Black scales?

[emma_5774]

Hello! About 2 weeks ago I went on vacation and I paid someone to watch after my chameleon, he is over 2 years old and has never had any issues in the past. When we picked him back up I noticed some black scales around his butt, I tried to rub it off with water but it didnt budge. I noticed he also has it underneath his back legs and some on his tail. I am going to attach a picture of it. He seems okay but I am concerned about this. Also I promise I am not squeezing him he was just wiggling around! He didn't wanna be held like this lol.

 

[SteveH]

Looks like he possibly had diarrhea, did the sitter give him a few hornworms ?

 

[emma_5774]

I dont know what they fed him while I was away. I tried to rub it off with some water and my finger but it wont come off

 

[Ghostbirb]

What kind of cage does he have? Is it a screen one? If so can he possibly climb the top?

 

[MissSkittles]

I also think it looks like poo residue.

 

[emma_5774]

What kind of cage does he have? Is it a screen one? If so can he possibly climb the top?

It is a screen one but he is missing some nails (I got him like that) and he cant grab onto the screen to climb it

 

[emma_5774]

I also think it looks like poo residue.

Okay! Thank you guys so much!!!

 

[Beman]

You say you picked him back up from the sitter.... Was he in his cage set up or something they had? If something they had what was it and how was it set up?

 

[emma_5774]

You say you picked him back up from the sitter.... Was he in his cage set up or something they had? If something they had what was it and how was it set up?

He was in one of their cages! When we went to pick him up he was in a glass cage with dirt on the bottom and vines and sticks. No live plants. He had dirt on his face when I picked him up which means he was in the dirt eating it (which he used to do for me until I covered all my pots with big rocks). Could he just be covered in dirt and Im overthinking this?

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

He was in one of their cages! When we went to pick him up he was in a glass cage with dirt on the bottom and vines and sticks. No live plants. He had dirt on his face when I picked him up which means he was in the dirt eating it (which he used to do for me until I covered all my pots with big rocks). Could he just be covered in dirt and Im overthinking this?

Was this like a pet boarding place? A store near me offers a service like this but I would be terrified of having contaminants from other reptiles with my Cham. I’m about to treat mine for parasites and it’s definitely something to try and avoid if at all possible.

 

[emma_5774]

Was this like a pet boarding place? A store near me offers a service like this but I would be terrified of having contaminants from other reptiles with my Cham. I’m about to treat mine for parasites and it’s definitely something to try and avoid if at all possible.

Its a family friend who owns a reptile store, its actually where I originally got him from.

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

Its a family friend who owns a reptile store, its actually where I originally got him from.

Yeah my local captive bred shop is the place I was referring to. I just imagine if other chams are in those cages how are they sanitized after between reptiles to address potential contamination issues

 

[emma_5774]

Yeah my local captive bred shop is the place I was referring to. I just imagine if other chams are in those cages how are they sanitized after between reptiles to address potential contamination issues

Ah I see. So should I take him to the vet to look at the scales?

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

I’d listen to other people regarding the scales - I was just saying it doesn’t hurt to get a fecal test ran if he was in a space shared with other reptiles

 

[Beman]

He was in one of their cages! When we went to pick him up he was in a glass cage with dirt on the bottom and vines and sticks. No live plants. He had dirt on his face when I picked him up which means he was in the dirt eating it (which he used to do for me until I covered all my pots with big rocks). Could he just be covered in dirt and Im overthinking this?

Uggg ok. So first off I would never do this again for the simple fact of you do not know what animal they had in that cage prior or their method of cleaning. OR if that animal prior had parasites that your boy could have picked up. I would get a fecal test run in 3-4 weeks to double check that he did not pick up a parasite.

Concern with him being in a set up that not only is not set up correctly for him is if there was any chance of bacteria/fungal on the branches he was sleeping and holding onto. Again with this is the concern of that transferring to him.

The fact that it does not wipe off and it is located on the bottom of his legs to me would indicate it is not fecal.

I would watch the area very closely for it spreading and in the mean time find a very good reptile vet near you to set an appointment up with.

Make sure he is passing fecal without issue. You do not know how much soil he may have ingested so impaction would be high risk here.

