Vet Q&A-Reptile

I've had my turtle since he was a hatchling. We've never had any parasite in the tank but yesterday I noticed little white worms on the glass and he's acting a little strange. He rarely basks and normally spends his time in the water especially when he sleeps. And I've noticed him sleeping on his rock directly under the light 3 times. He's still eating normally but just acting weird. My question is, is he sick? Should I be worried about the worms or will cleaning the tank simply do the trick?

To be safe and sure, you can submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to definitively diagnose any intestinal parasites. Perform a water change, vacuum substrate and clean tank furniture. Rinse filter media with tank water. Monitor his behavior and appetite. Monitor also for lethargy, decrease in appetite swimming crooked, blowing bubbles from the nose or mouth, wheezing or popping noises while breathing or difficulty breathing. A physical exam would be required to diagnose illness or injury.

my dog got under my deck and could have gotten bitten by a snake on his eye or stung by a bee I don't know honestly. his eye is swollen. he won't do anything normally like go to the restroom or eat sometimes. Im extremely worried.

Depending on the severity of the reaction to the bite or sting, your dog may require some measure of veterinary care. This could include something like a steroid shot to reduce inflammation, IV fluids to help provide supportive care, or an antivenom to combat the bite of a potentially harmful snake. A vet will also be able to assess any sort of bodily harm and/or organ damage that may have been inflicted by another animal / insect. I would recommend bringing Jojo in to a vet as soon as possible. In the event this is a snake bite, these matters can sometimes be time-sensitive.

Hello my name is Bianca, I decided to put my 2 bearded dragons together for a while. Recently the end of the tail fell off, some scales are missing and he wont walk on his right foot and the toes are curled on that same foot. Sadly I didn't listen to anyone about housing bearded dragons together but im going to separate them soon. I feel terrible because he seems in pain and i have no idea what to do. It sounds terrible and it is which is my fault for not listening. Please help thanks! -Bianca

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.

Hi, my corn snake, who for the last 10 years we have thought was male, laid an egg two days ago. Yesterday, two eggs were discarded into the vivarium, no longer with her in her cave. Today there is another egg but it is wet and has black sludge and white bubbles on it. This could be faeces as she ate a large mouse the same day we first saw eggs. But I just want to check this is okay and not an issue. Thank you

This is fine and no cause for concern. If she has never been housed with a male, the eggs are infertile and can be discarded. As an aside, you can sex a corn snake by gently restraining it and turning it over. Locate the vent and with your thumb, apply gently pressure just below it. If it is a male, this action will make the hemipenes pop out.

So yesterday I had asked how to get a small strip of duct tape that was about an inch long and maybe like 2 centimeters in width, off my leopard gecko's tail without hurting her, she was also in mid shed at the time. I was told to use olive oil, but i didn't have olive oil at the moment so I waited until today, well bad news is she shed her skin off with the duct tape and I am assuming she ate the duct tape along with her skin because it is no where to be found. Should I be worried?

Depending on the size of the piece of tape, there is cause for concern. A small section has a good chance of passing through uneventfully. A larger piece carries with it the risk of obstruction. Monitor Athena for the next few days. Hopefully, she will pass the tape without any problems. Daily soaks in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte may help things move along faster. If she becomes lethargic, stops eating or doesn't defecate then have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Hi guys I'm wondering if anyone can help with a concern I have with my bearded dragon. I'd love to hear various opinions so any advice I really appreciate. I got a bearded dragon two weeks ago. He's 3 months old and his tank is large I don't know the exact measurements. He has a climbing log and the basking lamp is 50 watt and the tank is 30 degrees celsius. He also has the rest of the tank that's cooler. I mist him everyday although I'm aware some people don't recommend that but I only have him

Con rats on your new beardie! Conflicting information online can certainly drive you crazy. I'm not sure if you had a question or concern since the post was truncated. Juvenile beardies need temps that are a bit higher than adult dragons. As Sam gets older, you can make adjustments. For now, the basking area should range from 35C to 43C. Ambient temps should range between 29C and 32C. Nighttime temps should not drop below 22C. You can use a ceramic heat emitter at night if necessary. This is a heater that does not emit visible light which can disturb your beardie at night. Humidity levels should be 35%-40%. Beardies come from desert environments. High humidity can predispose them to respiratory infection. Use high quality thermometers and hygrometers to monitor parameters. The following links can provide great information regarding care and feeding. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html https://www.beardeddragon.org/index.php http://pogopogona.com/

Can i give my Bearded Dragon a bath when he gets older? What do they prefer to eat? What activities do they like most?

Beardies can have regular soaks even as juveniles, especially when they are shedding. Use warm water and fill a container no higher than Lucky Man's shoulder. Never leave him unsupervised while he is bathing. Bearded dragons are omnivorous. They eat plant and animal matter. Greens and veggies should make up about 20% of the diet. Acceptable foods include carrots, green beans, squash, mustard greens, collard greens and dandelion greens. Prey should be of appropriate size. Beardies can eat crickets, locusts or dubia roaches. Wax worms can be offered as treats. Never feed insects caught indoors or in the yard. Raise your own, buy online or from a pet store. They do enjoy being held once acclimated and are very curious about their environment. Follow the link for more information: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

What can we do to keep our Bearded Dragons crickets alive? in pet stores they use ice cubes and lettuce? can i feed them an apple or no? what can we feed the crickets to keep them alive?

You can use a piece of fruit temporarily but that may attract fruit flies or other undesirable insects. Water can be provided using a very shallow bowl or a commercial insect gel. Be sure to "gut load" them with healthy foods and supplements for 24 hours prior to feeding Lucky Man. This will maximize nutritional value. Crickets can eat cereals, dry oatmeal, nuts ad seeds. If you feed fruit and vegetables, remove them frequently to prevent rotting.

My Texas spiny lizard is sleeping more than usual, lack of appetite, and a little green in poop. Should I beworried? What should I do?

It's possible G may have a bacterial overgrowth in his stomach or intestinal parasite. You'll want to take a stool sample into your local Veterinary clinic. Be sure to offer plenty of fresh drinking water and a calm environment.