Yellow Fungus in Bearded Dragons

 Yellow Fungus, which is more scientifically referred to as Chrysosporium Anamorph of Nanniziopsis vriesii (CANV), is an aggressive fungus infection. Because of it's aggressiveness, if you suspect yellow fungus in your beardie it is HIGHLY recommended to seek the advice of a veterinarian. In many cases yellow fungus can be fatal but early detection can greatly increase your odds. 

In the early stages of infection expect to see dry and crusty looking lesions on scales along with discoloration. In addition to this, these trouble spots may be retained when your beardie sheds which may also become more frequent at this stage of the disease. As the disease worsens, you will likely see some of the first affected areas turning black and beginning to essentially rot away. If the fungus starts on limbs or the tail, it is possible for these to even fall off. At this point, wounds may begin leaking a pusslike substance as well. Lastly, it is likely that your dragon at this point is lethargic, not eating (or eating very little) and possibly grumpy/aggressive. 

So where does yellow fungus come from? Essentially your dragon will only come in contact with the pathogen IF they are touched or touch something/someone that also touched the infected dragon. So once again the topic of husbandry arises. Keeping you Beardie clean with a weekly bath, housing your beardie in an appropriate size enclosure, keeping your beardie's enclosure clean, keeping only ONE bearded dragon per habitat, etc. Remember YF is a pathogen that's highly communicable between beardies so keeping multiple bearded dragons together can help spread the fungus quickly. 

If you suspect that your beardie may have yellow fungus, contact an exotics veterinarian immediately. Because it is so aggressive, it can affect internal organs as well. A veterinarian can help determine the severity of the disease and will most likely prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal. Some herpetologists will suggest a 5-10 minute betatine or chlorhexidine bath for preventative treatments.

For more information, please click on either of the photos in this article to be directed to the articles to which they are connected.

Metabolic Bone Disease

 Metabolic bone disease or MBD is caused by a lack of Calcium, Vitamin D3, and/or Phosphorus and is the weakening of the bones of your bearded dragon. Metabolic Bone Disease is perhaps the most common ailment among bearded Dragons and is also 100% preventable with good husbandry.

Signs of Metabolic Bone Disease:

• Bumps in the legs (that you can feel/see)
• Twitches, ticks, spasms, or tremors
• Bumps in the vertical columns of the back and tail
• A swollen bottom jaw
• Jerky movements

One of the earliest, common symptoms is a head bob or head tremor. 

MBD can be treated and even reversed with early detection. However, even beardies with more advanced MBD can still live long, full lives with proper care. Metabolic bone disease can be treated and prevented by using the proper multivitamin and UVB bulbs. A good calcium powder with Vitamin D3 dusted on your beardies food will give ample vitamin support and utilizing a proper UVB bulb will make sure they can metabolize the calcium. Always remember to replace your UVB bulbs as directed by the manufacturer. All UVB bulbs whether they're florescent, compact florescent, or mercury vapor will stop producing UVB long before they stop glowing and need to be replaced every 6-12 months to keep your scale baby healthy and happy.

If you suspect your bearded dragon has MBD you should always consult an exotics vet as they can do blood work and imaging to determine the severity of the disease and possible treatment.

This bearded dragon has a severe case of MBD after having been
left in the well-meaning care of her guardian's parents. They did not
know to change the UVB bulb every 6 months and it is unknown if
they were administering calcium powder with feedings.

What's Fostering Like?

We hear many objections to fostering around here. "I would get too attached", "I have no room", "My own cats/dogs/etc... would hate it", "I have small kids". What people don't realize is that these are all actually good reasons to foster.

"I would get too attached" is probably the most common objection I hear. Here's the thing though; we want you to get attached. We want you to really care for these little ones as though they were your very own. We want you to fret about their health, their happiness, their overall well being. You see, that's what makes a great foster family. Yes, it is hard to say goodbye at first. The first year of fostering, I wept every time I dropped kittens off at the place I was fostering for. What nobody told me was that eventually, I would welcome the surrender of my little wards because it meant that not only were they off to have wonderful lives, but that I now had room to save some more little lives. Yes, there are still the occasional foster babies who tug at my heartstrings when it's time to say goodbye (Wren, Gregory, and Moose come to mind), but even so they are meant for other families and other adventures.

"I have no room". Well, really everyone has room. We all have bathtubs, bathrooms, little unused corners of our homes that would make lovely little spaces in which to care for animals who need a temporary home while they wait for their always home. Look around you, you'll find so many spots. And you won't have to worry about paying for anything; rescues pay for the needs of the companion animal while it's in your care. That means you won't worry about the cost of food, litter, puppy pads, or anything else like that while they're your foster.

"My own pet would hate it". Well, fair. Nobody wants to put their pets through unnecessary stress. However, our oldest cats were 8 years old before we started fostering and while they weren't thrilled, they did get accustomed to the parade of little goobers through the house. It took some learning on all of our parts, but a good rescue will help and advise you through the process of settling your companion animals in to being foster siblings.

"I have small kids" is, if anything, an even bigger reason to foster! What better way to teach your children about how to give selflessly of their love and attention? They will also get to experience the wide range of personalities that animals have, and get to know about the behaviours of the animal you're fostering. Fostering with kids is a wonderful experience, and I could not recommend it more.

If you're interested in fostering or would like more information, please email us or download the foster application form here and send the completed application back to our email. We will contact you as soon as possible for a visit and discussion regarding your application. Thank you so much!