Yellow fungus in bearded dragons is the most common fungal ailment in captive reptiles. We understand that this disease can cause trouble both to the pet and the pet owner.
Detecting yellow fungus in bearded dragons involves pet keepers seeing yellow to brownish-yellow skin color in the lizard. We noticed that some new owners of bearded dragons feel shocked by this uncommon sight.
Moreover, we commonly witness bearded dragon keepers feeling worried since this reptile skin problem often leads to their beloved domesticated animal acting and feeling unusual and uncomfortable. We advise pet keepers to treat yellow fungus in bearded dragons seriously.
In this online discussion, we provided significant information about the nature of the fungal disease, its typical symptoms, and its causes. We advocate for the professional treatment of this reptile skin problem and discussed how pet keepers could seek expert solutions.
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Understanding the Serious Fungal Disease in Bearded Dragons
When yellow fungus in bearded dragons strikes, we gathered that most pet owners are unaware of how to respond properly. It is important that they learn the nature of this reptile fungal disease.
Yellow fungus disease or YFD is the official name of the problem of yellow fungus in captive bearded dragons. It is often called “CANV” after the perceived fungus that caused it, which is Chrysosporium anamorph of nannizziopsis vriesii.
Moreover, the most common cause of the disease of yellow fungus in bearded dragons is Nannizziopsis guarroi. This primary causal agent is a fungus, and we understand the latter may lead pet owners to question if it can also infect them.
We want to clarify that Nannizziopsis guarroi can merely grow at temperatures lower than that of the human body. Therefore, we want to calm down bearded dragon owners as the potential for infection from their reptile pet to them is quite low or inexistent.
However, we advise that captive bearded dragon keepers remember that YFD is severe and contagious for reptile pets. Yellow fungus in bearded dragons involves a primary pathogen causing the health problem even in healthy lizards with proper husbandry.
Hence, we want to stress that the yellow fungal disease can infect any bearded dragon as it can spread from one reptile to another through air and direct contact between these animals. Furthermore, the yellow fungus disease has young bearded dragons more vulnerable than adults.
This fungus-caused skin ailment is often deadly. Therefore, we advise watching cage mates closely for indicators of this disease, especially if there is a YFD-positive bearded dragon in the tank.
Detecting the Signs of the Yellow Fungus Disease in Bearded Dragons
During the early stage of infection, yellow fungus disease can trouble captive bearded dragons, which are usually the central bearded dragons whose scientific name is Pogona vitticeps. Yellow fungus in bearded dragons leads these reptile pets’ scales to become discolored and can break off, all of which are visible in daytime light.
This serious skin condition reveals extremely sensitive and ulcerated tissues that are often inflamed and swollen. Hence, we want to inform bearded dragon keepers to watch out for signs telling their reptile pet is in extreme pain.
Furthermore, bearded dragons can exhibit a tiny yellow to brown crust on their skin with a few scales that can get larger in time. These crust symptoms may materialize elsewhere in the lizard’s physique randomly and eventually turn thickened, dark, and even rough.
Bad shedding can also be some of the early signs of yellow fungus disease in bearded dragons. This symptom leaves behind dull scales with a roughened look.
Another symptom of yellow fungus in bearded dragons is a shedding storm. In this scenario, some reptile pets appear to be shedding all the time.
We want to warn pet keepers that the yellow fungus disease may become an internal infection as it progresses, leading to poor appetite in bearded dragons, as well as weight loss and even death.
Thus, it is significant for bearded dragon owners to understand the common causes of YFD and the significance of getting their pets treated by veterinarians as soon as possible.
2 Common Factors that Lead to Yellow Fungal Disease in Bearded Dragons
Several conditions often lead to the incidence of yellow fungus in bearded dragons. These situations usually involve the reptile pet’s environment, and they consist of the following:
1. Inferior living conditions
We want pet keepers to keep in mind that bearded dragons usually suffer under low temperatures and improper UVB light exposure.
When bearded dragons get subjected to poor husbandry conditions, it is highly likely that they also experience poor hygiene, with their immune system becoming extremely weak and suppressed.
2. Overcrowded living spaces
Bearded dragons can suffer from yellow fungal disease if they get raised, shipped, displayed, or kept in groups. Crowded conditions are usually stressful and unsanitary for these lizards.
Additionally, bearded dragons can get minor bite wounds, injured toenails, and so forth, all of which damage their skin, opening it to the fungal infection.
We want to emphasize that when bearded dragons have poor and stressful living conditions, they tend to obtain suppressed immune responses. This critical condition makes them incapable of fighting even a low level of the yellow fungus disease.
