Burns??? Help

[lizgentry]

Hi all!
Posted yesterday and some of you asked for bulb spec and more pics to help you advise if she is shedding or burnt.
BTW since yesterday a patch like this is now on the back of her eye - same side.

Bulb is - exo terra self ballasted lamp 26W 220 - 240V 56Hz

She is my first cham and hasnt shed (or been burnt ) with me before so i have no idea what im looking for!

Thanks

 

[panthercrazy]

That patch looks like the one my baby got when burnt with the UVB issue I had. Of course it was the wrong UVB to be using (Zillas). I posted a pic in another thread showing (https://www.chameleonforums.com/concern-21644/ )the baby but your cham doesn't look nearly as bad as mine did.

 

[lizgentry]

If it is a burn what can i do?

I have moved everything about in there so she cant get so close to the bulb but she just climbed up and hung underneath it off the mesh?

Thanks

 

[sandrachameleon]

If it is a burn what can i do?

Take her to a vet and get topical medication.

Keep ambient temps in a range that doesnt require her to try to get too close to basking spot. Adjust basking bulb ( a lower watt household incandescent perhaps )

here's a site with info on burns
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-chapter-f-burn.html

 

[panthercrazy]

In my chams case, he was removed from the UVB light for a couple days, hydrated very well (had given him a couple baths as he was so tiny), extra hand misting every day. It has been a long process for him to come back because of his size it was almost overnight that he appeared to look as he did. I've had to keep him very clean (which all the misting helps with) and continue to monitor him every day. He eats about 3 small crickets each feeding - 3-4 times a day & drinks lots. With each shed it gets better for my guy.

Your cham doesn't appear to be in as bad of shape as mine was for sure, so it may not take near the healing time.

I'd ensure lights are not in a position for your cham to receive burn from (some mesh gets very hot from the lamp just sitting on it), check your temps and if you can make adjustments to raise lights off your screen (if infact it does make the screen hot enough to cause burn) and with your IVB is it a linear tube? You want to make sure you have the correct output of UVB and not excessive as was the case with the zilla I was using. And keep in mind that UVB bulbs do not produce tons of heat however, I know the ones I had sure got warm for what they were added with way too much output and my guy suffered for it. My ZooMed ReptiSun UVB bulbs now are not hot for me to touch.

You mentioned your cham is hanging under the light on the screen? Is he doing this because there isn't enough heat? That would depend on how long he is doing this for as it could be a sign there isn't enough heat. Again check temps to be certain. A couple of mine will crawl across the top of the cages but don't sit in one spot for long periods of time.

There are many threads in regards to burns if you want to read up but I'm sure you will receive others comments as well.

Whenever in doubt a vet trip is always best, even if he turns out to be a checkup. These guys can go down so fast so always better safe then sorry.

 

[lizgentry]

Does these mean its defo a burn and not a shed?

The bulb feels warm but not too hot for me to touch it.

Have moved everything around so she is now about 5 inches away from bulb.

overall temp is reading about 75 sih with spot where she normally sits at about 80 - 85 but it is the analog therms not digital and with my snakes they always read cooler than it acctually is.

 

[panthercrazy]

A vet can confirm that for you definately. I am not qualified to state 100% that it is or isn't but from the picture it appears the same as my guy.

 

[alhickabee]

So you only have a UVB bulb? no heat lamp? This could be why she possibly burnt herself. She is getting too close to the bulb to warm up but not realizing she is being burnt by the UVB. Like I said in my post in your other thread, this is why you need two different light, a UVB florescent tube and an incandescent bulb for heat. (More experienced member correct me if I'm wrong) The UVB light you describe sounds like it is not a UVB florescent tube and more likely a mercury vapor or some other HID type light (again correct me if I'm wrong). This also could be why she is being burnt as these types of bulbs are meant to be place pretty far away and are usually not recommended. If you could get a picture of your light/s that would be very helpful to us all.

 

[lizgentry]

Hi again!

I have just checked on her and the patch looks white/grey now!
I had a 15W lamp too but she was gaping alot so took it out!

The bulb is a spiral shape if this help - it was recommended to me by the shop - im sure they said full spectrum or uvA uvB?

The bulb feels warm but not hot to the touch.

Here are all the photos i have.
FYI bulb at front and waterfall have been removed.

 

[BocaJan]

Does your bulb look like this?

 

[lizgentry]

No it is a spiral shape and came already attached to the box at the top.

The position she is in in the 5th photo down is her normal spot where she spends most of the day.

I have just checked her and the patch looks white/grey in colour now but not blistered.

