Hey

[phaemas]

Hey guys! So Marcie shed again!(Yay!) But this time I noticed a part of her tail isn't moving/bending when ''tickled'' I'm 50/50 this part of the tail is dead:( It's about 1 inch. How much will it cost to get this removed? Will they have to remove the whole tail? Or just that part? I really don't want it to get infected.

[WanderingChai]

Are you sure it's not just stuck shed? Bathe her and use a washcloth to VERY GENTLY try to wipe it off. There could be a humidity problem in the tank, is it in between 40-60 percent?

If you could take some pictures, it would help us understand what it is better.

[Fatal_S]

Just leave it alone. Don't remove it, don't pick at it, don't bother it. The tails aren't all that sensitive/mobile to begin with. Unless the tail appears seriously damaged/infected just leave it be. If you're not sure, take it to a vet. A skink can deal with it's own tail, it should not need to be removed. The most we humans do is help get the shed off.

[Richard.C]

what section of the tail?

just because it doesnt respond to being touched,tickled,doesnt mean its dead,usually if it is dead you will notice it,perhaps a pic showing what you are talking about will help to get an accurate answer

[Linnea]

your skinks tail is probably fine. skinks dont like to use their tails unless needed. i guess you have been poking his tail a lot to get a reaction from your skink, and he has come to the conclusion it is not worth the effort to move away.

to even come up with ideas like removing part of the tail is a bit too far imaginative. you dont cut off healthy tissue or limbs.

as the others said, as long as there is no constraining leftover shed the tail is fine. moving or not.


if the tail turns black, is bleeding however, you have to go to the vet.

[LarissaLurid]

I doubt that the tail is dead. If it was it'd be rotting and falling off, literally. If there is stuck shed on it, put the skink in warm water to loosen it and gently rub off, otherwise your skink is fine. Skinks are not ticklish by the way. Just because the tail does not move, doesn't mean they can't feel it and you won't be able to tickle them.

[phaemas]

I can't find my stupid camera:( GAA! All I have is the freakin memory card. What use is that. But the under part is a brownish black compaired to the usual orange-white coloration

[Richard.C]

use the smart camera,lol

where exactly is the discoloured section?
is it just a color difference,if its dieing normally it drys out,ifits just the tip of the tail and it is dieing,that section will just drop off,if it concerns you though,a vet visit is your best bet,its hard to diagnose with out seeing the issue

[phaemas]

its the ending. A part of it's getting thinner and the scales have dropped off in that area a bit so i'm leave it for about a week or so. And Go from their.

[Richard.C]

one of my female lowlands blotcheds did that this season,the tip ended up coming off,why i couldnt tell you,was very odd,wasnt retained shed,probably the last cm of tail,my thoughts were maybe a male bit it during the breeding season,but never saw any damage,it just dried up,didnt go black,more a dull brown till it dropped off.

just keep an eye on it i guess incase the dead area gets bigger,if it gets bigger its spreading so a vet visit would be wise,my girls tail was the same till it eventually dropped off with a shed,funny thing when it came off,the tail was already healed

[phaemas]

Interesting... Mabey its a weird defect in the tail that randomly pops up in certain animals...

[Richard.C]

there would be a cause for it,damage of some desription,cutting off circulation,till it dies and falls off,similar to retained shed i guess,there are probably many causes though,so hard to pin point just from the symptom,something has to cause it,be it retained shed,bite wound from a cage mate,perhaps an injury like jamming tail in something,lots and lots of possabilities

[Richard.C]

could be also just from tail dragging over certain substrates

[phaemas]

hmm... Never thought of the substrate thing... I use aspen shavings.

[Richard.C]

point being it is sometimes hard to tell what causes it,there are a multitude of things that can cause it

[Spindown]

whatever you do, DO NOT remove any part of the tail unless a QUALIFIED reptile vet tells you to. reptiles are not as senstive to touch as we are, considering they are covered in armor! I've heard of tail tips dying but normally it either comes off on its on, or its a really simple operation by a vet to remove it.

I highly doubt its a defect. the cases I've heard of have all been some kind of trauma, or suspected trauma to the site. Tail tips are very inviting targets, just like toes are.

[phaemas]

Hmmm.... Stumped now...

The part seems to have come off after the weekend but the only thing left of a peace of what appears to be bone or flesh. about less than an inch of it:| Another waiting game?

[Katrina]

Hmmm.... Stumped now...

The part seems to have come off after the weekend but the only thing left of a peace of what appears to be bone or flesh. about less than an inch of it:| Another waiting game?

See a vet. I don't think anyone on here has experience with this and if there is bone or inner flesh visible then it's not good! Please don't wait, it sounds like it needs immediate attention. Good luck!

[Leigh]

You must supply a GOOD photo of the issue please, everyone can only guess at what your on about, it could be one of dozen problems from tail rot to a lump of dried poo, or nothing at all. If you truely believe there's a problem, take him to the vet, I don't think anyone's close enough to come and help in person??

[LarissaLurid]

Hmmm.... Stumped now...

The part seems to have come off after the weekend but the only thing left of a peace of what appears to be bone or flesh. about less than an inch of it:| Another waiting game?

OH MY, i would not call this a waiting game. if there is bone or flesh showing PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your skink to a vet. He needs help now and waiting will just worsen the problems, he can get an infection, etc. The longer you wait the worse it will get and the more work you will have to do to get him healthy again (along with how it will cost you more money if he needs to get antibiotics for an infection after you just waited to see if the bone and flesh showing would just go away)