Bearded Dragon skin issue?

[c1rc4]

Here's Nibbler, got him in September, so he's probably 3 months old now. I noticed this a few days ago and it still hasn't gone away. It seems the 'outer layer' of skin on his right side rear leg has come off. I circled the spot in the pictures, but it is so tough to get a picture of. It's only the top area too.

http://wgnrs.dynalias.com/~sdennis/dragon/1.jpg

http://wgnrs.dynalias.com/~sdennis/dragon/2.jpg

http://wgnrs.dynalias.com/~sdennis/dragon/3.jpg

I thought maybe a burn, but then again why wouldn't more of him be burned? Right now he's in a 10 gallon tank (due to his small size in order for him to eat) with 3 pieces of driftwood and his food dish. He's got the UV light and his basking light (only on one side so he can leave the hot area if he wants).

Any ideas?

[snakewrangler]

Homer and Rosie both shed in patches. Sometimes a patch of skin will look funny for a few days before they fall off. It doesn't look like a burn or any type of skin infection to me. Try giving him a little warm soak.

[c1rc4]

It's more like there is no skin there. I felt it the other day, it's like there is skin around it, then a blank area there.

[prism_wolf]

I agree, but a larger picture of just the affected area would be good. There doesn't seem to be any real discoloration...just a "bare" spot. Even a 10 gal. is too small for a baby...not necessarily for it's size, but for the different temperature gradients. It's literally impossibly to keep the high temps on one side and the cooler temps on the other side in something that small... :-\.

For ease in feeding you can place it in a feed box in a larger tank.

[rwagoner]

Here's a closeup of the affected spot.

http://wgnrs.dynalias.com/myweb/DSC_0010.jpg

[snakewrangler]

It does look like the scales were rubbed off on something rough. Any jagged areas or bumps on the driftwood?

[prism_wolf]

It doesn't look like anything to worry about...except that you want to know why. Maybe he got caught under the driftwood a little and had to wriggle out or something. A little neosporin will help guarantee it will heal fine, but it's such a small area that doesn't even show any redness...the neosporin would be more for your own peace of mind than anything else.

[c1rc4]

Part of it is the lighting in the tank. The dog is down here and I'd rather him not become dinner because we took him out. It is a little bit red though. I didn't notice any rough spots on the driftwood, but he is pretty retarded and probably did something. Just wanted to make sure since this is my first dragon, and I always worry about everything. I even separated my female gecko because of her weird noises, turns out they are her pissed off noises. She didn't show this until these past 2 months of having her, very odd.

[snakewrangler]

neosporin is a good idea. especially if it is a little red.