Bitten Tails

[dedhed151]

I've had veiled chameleons for three years now and they keep biting each others tails. I had a female die from this because it became necrotic and rotten off to the point that she couldn't eat or move from her perch. I just noticed that both of my boys that I have left are developing similar irritations on the tips of their tails and my larger male definitly has a bite mark on his tail.

Can anyone recommend a solution to this I'd like to stop it before it gets too bad and neosporin while it has helped other reptiles I've had doesn't seem to work too well for this problem.

Thanks Dave

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Separate them NOW!

 

[kinyonga]

I would suggest taking them to a vet. It could be a fungal infection, bacterial infection or even a vitamin A issue that is occurring.

Have you actually seen them bite each others tails?

 

[sandrachameleon]

This would be one of the many good reasons not to house (most types of) chameleons communally - each one needs it own home.

A vet can help with an appropriate ointment or treatment.

 

[laurie]

Where are they that they bite each other? They should each one be in a cage alone. Veiled chameleons are not social. Vey few chameleons are. Sorry but keeping them together is asking for trouble. Give us more information like set up, food supplements, lighting ect. And we will be able to offer more help. We do have a how to ask for help form at the top of the health forum. That is a really good place to start.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

I've had veiled chameleons for three years now and they keep biting each others tails. I had a female die from this because it became necrotic and rotten off to the point that she couldn't eat or move from her perch. I just noticed that both of my boys that I have left are developing similar irritations on the tips of their tails and my larger male definitly has a bite mark on his tail.

Can anyone recommend a solution to this I'd like to stop it before it gets too bad and neosporin while it has helped other reptiles I've had doesn't seem to work too well for this problem.

Thanks Dave

WOAH! YOU ARE HOUSING HOW MANY TOGETHER?!?!?! that is a big no no! never put any chameleons together unless they are 2 girls and thats is even not recommended! separate all of them into different cages!

 

[chams1]

Can anyone recommend a solution to this I'd like to stop it before it gets too bad and neosporin while it has helped other reptiles I've had doesn't seem to work too well for this problem.

Aside from the fact that they should be separated (but why beat a dead horse...) -

Silver Sulfadiazine (1%) cream works wonders. You should be able to get it from your vet or you can get a perscription from any Dr. It helps burns, gashes and is an anti-fungal. Works on serious shedding problems (resulting in necrosis and snippits of tails coming off) of tails and gashes from run-ins with other chams (as well as many other uses).

 

[merumontanus]

Maybe I missed it but I don't think he mentioned whether the animals were being kept together or not. As Lynda already mentioned, this could be due to a metabolic imbalance or even illness.

Julie also mentioned shedding issues. I had this happen with my most recent clutch of deremensis, where a number of animals began to show darkening of the tip of their tails and eventual necrosis. Upon very, very close inspection, it was found that they had thin rings of skin on their tails that were inconspicuous from even a short distance, which eventually led to their losing a small part of their tails. Not all of them experienced this, and all 19 of them survived and are now thriving (a few minus a portion of their tails). A veterinarian determined the cause was not bacterial nor viral, but the shedding problem could have been caused by hypovitaminosis A (though no other symptoms were encountered), or as another deremensis keeper mentioned to me privately, a not-so-uncommon occurrence with this species.

Either way, a hydrating cream was applied to the affected animals, supplementation was temporarily increased, and the animals recovered nicely.

Do you have any photos to show Dave?

Fabián

 

[chams1]

Fabian:

That's exactly what happened to one of my female ambilobe's which lead me to discovering the silver sulfadiazine cream (via my vet). She ended up losing a snippet of her tail but the cream healed it in nothing flat. Since then, I have used it on cham gashes and another one of those little shed rings on another female (as well as my own daughter's gashes). Works like a charm.

 

[summoner12]

Fabian:

That's exactly what happened to one of my female ambilobe's which lead me to discovering the silver sulfadiazine cream (via my vet). She ended up losing a snippet of her tail but the cream healed it in nothing flat. Since then, I have used it on cham gashes and another one of those little shed rings on another female (as well as my own daughter's gashes). Works like a charm.

Yes, you can get silvedine from your human doctor as well as your vet. Its used on burns and cuts. Great stuff. I use it on all of my chams when they have a little boo boo.

