I've had my veiled chameleon for 3 days now. She is about 7 months old. Eats about 8-10 crickets a day and drinks her drips of water. The heat is about 85 degrees with humidity at about 65%. She seems to move around and act completely normal. Well last night I noticed one tiny black spot or her leg and then today I've noticed a lot more that seem to appearing. They are not any on her head or face but they are on her tail, feet, legs, one on belly and side. Some of them stick out like bumps. What is this? I attached some pictures where you can see the spots they are very small, there are 3 right in one spot in the pocket area by her leg. Now I read some things that said they may be bites from the crickets but I know thats not what it is because I've watched her eat every cricket so far. But please help, thank you
Black Spots/bumps please help
- Thread starter Ktm47
- Start date
Swayne8998
Established Member
I'm not quite sure, but to me it kind of looks like parasites. Take her to the vet to get her checked up on.
As for feeding, that's too much for a female. She should be getting only 3-4 crickets a day at the most.
As for feeding, that's too much for a female. She should be getting only 3-4 crickets a day at the most.
ataraxia
Avid Member
I agree it does appear to be possible parasites.
I love this stuff it has so many uses..Provodone iodine.
Get something that can hold water and is big enough to put the chameleon in. With water and the Pi. Mix it till it looks like a mild tea solution. i can tell you now your chameleon will more than likely not accept you submerging its body in water but you will need to. Dont get any of this in the eyes. basically submerge to the neck and do this for atleast 15 minutes. The longer the better but this is fine. Next, You will now need to completely clean the cage And i mean EVERYTHING. Best way to do this is. Go buy some nix. The stuff we use for hair lice. Use one nix container to 1 gallon of water. Put in a spray bottle and Spray this on everything. Let it sit for atleast 1 hour. You will then need to thoroughly rinse everything. Once this is done for the time being only put in vines for him. NO plants or anything with soil. The less in the cage is the less that these little things can hide and reproduce. Nix treatment should only need to be done once every 5 days and a total of 3 times if needed.
I dont envy you one bit. i have received many animals infested. Never a chameleon but this is not fun with any animal, Good luck.
I love this stuff it has so many uses..Provodone iodine.
Get something that can hold water and is big enough to put the chameleon in. With water and the Pi. Mix it till it looks like a mild tea solution. i can tell you now your chameleon will more than likely not accept you submerging its body in water but you will need to. Dont get any of this in the eyes. basically submerge to the neck and do this for atleast 15 minutes. The longer the better but this is fine. Next, You will now need to completely clean the cage And i mean EVERYTHING. Best way to do this is. Go buy some nix. The stuff we use for hair lice. Use one nix container to 1 gallon of water. Put in a spray bottle and Spray this on everything. Let it sit for atleast 1 hour. You will then need to thoroughly rinse everything. Once this is done for the time being only put in vines for him. NO plants or anything with soil. The less in the cage is the less that these little things can hide and reproduce. Nix treatment should only need to be done once every 5 days and a total of 3 times if needed.
I dont envy you one bit. i have received many animals infested. Never a chameleon but this is not fun with any animal, Good luck.
Dr O
Veterinarian
To the OP:
if these are indeed parasites, they would be ticks or mites. on either one if you look closely enough you will see their tiny legs. use a magnifying lens if you need to. and mites tend to move around a bit.
I mention this because from the photos I don't think they are parasites themselves. however they do look like dried blood from either a blood-sucking parasite which is not currently on her, or from some other trauma. can you verify any limbs, or do they fall off like a loose scab if you tease one loose with your finger?
if these are indeed parasites, they would be ticks or mites. on either one if you look closely enough you will see their tiny legs. use a magnifying lens if you need to. and mites tend to move around a bit.
I mention this because from the photos I don't think they are parasites themselves. however they do look like dried blood from either a blood-sucking parasite which is not currently on her, or from some other trauma. can you verify any limbs, or do they fall off like a loose scab if you tease one loose with your finger?
Swayne8998
Established Member
That's what I was thinking, ticks or mites. What state/location do you live in? This could help us determine what they are.
I live in Georgia, but the spots all went away yesterday on their own, i dont think they were bugs of any sort i brushed a couple off the ones that wouldnt brush off are gone, havent seen anything else all day yesterday or today so idk, guess shes ok, thank you all though, now i know what to do if she does get any
froggielog
Established Member
Oh those fuzzy vines are so annoying! They shed and they stick to everything!
On another note, do you have a laying bin for her? IMO she looks gravid
HolyToledo
New Member
I hope it is just dirty bits!
Hopefully, it is just bits off her vines or the backing or something. Try to find some that you brushed off of her and check them out with the magnifying glass. If it is parasites of any kind, you really do want to be ahead of the game. And the P-I rinse that was suggested won't hurt anything if she is fine and will only help if it is creepies especially if they bit her.
She is pretty and plump! Do you have a laying bin for her yet? She is at the right age to be carrying eggs. It may be that she is searching and scratching around looking for someplace to lay eggs and is getting bits of dirt on her that way?
Hopefully, it is just bits off her vines or the backing or something. Try to find some that you brushed off of her and check them out with the magnifying glass. If it is parasites of any kind, you really do want to be ahead of the game. And the P-I rinse that was suggested won't hurt anything if she is fine and will only help if it is creepies especially if they bit her.
She is pretty and plump! Do you have a laying bin for her yet? She is at the right age to be carrying eggs. It may be that she is searching and scratching around looking for someplace to lay eggs and is getting bits of dirt on her that way?
Swayne8998
Established Member
Get one of those Home Depot buckets (forget gallon #) and fill it a foot high with organic, moist dirt with no fertilizer or chemical of any kind. If you can put it in her cage that will be great.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
egg laying bin blog entry by Jannb you may find helpful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
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