Resolving Yellow Fungus Disease through Professional Treatment
We understand that bearded dragon keepers can find themselves under severe pressure and worry when they see their reptile pets suffering from yellow fungus disease.
However, we want to advise them that, by seeking veterinarians’ expert assistance immediately during the skin disease’s early stages, they will not have to fear the chance of losing their beloved domesticated animal soon.
Before giving aggressive and effective treatment, veterinarians will initially examine a bearded dragon, evaluating its medical history thoroughly and conducting a physical examination.
These tests may be included as the yellow fungal disease is not distinguishable from a variety of viral, bacterial, and other fungal ailments merely by looking on the surface.
Hence, we want to inform pet keepers that they can anticipate ultrasound, bloodwork, and X-rays suggested by their veterinarians to better assess their bearded dragon’s overall health condition.
The following two techniques are the common ways veterinarians resolve yellow fungus in bearded dragons:
1. SYSTEMIC ANTI-FUNGAL MEDICINES
Veterinarians may prescribe these drugs to be taken orally or by injection. Additionally, systemic anti-fungal drugs are always prescribed since a yellow fungus infection typically goes deeper than merely the skin.
This professional remedy to yellow fungus in bearded dragons can be a combination of various medicines like itraconazole, Voriconazole, terbinafine, and amphotericin B. Veterinarians may also prescribe iodine and antibiotic cream applied to the bearded dragons’ skin at least once or twice daily to address any lesions or skin biopsy sites.
2. DEBRIDEMENT
This professional treatment of yellow fungus in bearded dragons is a process that involves the removal or cleaning of any areas of the reptile pet’s skin with lesions. Veterinarians may find debridement essential since the dead skin comprises fungus that is out of reach of the systemic anti-fungal medicine prescribed.
Systemic anti-fungal medication and debridement can help treat bearded dragons from yellow fungal disease quickly and aggressively.
We also want to inform bearded dragon keepers that besides obtaining a professional cure, they can prevent future yellow fungus infections in bearded dragons.
E) 4 Effective Methods of Preventing Yellow Fungal Disease
We agree that prevention is better than cure. Suppose reptile pet owners have not experienced the inconvenience of yellow fungus in bearded dragons yet.
In that case, we advise that they learn the following preventive measures for their and their beloved lizards’ benefit:
1. Feed bearded dragons nutritious food coupled with mineral and liquid vitamin supplements.
Dark leafy vegetables are ideal for bearded dragons to get the proper nutrition their bodies need. Additionally, they can become healthier with multivitamin supplements.
Having a proper diet facilitates bearded dragons to have a healthy immune system. Therefore, it is highly unlikely for them to contract the yellow fungus disease easily.
2. Provide excellent living conditions.
Bearded dragons can thrive healthily and away from yellow fungal disease if their living space is spick and span and complete with the essentials. Among these important components of a bearded dragon tank are a hide hole for bearded dragons or hiding spots and the correct range of humidity.
Moreover, yellow fungus in bearded dragons can be impossible with a thermal gradient, the right temperatures, and appropriate lighting via UV lamp. The reptile pets can live peacefully with these key components in their tank.
3. Disinfect the bearded dragon’s surrounding environment.
Reptile pets can better resist yellow fungal disease and other infectious ailments if owners clean their whole habitat every few weeks with veterinary-grade reptile cleaner. Furthermore, we advise pet keepers to remove and then wash all the accessories, including the substrate and disinfect the tank’s walls.
Yellow fungus in bearded dragons can also be prevented by washing and disinfecting the surfaces outside these reptile pets’ tank. These areas consist of the pet owner’s couch, beds, floors, and so forth.
We highly recommend bearded dragon keepers wash their hands and clothing before and after holding their reptile pets as well. After all, proper hygiene and sanitation are important risk reducers.
4. Bathe the bearded dragons regularly.
Giving bearded dragons regular baths help them stay well-hydrated and clean. We recommend washing these reptile pets for about 20 minutes long with gentle baby soap and warm water. This healthy measure can keep the bearded dragons properly sanitized, keeping fungal diseases at bay.
Yellow fungus in bearded dragons is treatable and should not be the reason for pet keepers to worry. Although this reptile skin problem is serious, the yellow fungus disease can get resolved with the help of professional treatment and practicing preventive measures.
We advise bearded dragon owners to follow the useful tips and insights they learned from this online discussion. We guarantee that they would never feel anxious with yellow fungus in bearded dragons with immediate veterinary treatment and taking healthy steps, all of which can provide their bearded dragons a healthy, happy, and long life.
