Yellow scab on sulcata hatchling

Guts

Active Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
112
Location (City and/or State)
Tennessee
So I may just be panicking pointlessly but I noticed this odd scab on my four month old sulcata and am concerned it’s the same as what’s been killing many hatchlings lately.

- I’ve only had him for two days, adopted from the original owner who got them from a breeder named Rob in Indiana
- He’s acting completely normal, eating well, etc
- I can take him to the Nashville Exotic Specialist asap if necessary
- He only has the one scab
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,386
I do but they have never come into contact with one another. Does this look like the yellow spot disease or just a scab?
It doesn't look exactly the same to me as the yellow bumps do, but it is a bit hard to tell from the photos. The spots on this tortoise look more like some type of warts than the yellow bumps to me.

Or it could be that the tortoise's skin has just been overly dry before you got it, and those areas are dead skin which will slough off and go away with adequate soaking and humidity.

However, let's see what some of the others have to say.
 

Guts

Active Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
112
Location (City and/or State)
Tennessee
It doesn't look exactly the same to me as the yellow bumps do, but it is a bit hard to tell from the photos. It could be that the tortoise's skin has just been overly dry before you got it, and those areas will slough off and go away with adequate soaking and humidity.

However, let's see what some of the others have to say.

He was kept in an open top enclosure and is a bit crusty still, I’m crossing my fingers that’s all it is. It also isn’t under the skin like the photos I’ve seen, just a scab on top
 

mark1

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
1,932
Location (City and/or State)
ohio
there are dozens of bacterial skin infections , actually probably hundreds , that can infect reptiles ........ treat it as such and hope for the best .......... odds are it'll work out ......... wet warm environments are good for shell growth and bacteria growth ........... JMO .........
 

Guts

Active Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
112
Location (City and/or State)
Tennessee
there are dozens of bacterial skin infections , actually probably hundreds , that can infect reptiles ........ treat it as such and hope for the best .......... odds are it'll work out ......... wet warm environments are good for shell growth and bacteria growth ........... JMO .........
there are dozens of bacterial skin infections , actually probably hundreds , that can infect reptiles ........ treat it as such and hope for the best .......... odds are it'll work out ......... wet warm environments are good for shell growth and bacteria growth ........... JMO .........

Thank you! I’ve been so worried about Chomp today.

From what I’ve seen just swabbing with betadine is the way to go correct?
 

mark1

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
1,932
Location (City and/or State)
ohio
chlohexadine would be better ...... dry up his environment for a couple weeks .......... you could add fish antibiotics to his soaks ...... maracyn 2 would be a good guess , let it dry on him when he's done ........
 

mastershake

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2018
Messages
585
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
it could be but it does look slightly a bit different. the only way to know for sure is to send out a piece of one of the bumps. when the ones everyone is seeing dry up they do look a bit like this but in a way different. hard to explain unless you have seen them in person. i have seen 17 now in hand in person. could this be? yes. i do recc possibly sending out a sample for lab testing if its possible though. if you would like info on where to send the sample if their lab doesnt deal with this or more info on what to tell them message me and i can give you info. finding out the correct type of whatever it is this one has makes treating it much easier possibly and more effective then just throwing meds at it imo. if you can at least get them to do a slide and take a few pics i can tell you if its the same thing we are seeing on slides.
 
Last edited:

Guts

Active Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
112
Location (City and/or State)
Tennessee
Can you take a few closeups of the bumps from a couple different angles?

i will take more photos in the morning they’ve gone to sleep for the night and I hate waking them up!

it could be but it does look slightly a bit different. the only way to know for sure is to send out a piece of one of the bumps. when the ones everyone is seeing dry up they do look a bit like this but in a way different. hard to explain unless you have seen them in person. i have seen 17 now in hand in person. could this be? yes. i do recc possibly sending out a sample for lab testing if its possible though. if you would like info on where to send the sample if their lab doesnt deal with this or more info on what to tell them message me and i can give you info. finding out the correct type of whatever it is this one has makes treating it much easier possibly and more effective then just throwing meds at it imo. if you can at least get them to do a slide and take a few pics i can tell you if its the same thing we are seeing on slides.

Ive messages you thank you so much!
 

Guts

Active Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
112
Location (City and/or State)
Tennessee
He’s done with his appointment at the vet and she confirmed it’s just stuck shed and an old injury! He has some minor issues from how his previous owner kept him but he looks good!
 
Top