Black Fungus is now a lump??

[emily3941]

Hello all you chameleon people,
I'm new to this site, so i'll introduce myself by saying hello, and by asking for some help from you chameleon gurus!!!!

I'd like to start off by saying that whenever you're buying a chameleon, make sure that it's from a trusted source. This is my first cham, and i bought it from a reputable company, and my poor Ziggy almost died 3 weeks after getting him due to the company not taking care of him very well.

Ziggy is a 1 year old male veiled. About 2 weeks after we obtained him, we were still rearranging his cage to his liking, taking things out and moving them around, as well as taking ziggy out of the cage. We noticed that he was wheezing and twitching which was very odd, and that he had a black spot on his veil.

We immediately took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with advanced pneumonia, and a fungal infection. The poor baby! They must've been misting him too much, and not keeping the cage hot enough, because I'm almost 100% positive that he was sick when we bought him, and i didn't notice.

After some antibiotics his pneumonia quickly went away and we were grateful. he started eating TONS of crickets every day, and we no longer had to force feed the little guy. He was also drinking on his own which was a major relief because that was hard for us to monitor. His personality seems like he's back to normal, and his behavior has been nothing out of the usual since the pneumonia went away.

As for the fungus growing on his veil, we were prescribed a blue liquid to rub on him with qtips. Surprisingly, it started getting larger before it got smaller which was strange, but now the area has turned into a lumpy looking spot right on his shoulder next to the veil. It is a dark black color, and the edges look like dead skin (as if he was shedding)

We took him back to the vet for a followup and the vet said it was nothing to worry about, but it's been almost 1.5 months now, and we've been applying the medication as directed, and it just isn't changing. it's not getting smaller, bigger, different colors, nothing.

Additionally, Ziggy's been shedding a lot and when i say a lot it's like, a continuous shed. Since he was diagnosed it's very rare for me to ever go up to him and not see some skin falling off. We try to keep the humidity up to help with his sheds, but i'm afraid to put it up too high, cuz of his recent pneumonia!!!!!!!

I'm sorry i wrote a big long story but idk if he is resilient to this medication because of the oral antibiotics we were giving him? Do i have a crappy vet? Anyone else experience this before?

 

[emily3941]

I'm thinking that the black spot might be looking raised and 'bump like' because there is dead skin underneath from all of his shedding, but i honestly don't even know if this is a possibility.

I'm a little discouraged because this is my first cham. I tried so hard to be perfectly prepared to bring the little guy home and introduce him to all of the family members. I'm trying so hard to be a good mommy but it's breaking my heart to see him like this. I just want him to get better.

I was totally not expecting him to be this sick when i got him and i'm trying to trust the vet, but i think there is something that the vet missed.

 

[kinyonga]

Please post a picture of it.

 

[sapphira80]

Sorry to hear you're having so many problems with your new cham. A picture would help immensely so we can see what you are talking about with his skin problem.

Also, as long as your cham is in a ventilated enclosure (like a screened Viv), humidity shouldn't cause an RI if you're keeping your humidity range in 40-70%. When they are shedding you can mist more than usual to help loosen the old skin, as long as you let the cage dry between mistings. RIs are more frequently caused by low temps or being in a glass tank where the humidity never dissipates (like most pet stores keep them x(...

Post a pic of the black thing if you can and I'm sure someone here will be able to help.

Is your vet experienced with reptiles/chameleons? If not, I'd look for one that specializes in reptiles, or at least cares for reptiles frequently.

Good luck and I hope your cham gets better.

 

[JoeVet]

A picture of the black area and a name of the blue liquid your vet gave you would help.

 

[emily3941]

We have him in a screen enclosure and have two live plants (pothos and hibiscus) in the enclosure. The humidity does fluctuate a lot specifically because of the screened cage but we like to keep it between 50-80%. The floor of his cage reads 80 degrees. We keep it a little hotter than usual because the vet said to keep it hot while he's battling infection. The medication is named Cephalexin 4% fluid and we apply it once daily as directed. I have two REALLY good pictures of it on my phone where you can see the edges with dried skin around the lump and also one where you can see the depth of actually how large the lump has gotten. I will post them as soon as my WiFi will allow me to.

The vet was actually recommended to me from my boyfriend's coworker. He works in an exotic fish store and kind of has connections in that department. although, i haven't met her yet, as i work a lot of hours. My boyfriend, Bryan, said she was very knowledgeable though.

Also, when we initially went to the vet he weighed 4oz's. When we took him back for the followup he had already gained almost a half ounce. That might be the attribute to the continuous shedding if he is actually growing, but it seems to me that it's more due to irritation.