In the future when you go out of town hire a pet sitter that can come in and check on him in your home each day. Make sure your set up is as automated as possible. Then you just teach the pet sitter what to do and how to do it. Not only do you remove all risk of taking him somewhere else like you did but you remove risk of him becoming extremely stressed out. Stress and chams is a bad mix it can compromise their immune system and make them more susceptible to illness.

 

[Raymond1412]

Oh no!! Poor guy. He could've been too close to his heat lamp and maybe he got burned? I hope this issue gets resolved soon! Sending warm hugs and best wishes!!

 

[emma_5774]

Uggg ok. So first off I would never do this again for the simple fact of you do not know what animal they had in that cage prior or their method of cleaning. OR if that animal prior had parasites that your boy could have picked up. I would get a fecal test run in 3-4 weeks to double check that he did not pick up a parasite.

Concern with him being in a set up that not only is not set up correctly for him is if there was any chance of bacteria/fungal on the branches he was sleeping and holding onto. Again with this is the concern of that transferring to him.

The fact that it does not wipe off and it is located on the bottom of his legs to me would indicate it is not fecal.

I would watch the area very closely for it spreading and in the mean time find a very good reptile vet near you to set an appointment up with.

Make sure he is passing fecal without issue. You do not know how much soil he may have ingested so impaction would be high risk here.

In the future when you go out of town hire a pet sitter that can come in and check on him in your home each day. Make sure your set up is as automated as possible. Then you just teach the pet sitter what to do and how to do it. Not only do you remove all risk of taking him somewhere else like you did but you remove risk of him becoming extremely stressed out. Stress and chams is a bad mix it can compromise their immune system and make them more susceptible to illness.

Oh my I am definitely going to make an appointment with the vet and monitor the scales. I am still so confused as to what this could be. Are is scales like dead in those places? Also should I feed him some hornworms to loosen his poop and make sure hes not impacted? I also will definitely NEVER take him anywhere to be babysat and will have someone come to him in the future now that I am aware of all of the risks! I really really hope I didn't hurt my poor baby doing this.

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

Oh my I am definitely going to make an appointment with the vet and monitor the scales. I am still so confused as to what this could be. Are is scales like dead in those places? Also should I feed him some hornworms to loosen his poop and make sure hes not impacted? I also will definitely NEVER take him anywhere to be babysat and will have someone come to him in the future now that I am aware of all of the risks! I really really hope I didn't hurt my poor baby doing this.

I hope everything works out for you, I’m about to go out of town for the first time and had to find someone to look after Iroh, I’m only going to be gone for a day but he’s going to be in quarantine due to a parasite issue, it’s not always easy caring for these guys

 

[Beman]

Oh my I am definitely going to make an appointment with the vet and monitor the scales. I am still so confused as to what this could be. Are is scales like dead in those places? Also should I feed him some hornworms to loosen his poop and make sure hes not impacted? I also will definitely NEVER take him anywhere to be babysat and will have someone come to him in the future now that I am aware of all of the risks! I really really hope I didn't hurt my poor baby doing this.

Hornworms and silkworms are always a good option for an insect that will provide more moisture content. These can help produce a stool that is less firm as well which in his case after eating soil would be beneficial.

Honestly with the scales I am not sure. Could be multiple things even bruising can come up that dark black color on the surface. Then thermal burns can also come up a dark color. This is why a really good reptile vet would be a good option. Getting the appointment set up with one and in the mean time seeing if the color changes. If it spreads then that is more of a concern.

Also this could be his natural coloration in those areas... I mean how often do we look at those spots on our cham in all honesty I hardly ever except to make sure my boys vent is showing no sign of issues. Can't say that I pay attention to the exact coloration there though.

 

[emma_5774]

update on the scales! he is currently shedding and that discoloration came off with the shed and showed his normal colors!

regarding the shedding however, it has been a few days since he has taken food and yesterday he wouldnt drink water. today he has kept his eyes closed for the most part and isnt moving too much. unfortunately i just do not have the money to take him to the vet and all the vets around me will cost at least $100 just to get in the door. his colors are bright and hes not sleeping, he just wont open his eyes. they also look a little sunken in but again he wont drink. i know the first thing to do is take him to the vet but i cannot afford it right now. any other options? should i just watch him and hope hes ok?