Frilled Dragon w/ yellow bump

Question
QUESTION: I just recently bought a baby frilled dragon and I noticed he has a yellow scab-like bump on the tip of his chin. It doesn't seem to be bothering him but I'm curious to know what it may be.

This spot on him the day I got him. So the specs of the tank shouldn't matter for this question.

ANSWER: Hi Colin,

Your description and the location suggest that it is likely a bit of a nose/snout rub injury. Young agamids can be somewhat nervous and a bit flighty which can result in small abrasions to the snout area. Some agamid species, like Chinese water dragons are particularly prone to this.

If he came through a retail store rather then a private breeder then he may have endured a few shipments (supplier to wholesaler to store) before you acquired him. Being handled, shipped and placed in a new environment provides ample opportunity for that kind of stress related injury to occur.

Keep an eye on the area to make sure no redness, swelling or fluid leakage develops. In more severe cases nose rubs can develop into mouth rot but your situation sounds quite minor. I doubt you have anything to worry about.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks! It seems to be going away.

Also these past two days, ants seemed to have found their way into my tank with him and started swarming his food.

Should I be worried about carpenter ants eating my dragon while he sleeps?

This is the second time I cleaned out his tank to rid the ants.

Answer
Hi Colin,

Yes, dealing with ants can be frustrating. They are very adept at finding food and getting into things.

Frilleds are primarily insectivores although some greens/veg can be offered it is often ignored. Are you using canned insects or is it salad the ants are attracted to? Either way, removing the food at night is your first line of defence. I don't anticipate a problem with the carpenter ants going for your dragon. Fire ants are another story and have been known to kill captive tortoises and box turtles.

The other main thing is to block the ants' access to the vivarium. There are a few tricks like using double sided tape (used for laying carpet) around the outside of the enclosure. A layer of Vaseline can also work but can be messy. Some ants hate cinnamon and won't cross it so a layer dusted around the base of the cage can help . If the cage sits on a table with legs then setting each leg into a container of water can prevent them climbing up. You will need to make any electrical cords leading to the tank inaccessible or unattractive to the ants as well.
Good luck.