It also makes me think that they were not feeding him enough before we bought him

 

[Carlton]

We have him in a screen enclosure and have two live plants (pothos and hibiscus) in the enclosure. The humidity does fluctuate a lot specifically because of the screened cage but we like to keep it between 50-80%. The floor of his cage reads 80 degrees. We keep it a little hotter than usual because the vet said to keep it hot while he's battling infection. The medication is named Cephalexin 4% fluid and we apply it once daily as directed. I have two REALLY good pictures of it on my phone where you can see the edges with dried skin around the lump and also one where you can see the depth of actually how large the lump has gotten. I will post them as soon as my WiFi will allow me to.

The vet was actually recommended to me from my boyfriend's coworker. He works in an exotic fish store and kind of has connections in that department. although, i haven't met her yet, as i work a lot of hours. My boyfriend, Bryan, said she was very knowledgeable though.

Also, when we initially went to the vet he weighed 4oz's. When we took him back for the followup he had already gained almost a half ounce. That might be the attribute to the continuous shedding if he is actually growing, but it seems to me that it's more due to irritation.

It also makes me think that they were not feeding him enough before we bought him

I don't think any topical med is going to get rid of this thing. If its still growing the med isn't having any effect. It its an abscess it will need to be opened up and cleaned out. Herp abscesses don't drain or reabsorb like those in mammals. I think I'd get a second opinion on this.

 

[emily3941]

I don't think any topical med is going to get rid of this thing. If its still growing the med isn't having any effect. It its an abscess it will need to be opened up and cleaned out. Herp abscesses don't drain or reabsorb like those in mammals.

in addition, he had a tiny little black spot on his elbow on the same side of his body as the larger black spot, and the smaller one went away with the medication. I think you're right though, the medication is not working. I was thinking that it might just take a long time to clear up but this is taking a little bit long for my liking.

In addition, are there any types of vitamin supplements that anyone knows of that are specifically good for the skin? I don't want to do any additional topical treatments because of the way that this is turning out. I think i might try to go from the "inside-out" if you know what i mean hahaha. I don't want to self medicate and he definitely needs another trip to the vet but i figured another supplement might at least help with the rough sheds.

 

[Carlton]

in addition, he had a tiny little black spot on his elbow on the same side of his body as the larger black spot, and the smaller one went away with the medication. I think you're right though, the medication is not working. I was thinking that it might just take a long time to clear up but this is taking a little bit long for my liking.

In addition, are there any types of vitamin supplements that anyone knows of that are specifically good for the skin? I don't want to do any additional topical treatments because of the way that this is turning out. I think i might try to go from the "inside-out" if you know what i mean hahaha. I don't want to self medicate and he definitely needs another trip to the vet but i figured another supplement might at least help with the rough sheds.

This might not be a fungal infection at all. It could have been a thermal burn (the casque is a common place for one) that is now infected. Burned tissue eventually turns dark grey or black, and once they get infected the area around the burned tissue can swell and look inflamed. Without pictures its very hard to say. What was the blue medication you were told to put on it? Without the correct med to treat the skin issue there may not be any supplement that will help much. If his diet is correct you wouldn't need that anyway.

 

[emily3941]

I'm trying desperately to get my phone to cooperate with getting a picture uploaded but now that you say that i'm gonna look into it. I never once even imagined that it would be a burn of any sort. It definitely is swollen though.

I will start researching into burns. At the current point in time the only picture that i can add to this is a picture that i found from a previous forum. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT MY CHAMELEON. but the black spot on the chameleons shoulder is almost identical to the one that Ziggy has. even in the same spot as Ziggy.

 

[emily3941]

ziggy's lump in comparison to the picture above is also larger more like the size of my pinky finger nail. Obviously it is raised, and the center of the mark on him is a black/gray color.

 

[Carlton]

I'm trying desperately to get my phone to cooperate with getting a picture uploaded but now that you say that i'm gonna look into it. I never once even imagined that it would be a burn of any sort. It definitely is swollen though.

I will start researching into burns. At the current point in time the only picture that i can add to this is a picture that i found from a previous forum. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT MY CHAMELEON. but the black spot on the chameleons shoulder is almost identical to the one that Ziggy has. even in the same spot as Ziggy.

When I look at that cham without its health history my first impression is that it has been burned in the past. Notice that many of its dorsal spines are missing and its casque looks as if it has been damaged and healed. Both of these problems could be the result of burns. Either way, your cham does have some sort of problem that the current treatment is not resolving. Again, what was the blue med the vet gave you to use? Was it an anti-fungal treatment? If so, its not working. That's why I suggested you need another opinion to check for an ongoing bacterial infection. Totally different treatment needed.