Is it a male?

[CaptainLegless]

I've done some reading on sites around the net about sexing beardies. General opinion has it that a pronounced lump or bulge under the tail suggests you have a male.

One of my beardies, approx 7 months old, has developed a very pronouned bulge at the base of it's tail, so much so that it can easily be seen rfom the side or above - no need to lift the tail.

This bulge also only seems to be one lump as as opposed to the two lumps as shown in many photos regarding sexing of beardies.

Are beardies prone to any sort of deformity that my show it's self as a lump like this or can I assume this is going to be one helluva randy beardie ??

 

[CaptainLegless]

bump

 

[python blue]

or it could be a female

 

[Oxyuranus microlepid]

1 bump - female

2 bumps - male

 

[junglepython2]

Are you sure its nothing more sinister, how pronounced are we talking?

 

[CaptainLegless]

Are you sure its nothing more sinister, how pronounced are we talking?

Very pronouced, that's what makes me wonder if it is something more sinister. The "bulge" or sac can clearly be seen just looking at the lizard basking on a rock. No need to lift it it to check things out.

 

[Twiggz]

Ok hopefully i can help a bit more here. I could never distinguish the difference myself until i came across the following pics. It really points out what people tell you.

Hope they help.

If its attached correctly it should be female male female male.

 

[junglepython2]

Very pronouced, that's what makes me wonder if it is something more sinister. The "bulge" or sac can clearly be seen just looking at the lizard basking on a rock. No need to lift it it to check things out.

Can you post some pics? I wouldn't think a 7month beardie should have a clearly pronounced lump(s) or people wouldn't have so much trouble sexing them.

 

[CaptainLegless]

Thanks for posting the pics Twiggs, I've actually seem those before on the http://www.beardeddragon.org/ web site. Useful for reference though.

Yes JP2, if all males had balls as big as this fella looks to have, there'd be no problem at all in sexing them!!

I'll see what I can do about getting a piccy of the critter of mine.

Cheers

 

[CaptainLegless]

Here are a couple of pictures of him showing his "lump".
He looks to be loosing weight and getting a bit of a kink in his tail - hope that's not rickets.

There are three beardies in the tank and he'd be the middle one size wise.
Eating OK - crickets and salad.
Sunning under Repticare lighting.
Tank temperature 32c from a heat lamp plus heat rock.

 

[Oxyuranus microlepid]

thats sinister..... VET!

no, seriously, thats REALLY bad

 

[Kyro]

thats doesn't look too good mate, i'd get him to a vet asap

 

[dragons75]

i havent ever seen them that visible

 

[Chrisreptile]

thats not his sac(the one you use to sex them). thats something you need to see the vet about

 

[hornet]

yup, thats not good, vet asap

 

[Oxyuranus microlepid]

how long has it been like this mate?

 

[MrSpike]

Tumour is my guess

 

[CaptainLegless]

OK - thanks guys, you've confirmed my suspicions.
Won't be able to get to a vet until next week now so we'll just have to see what transpires.

 

[CaptainLegless]

how long has it been like this mate?

A couple of weeks or more.

 

[CaptainLegless]

hate to say this mate but that pretty bad....and to be honest I dont think your dragon will last til nexted week....

He's not really showing any signs of being ill though - eating OK, chasing crickets OK...etc