter we use a red light to keep the tank warmer, but not a specific heat lamp. This keeps the tank warm enough without getting too hot. Also very important is the humidity of the tank. Keeping it spritzed several times a day is necessary. We started with a tank your size and it probably would have been just fine long term, but we ended up purchasing a larger tank because we wanted a different look. Best of luck and have fun with your crestie! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Does my turtle have shell rot? Im really worried and i want to know if i should take him to the vet

Hello. I think there may be some areas of shell rot that I can see on the photos on the carapace - the marginal scutes It is truly difficult to tell on those photos. What does trouble me on the photos is the bulging eyes. It is indicative of hypovitaminosis A (deficiency of vitamin A). Between those two things I think you should get him to a vet for an exam. That would be the best idea. I hope this helps. Best wishes. Dr. Amber

What can I do for my bearded dragon who has recently laid (infertile) eggs and is now sleeping much more and eating much less?

Increase her calcium supplementation. Dust prey daily or provide a liquid calcium supplement. Check the UVB light source and replace it if it is more than 6 months old. Offer a variety of gut loaded prey (crickets, dubia roaches, etc), vegetables and a commercial beardie diet. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week until she perks up. Check for proper temperatures, ambient and basking, in the enclosure. If symptoms persist, have Beatrix examined by an experienced herp veterinarian in case she is impacted or egg bound.

i have a bearded dragon. the skin in her ear was recently damaged i dont know what happened. it was bleeding bad. and she was trembling and wouldn't let anyone touch her. anythings i should be worried about? its better now. but it was a open wound for 3 days

Basically it could be an infection or a trauma, it sounds like she was in a great deal of pain, i would recommend taking her to a reptile vet as she might need an antibiotic course and some pain medications.

Please help....... I bought a indian flapshell turtle..... And he is not eating anything.... Not even basking...... He always finds hiding places and also dig pits to hide....... Please help

These freshwater turtles enjoy quiet (low current) water with sand or mud substrate. In the wild, they normally burrow into the sand or mud. Water and ambient temps should range between 70 F and 85 F. Provide a basking area of about 95 F. Low temps can affect appetite and activity. UVA/UVB lighting is also necessary for good health. These turtles are omnivorous, so you should try a bit of everything. Fish, fruits, vegetables, freeze dried foods should all be offered on a rotating basis. Being soft-shelled, they can are more predisposed to shell infections (bacterial or fungal). Poor water quality can compound the problem. If the environmental parameters are correct, an appropriate diet is being offered and the turtle still won't eat, then an exam with a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to diagnose illness or injury.

My turtle shell is cracking red ear slider

Cracking can be due to infection, poor water quality or poor nutrition/lighting. Have Shelly examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat any infection. Signs include pitting, bleeding or a very soft shell. Half the diet should be plant matter with one quarter made up of commercial sticks or pellets and one quarter animal protein. UVB lighting should be provided and water quality maintained. You can follow this link to an article about proper care and nutrition for sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html