I was cleaning out Bethari's cage and when I grabbed her to move her, I found an odd, black mass on her chin. I immediately put her back in her cage and consulted the internet, since it's 3 am, and I was only able to find two links that seemed likely. One was a burn mark, which this odd, spongey material definitely was not, especially since there's no possible way for her to burn herself in her tank, and another was a post from 2009. http://www.bluetongueskinks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=14967
I searched more, but this was the ONLY information I was able to find on this issue, which means this is either VERY rare or I am just a very bad owner. Not knowing what else to do, I tried to follow the instructions as best as I could understand them. I soaked her in a warm bath and prodded at the mass. It was loose, so like the post had described, I gently tugged and it practically fell out. Some is still stuck in the sides and Bethari was INCREDIBLY mad at me, even if she did seem to calm down after the mass was removed, so I will try to get the rest out tomorrow. Now, she has this gaping hole in her chin and some of her scales are messed up. I have her on paper towels for now in a quarantine tank and I just. I feel sick to my stomach. I can't believe this happened. I can't believe I let this happen? I don't even understand what it is!! The post I was referencing suggested that maybe something got lodged in her skin and her body was fighting an infection, and upon closer inspection of the mass I suppose I could potentially see some wood shavings, but it's mostly just a soft, black mess.
If anyone has any other advice or information on what just happened, I would GREATLY appreciate it. I have no idea where to go from here. I can't get her into the vet until Monday.
Below are some pictures. I don't have any of the mass fully embedded in her chin as I was panicking at the time. I'm wearing gloves because she was NOT happy.
WARNING: some possible graphic imagery
partially dislodged
most of mass removed
mass
