Fence lizard tales

Question
Hi there, i originally wanted to ask Pam this question since she had already had an answer to fence lizard tale (tail, haha), but can't seem to find her.

I have a little wild guy maybe 2 years old that i caught a year ago. He's never lost his tale per say but occasionally the (tip) end of his tail has been increasingly stiff and stuck slightly bent. eventually his flesh exposes to the bone, and the bone pokes out, and i either wait a few weeks and snip a bit of bone off, or he breaks it off on his own in cage activities. Sometimes it heals over (but never grows back being so close to the tip???), and it's ok. What causes this? is a from a vitamin deficiency perhaps, or do they naturally  just do this if the tail because it's disjointed at the tip? maybe too many crickets hide in nooks and crannies in my awesome terrarium, and make lunch of it at night?)

He's otherwise very healthy and active, and eating well... he actually is quite sociable and doesn't mind going places perched on my shoulder-that is along as the weather isn't untolerably hot .

I believe him 99% sure to be a western fence lizard, or plateau lizard. Sceloporus Undulatus, or a variety of fence lizard, common to  Taos and santa fe, new mexico (the rio grande valley)... two patch Blue bellied; divided by white and borderd by black on his underside, and a full (NOT SPLIT as in the Eastern fence) Blue patch on throat. A greyish coloration.

Also do you know the specific range of these guys? I currently live in Golden, co (near DEnver) and have encountered a similar species occupying the  rocky, bushy mesa top near my house (an Anamoly ) because the rest of the area is prarie or foothills leading to the Deep rocky mtns).... I've seen the same variety (slightly different patterns then my guy) in Taos, but no where else in Northern Co....


Thanks!


Tom

Answer
Hello Tom,

Does he have retained shed that you can tell?  Do you have a picture?
Are you leaving crickets in his tank overnight?  If so, they can inflict bites such as that, & leave them with sores that get infected.

A vitamin deficiency is possible, such as calcium or some other type of vitamin.  Are you using a UVB light for him?  If so, what type & brand of light are you using, a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?
How often do you use calcium?
He sounds very pretty.  I am not sure how far the western fence lizard goes to, but it is a relatively wide range.  I can check on that for you though.  A picture would be helpful though.  Thanks.

Tracie