Tail Rot

[Jaredr]

Good Morning All

I was cleaning out a tub that I currently have a female Garden Phase ATB. While holding her, it came to my attention that her tail has become extremly hard and seems ''dead'' to me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to treat Tail Rot, or even better, contact details for a Reptile Vet in the East Rand area.

Thanx!

[Mitton]

Go to Dr. Shabeer at Terrace Road Vet in Edenvale.

011 524 6011

[Westley Price]

Yeah, what happens often, especially with the more tropical, humidity-loving snakes, is that the end of the tail doesn't shed with the rest of the body leaving behind a "cap" of skin on the tail tip.

It is difficult to see the remaining piece of skin, but as the snake grows, the leftover skin "constricts" the tail, resulting in lack of blood flow, drying and finally falling off of the tail segment.

It is not a serious issue, but definitely contact Dr. Shabeer and get it checked out because there's always the chance of a secondary infection.

Good luck

[Jaredr]

Thanx for the quick response.

Well my concern is the secondary infection as I don't want her losing any more function in her tail, especially with ATBs having prehensile tails.

Would this rot pose any threat to the male I have in the tub with her?

[Westley Price]

Post a picture of the tail first before I answer.

If the problem is due to a retained shedding, it should not pose any threat, but it could be something more sinister.

[Allen G. Liebenberg]

Hi Guys.This tail rot due to retained shed can be very serious-it causes dry/wet gangrene and the infection can easily go into the spinal canal and be fatal. I have seen it especially in cobras.So rather have it checked out and treated-antibiotics needed.
Good luck.

[Jaredr]

I will be calling the vet today then.

Allen, will this pose any danger to the male that I am housing with her?

[gekosin]

We had a similar issue with a corn snake of our, we took him to Terrace road vet and they diagnosed it as necrosis (the tip of the tail died and the infection slowly kills more the tissue), only solution was to amputate part of the tail before the issue spread further. I dont think it would affect your other snake.