Black marks

[Masahiro]

Just picked up a nosy be panther and he seems to have black marks on him looks kinda like scratches but i'm not sure. He's eating and drinking fine and is very active. Any ideas? How worried should i be? Sorry if i didn't post this right just joined the forum! Let me know what you think, thanks.

 

[windex]

without pictures it's impossible to tell..

 

[Masahiro]

Sorry, My computer was spazzing out and i forgot to add the picture.

 

[Masahiro]

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[BECHARD4]

I have the same thing with my male Ambilobe. I have posted a couple of pictures. Suggestions?

 

[NHenn]

I don't believe those are the same thing. The Nosy Be looks to have scratches, was he housed with other chameleons? Most of the times females will get marks like that after breeding so I assume he might have been with other chameleons and their nails left marks.

As for the Ambilobe, those almost look like burn marks. Is your heat lamp too close to the cage? Can you put your hand inside the cage as close to the light as your chameleons can get and see if it burns you.

 

[rionjames]

That ambilobe looks badly burned. He will most likely need a vet to combat infection. As for the nosy be, maybe bruising, but if its a burn, doesnt look too bad.

 

[Masahiro]

I don't think he was ever kept with another chameleon.. There are zip tie ends in the cage that seem to be sharp should i try to sand them down?

 

[BECHARD4]

Thank you for your replies... I will take him to the vet this week.

 

[NHenn]

Nosy Be, he is beautiful by the way! I would sand them down, anything that is sharp could end up hurting him. The look minor for now and should go away fairly quickly.

Ambilobe, glad to hear you can take him to the vet. Most likely he should be fine and will just take some sheds to heal up. Keep an eye on any possible infections. I think the biggest item now however is what caused the burns and how to prevent them from happening again?

 

[BECHARD4]

We have already moved his sticks lower from the light. Hopefully I will get something from the vet to clear him up.

 

[carol5208]

We have already moved his sticks lower from the light. Hopefully I will get something from the vet to clear him up.

He is definitely burned. What are you using for a basking light and what is the basking temp? If the wattage is too high, it could cause a burn also if your chameleon basks for too long. I am glad you moved the sticks down if they were too close. Silvadene works for burns and also Neosporin.

 

[BECHARD4]

All of my enclosures all have reptile domes using 60 watt bulbs. All the enclosures were the same until today. No one is showing black marks except my ambilobe. But I have moved everyone's sticks down. When I stuck my hand under the light his did seem the hottest for some reason. I feel horrible for him.

 

[carol5208]

How close were your branches? 60 watts is not that much to cause a severe burn, but if he got too close then that is what most likely caused it I would think.

 

[BECHARD4]

The branches were 6. 5 inches from the light, but I have moved it down to 10 inches. Ozzie also does like to walk the walls near the top and hangs upside from the top.

 

[carol5208]

The branches were 6. 5 inches from the light, but I have moved it down to 10 inches. Ozzie also does like to walk the walls near the top and hangs upside from the top.

That is kinda close and factor in the heighth of your chameleon also and it is even closer. I would put some Neosporin on it until you can get to the vet.

 

[Masahiro]

The previous owner of the nosy be only fed him superworms, is that bad?

 

[nick barta]

The branches were 6. 5 inches from the light, but I have moved it down to 10 inches. Ozzie also does like to walk the walls near the top and hangs upside from the top.

Buy a infrared heat gun ($15.00), and temp the top of the cham when he is at your new basking height. It is the only way to ensure you are not cooking him, or chilling him to the point of digestion problems.

Nick

 

[NHenn]

Superworms can be gutloaded so they are not horrible but I don't know if I would recommend them as a staple feeder. I would change up his diet as provide him more of a variety. Crickets, Roaches, Superworms, Silworms, Hornworms, etc.

 

[BECHARD4]

I have an appointment with the vet on Wednesday. Is the neosporin an ointment that I rub on him?