Started for member Lee

[elizabeth]

Sounds like a new member could use a little help from the WD board members... It just got posted in the wrong section I think he was looking for some live help when he posted...

My green water dragon has what looks like white mould growing on his back... what should i do?

Replied Post by Pooka

Hi Lee,
I'm sure if you stick around you'll get a feel for how to navigate the forum and what goes where. NO big deal but luckily your question was found here.

As to the answer:
A white mold appearing growth on the dragons back is 1 of 2 things. Either its a baceterial skin infection or a fungal skin infection. Both of which require a thoruogh tank cleaning and an immediate trip to the vet to get the appropriate medications. Please do not hold off on this as either infection can borrow under the skin and attack tissue causeing permenant damage.

[MoMmYoF2DrAgOnS]

Oh Lee, that does not sound good at all! I wuold call asap to your vet and get your baby in. Good luck, and hope all turns out ok! Keep us posted!

[Zekey]

How long have you had your CWD? I'm asking to see how well you know him. I agree with Pooka that you should have him checked by your vet ASAP and also to clean out the tank. But, another thing that came to mind is that perhaps he is just getting ready to shed. Sometimes right before the skin is completely loose & ready to fall off, it somewhat looks like something 'growing'. Just a thought, but just to be on the safe side, have it checked out!!

Best of luck & let us know what it turns out to be!! That way we will ALL know the next time!!

[dragosmom]

If it' shedding, you should know it by now. I hope that is all it is. I haven't ever read of anything whitish on the exterior of a water dragon's skin. I suppose it could be a fungus. You would definitely need a vet's advice on that. If you cannot get to a vet, try a 1 part betadine to 50 parts water in 80F water soak twice a day. Don't let it get above the neck of your dragon. This is good for external parasites and skin wounds and will not hurt your dragon.

[DaremoAlpha]

I have never seen anything like what has been described here either but I have seen AWOL's skin turn almost white in some areas just before shedding and thats when I start to shower him even more with his water bottle, after that he usually starts rubbing against his log and the shedding starts.

Keep us informed as to what you find out and I sure hope it is not anything bad.

[Pooka]

Pooka had something similar on her skin when I first got her that is why I gace the reply I did earlier.

When Pooka first came home I noticed several bumps on her back which apopeard to be a mixture of white skin tufts and what can only be described as small blisters. Well the tuftws dried out and wafted away like dry skin and the bumbs stayed. When I took Pooka in to the vet he sad they were a bacterial infection in her skin from the infection she had in her eye (they were related) and that treating one of them and keeping the enviroment set up properly would clear them both up. The bumps finally left with her shed and all is well now. However... Pooks does have some small dips in her skin where the infection caused tissue damage. It was minor enough that it will regenerate over time with future shed but Pookas case was very minor compared to what I imagine lees dragon haveing.