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strange things on the side of my Irian Jaya's mouth

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:10 pm
by blazew97
I have had my skink for about a month and a half. He is awesome but i noticed that he has these strange things on the side of his mouth. They look like dried up vegetable leaves but they are rock solid and won't come off when i rub on them with a moist qtip. He is my first skink and I am still learning about them. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Re: strange things on the side of my Irian Jaya's mouth

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:24 pm
by Fatal_S
Better photos would help, but they're probably mouth crusties. As in dried food/saliva/dust that's gotten stuck in the gap under the lip. If that's what it is, it can be picked off. Be sure to get a firm grip and pull it downwards so the buildup under the lip peels out too. It shouldn't be too stuck, but there can be some bleeding. After removal that area needs to be watched and cleaned up regularly to prevent it from building up again. It can take a few sheds before the lip looks normal sometimes. Crusties should not be left - they can lead to mouth rot/infection.

If ever in doubt, see a good reptile vet. For an issue like this most vets can have it done with it moments, and can tell you if there's any sign of infection. They may give a topical antibiotic, or they may not.

Your skink is very cute. Let us know how the mouth goes :)