If you have a warm place in your heart for your cold-blooded pet, you do not want them to suffer needlessly from scale rot. They need you—and a warm, dry environment to survive and thrive. Cleaning up after your reptile can be tough, especially after an exhausting day when the last thing you want to do is empty their enclosure and ensure it’s not damp. To keep your reptile healthy, you must check their scales for any unusual symptoms. But doing these menial tasks can save you and your beloved pet from scale rot.
Scale rot is a concerning skin condition that can affect our beloved bearded dragon pets. As bearded dragon owners, it’s critical we know how to identify, treat, and prevent this common fungal or bacterial infection. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your dragon happy and healthy.
What Causes Scale Rot in Bearded Dragons?
Scale rot is caused by an opportunistic fungal or bacterial infection taking hold on a bearded dragon’s skin, usually entering through small wounds or scratches. High humidity environments promote the growth of pathogens like Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Chrysosporium fungi which can attack if the dragon’s immune system is weak
The main causes include:
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Unsanitary habitat – Bacteria accumulates in soiled substrate, uneaten food, and fecal matter Dirty habitats are breeding grounds for infection.
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Inadequate husbandry – Wet bedding, low temperatures, poor hygiene, and crowded enclosures stress dragons and raise infection risk.
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High humidity – Ideal humidity is 30-40%. Higher levels breed microbes that thrive in dampness under the scales.
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Injury – Wounds from sharp objects in the habitat or accidental scratches allow pathogens entry under the skin.
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Poor nutrition – Vitamin or nutrient deficiencies weaken immunity, making dragons prone to fungal/bacterial overgrowth.
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Stress – Stress elevates cortisol which suppresses the immune system, increasing susceptibility to scale rot.
Recognizing Scale Rot Symptoms
Being able to identify symptoms early is key to getting prompt treatment. Watch for:
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Discolored scales – Infected areas turn black/brown. Healthy scales are vibrant.
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Wrinkled skin – Damaged tissue between scales causes dehydrated, wrinkled patches.
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Inflamed scales – Swelling, redness between scales signals developing infection.
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Abnormal shedding – Inability to shed properly results in retained dead skin.
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Loss of appetite – Sick dragons often refuse food as infection takes hold.
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Lethargy – Lack of energy or activity indicates something is wrong.
If you notice any of the above, schedule a vet visit right away for diagnosis and treatment. Leaving scale rot unchecked can have serious consequences.
Treating Bearded Dragon Scale Rot
Treatment focuses on resolving the underlying infection and restoring damaged skin. Key elements include:
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Veterinary care – Prescription topical/oral antibiotics or antifungals are often needed to clear stubborn infections.
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Habitat changes – Switch to paper towels/newspaper. Clean and disinfect tank thoroughly. Ensure proper temperatures and ventilation.
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Topical remedies – Apply antibiotic creams containing gentamicin or mupirocin. Or natural treatments like honey, silver sulfadiazine, or dilute iodine.
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Warm temperatures – Maintain basking area around 95-110°F to inhibit fungal/bacterial growth and support healing.
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Assist shedding – Gently remove retained dead skin blocking healing. Bathing in warm water softens skin.
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Reduce stress – Minimize handling and eliminate causes of stress like loud noises, improper lighting, etc.
With appropriate treatment, most cases of scale rot can be cured within 2-4 weeks. But leaving it unchecked can have serious health consequences.
Preventing Bearded Dragon Scale Rot
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to scale rot. Here are some key tips:
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Clean habitat – Scoop feces, uneaten food, and change substrate regularly. Disinfect enclosure weekly.
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Proper humidity – Ideal levels are 30-40%. Use hygrometers to monitor and make adjustments.
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Nutritious diet – Feed a variety of calcium-rich greens, veggies, and gut loaded insects.
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Reduce stress – Give ample space, proper lighting/heating, enrichment objects, and gentle handling.