And to the OP, it sounds like you are housing your chams together. They shouldn't be housed in the same cage. Seperate them and have one cage for one animal.

 

[dedhed151]

Thanks a lot

the chameleons typically get along pretty good... when I had 4 together that led to lots of disputes, but since I'm down to two they tend to interact well together.

The cage they're in is 6ft tall by 3ft wide by 2ft deep and they have plenty of room to avoid each other if they need alone time but often I've seen them hanging out on the same rope or branch without problems.

I have some of that sulfide cream from a burn that I got awhile ago so I will start putting that on tonight once he falls asleep, otherwise Calvin gets alittle pissy about my hand being anywhere near him

I use retamin suppliments and make sure that they have a lot of crickets, but I think the little one (even though they're the same age) gets trigger happy and thinks that Calvin's tail is food when he hangs it low.

I'll try this remedy for a week or so and see if it gets better... Again Thanks A Lot!!!

 

[chambabysitter1]

What happened to the other 2?

 

[Julirs]

If you have already lost 2 and the other are biting each others tails off I find it hard to see how they are getting along.

 

[summoner12]

If you have already lost 2 and the other are biting each others tails off I find it hard to see how they are getting along.

Yeah I fail to see this as getting along.

2x3' is NOWHERE near large enough for two males to live. Height doesn't even come into play here.

Get each one it's own cage or.... Or nothing. You are subjecting these Chams to some serious un-needed stress. I am shocked they made it this far.

You aren't being picked on either. These are just simple chameleon keeping basics. One that needs to be followed.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

the chameleons typically get along pretty good... when I had 4 together that led to lots of disputes, but since I'm down to two they tend to interact well together.

The cage they're in is 6ft tall by 3ft wide by 2ft deep and they have plenty of room to avoid each other if they need alone time but often I've seen them hanging out on the same rope or branch without problems.

I have some of that sulfide cream from a burn that I got awhile ago so I will start putting that on tonight once he falls asleep, otherwise Calvin gets alittle pissy about my hand being anywhere near him

I use retamin suppliments and make sure that they have a lot of crickets, but I think the little one (even though they're the same age) gets trigger happy and thinks that Calvin's tail is food when he hangs it low.

I'll try this remedy for a week or so and see if it gets better... Again Thanks A Lot!!!

Dont be hard headed please, no males can be housed together, THEY WILL DIE, either from fighting, infection, or stress, they ar eunder constant stress by seeing the other cham all the time, even if thye arent fighting. Do the right thing for the chams please and separate them, no excuse for nt separating them now because you know you shouldnt. So please please please! separate them i cant repeat myself enough. Very commendable for you to learn from your mistakes.

 

[kinyonga]

Its possible it could be dry gangrene too. Is it moving further and further up the tail? Since you lost one already, I would be taking them to the vets to be sure of what it is.

You said..."I think the little one (even though they're the same age)"...the little one might not be growing because of the stress of the other one being in the cage causing it not to eat enough.

 

[SoCaliSon]

From the title of the thread you understand that they are not getting along...

Can anyone recommend a solution to this ...

This is an easy one...

Keeping two male Veileds confined within the same walls=Bad idea. But can't you see that from your own experience now?

 

[merumontanus]

the chameleons typically get along pretty good... when I had 4 together that led to lots of disputes, but since I'm down to two they tend to interact well together.

The cage they're in is 6ft tall by 3ft wide by 2ft deep and they have plenty of room to avoid each other if they need alone time but often I've seen them hanging out on the same rope or branch without problems.

I have some of that sulfide cream from a burn that I got awhile ago so I will start putting that on tonight once he falls asleep, otherwise Calvin gets alittle pissy about my hand being anywhere near him

I use retamin suppliments and make sure that they have a lot of crickets, but I think the little one (even though they're the same age) gets trigger happy and thinks that Calvin's tail is food when he hangs it low.

I'll try this remedy for a week or so and see if it gets better... Again Thanks A Lot!!!

Yikes... two veileds in such a small cage, and to top it off, two males? I'm surprised they're still alive. You're breaking the most fundamental rule for keeping territorial species of chameleons. Leave cohabitation to experienced keepers (and large, walk-in enclosures!).

Fabián

*Chams1: Glad to hear the topical cream worked for ya.