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Prompt wound care – Disinfect any cuts/scratches right away. Apply antibiotic ointment.
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Limit handling – Constant handling stresses dragons. Restrict to short periods.
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Quarantine new dragons – Isolate new dragons 2-4 weeks before introducing to check for illness.
With vigilance and proper care, scale rot can be avoided in most cases. But if it does occur, address it quickly to prevent complications. Knowing how to recognize, treat, and prevent scale rot is essential for bearded dragon owners. Put these tips into practice to maintain the health and happiness of your beloved dragon.
How To Get Rid of Scale Rot Before it Worsens
In superficial cases of scale rot, you might notice signs of infection early on. Occasionally all you need to do is place your herp in a clean, dry, healthful environment to negate the infection. Putting your pet in an isolated area with fresh substrate will help keep them isolated and it will allow you to see if their condition improves.
What Causes Scale Rot?
Scale rot does not have one root cause. It’s often the result of a combination of conditions. Furthermore, because scale rot refers to multiple conditions, it’s best to cover all of your bases to prevent any of the infections reptiles can contract.
Saving a Bearded Dragon from SCALE ROT & SWOLLEN FEET DAY 2 home#stayrad @ChuckNorrizBeardedDragons
FAQ
How do you fix scale rot on a bearded dragon?
Let the beardie soak for 15 mins or so, dry off the beardie, use a q-tip to apply a thin layer of the athlete’s foot cream to the infected area, place gauze on the area and wrap. Do that every day for a week or so. It’ll start to go away and if it starts to look weird, don’t worry reptiles heal weird.
What does scale rot look like?
Scale rot can turn the scales red, yellow, brown, or greenish black. To not confuse the red with the colouration change that shedding can cause – the appearance is almost as though the scales have been burned. Blisters – Blisters initially develop without infection usually.
How do you treat scale rot?
Veterinarians commonly prescribe antibiotics in cases of moderate to severe scale rot. Depending on how advanced the decay is, topical, injectable or oral medications may be used. Consult your veterinarian before administering any drug, as antibiotic doses and recommendations can differ from reptile to reptile.
Is scale rot an emergency?
Scale rot is potentially deadly, but is easily resolved if you act early. Brownish areas or discoloration is usually the first symptom. Make an appointment with a certified reptile veterinarian immediately, and then place the skink in quarantine.
How do you treat scale rot on a bearded dragon?
Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic ointment or a povidone-iodine solution to help treat the infected area. If you feel your bearded dragon is in pain from the scale rot, your vet can discuss pain relief options for them. Diluted betadine is used to treat open wounds on pets and is an option for your bearded dragon.
What is scale rot in bearded dragons?
One of the conditions that your bearded dragon may experience is scale rot. What is Scale Rot? Scale rot is a scale disease that can affect bearded dragons. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can be due to the dragon being exposed to high humidity and dampness in their habitat.
Why does my Dragon have scale rot?
It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can be due to the dragon being exposed to high humidity and dampness in their habitat. Bacteria will fester in wet bedding and no matter how clean you keep your enclosure, if it is too moist, your dragon may start showing signs of scale rot.
What causes scale rot?
Curing and preventing scale rot relies partly on identifying what caused it. The primary causes are somewhat interconnected, so it may be a combination of these factors: Unsanitary living environment and poor hygiene – Caring for a living creature is hard work, whether it’s a pet snake, bearded dragon, or a newborn baby.
Should I quarantine my bearded dragon?
Having your lizard in quarantine will give you sufficient time to make their space safe again. If you have another bearded dragon at all, the scale rot can quickly spread to them as well, so be sure to separate them from each other. Take the time to completely sterilize their tank and assure it is suitable to use again.
What causes scale rot in reptiles?
Deficiency of vitamins A or C – This is less commonly cited as a trigger for scale rot but can contribute to its development. If the living conditions are optimal, this may mean the reptile lacks sufficient nutrients.