 

[BocaJan]

That bulb is very harmful to chameleon's eyes. My male has very poor eyesight and can't free range his crickets because he can't see them well enough to shoot. You need to use a linear bulb. I will get you the article on those bulbs.

Here is the link:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm

 

[Miss Lily]

I can't offer any help for your burn problem, but would like to make a couple of observations. Your cham would benefit from a couple of live plants in there to climb in and drink droplets from. Try B&Q for Umbrella (Schefflera) and Ficus (Weeping Fig) plants. It looks like you've got a waterfall in her cage. You don't need that - she won't drink from it and it will just harbour bacteria and be a pain to keep clean. Chams don't recognise standing water as a water source. They like to drink droplets from the plants when you mist them.

With regard to the bulb housing - Exo Terra make two different 'tops' - a 'Compact Top' which houses the spiral shaped bulb and a 'Dual Top' which houses the tube UV lights and heat lamp. I didn't realise that there were two different types - I learnt that from another forum member. If you were 'mis-sold' the compact one, maybe you could exchange it for a dual top.

 

[skeeta]

Hi Lizgentry.
Besides the compact florescent problem which has been addressed, that 15 watt really shouldn't be IN the cage (1. danger of burns even with low wattage and 2. confuses the chameleon. light should mimic the sun and come from ABOVE.)

Also you may consider getting a screen cage in the near future as your little one will outgrow the Exo Terra tank you have her in now. (Then you can use it for some lovable pygmy chameleons)

The substrate on the bottom may cause future problems as well.

 

[Zeke20]

I did't read through all the posts so if it's been said, my bad. I had the same issue with my female getting to close to the bulb when she was in an enclsure almost (if not) identical to the one you have. Solution that I came up with, upgrade. Get a nice screen cage, linear uvb bulb with a basking lamp. My female now likes to sit on the vine under the heat lamp, but she doesnt climb the wall to get up to it like she used to. Hope this helps.

 

[lizgentry]

Hi all

Thanks for your help!

The bulb is not in the tank, the waterfall was removed and i will be upgrading to a larger cage at the end of the month.

Thought i had put that in a previous post - sorry if i didnt! Got booted off the net 5 times whilst trying to post!

Does she need to go to the vet and if so how soon?

Thanks

 

[alhickabee]

Not trying to be rude but did you read any of my posts? I addressed the proper lighting in your last thread and in this one but you still seem to not understand what proper lighting entails. She needs to go to the vet asap.

READ READ READ
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

 

[lizgentry]

Hi - yes i did read the last posts and i really appreciate your help!

It is just all very confusing as some people said it looks like a shed, some said a burn.

When i tried too other lighting fixtures she was gaping so i was advised to take them away because she was too hot. They were the weakest i could get - or so i was told.

Also im a bit puzzled as this is the set up she was in at the sellers and the one they had advised. They had been great with my boas so i assumed they would be great with this?

I will be going to a different seller tomorrow to sort it all out and will get her to the vets tomorrow if poss but if they are closed it will be monday.

Thanks again!
Any further advise would be much appreciated!

 

[panthercrazy]

Hi - yes i did read the last posts and i really appreciate your help!

It is just all very confusing as some people said it looks like a shed, some said a burn.

When i tried too other lighting fixtures she was gaping so i was advised to take them away because she was too hot. They were the weakest i could get - or so i was told.

Also im a bit puzzled as this is the set up she was in at the sellers and the one they had advised. They had been great with my boas so i assumed they would be great with this?

I will be going to a different seller tomorrow to sort it all out and will get her to the vets tomorrow if poss but if they are closed it will be monday.

Thanks again!
Any further advise would be much appreciated!

It is very understandable as to how quick 'too much info' can get or sometimes it's a simple as misreading how someone 'types' a response. We can only offer suggestions/advice/personal experiences on a post we read (and very well could misread that just as easily). Everyone wants to help and I understand you want to do the best for your chameleon.

There is tons of info on this site for specific issues/situations (I amazed at how much reading I do on a daily basis on this site). We need to review responses and take the suggestions/advice that pertains to the situation we are experiencing at that moment.

This is a great source of information http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

If your chameleon is experiencing a burn (from either bulb) your vet will be able to help medically treat this. The next step is to ensure the enclosure is set up to avoid future burns. Sometimes it may take a few 'methods' to get the temp correct for example (smaller wattage, raising/lowering bulb). I wish when I had started with these guys I had known about this site, I could have avoided using the lights I did which caused harm to my baby. The great thing about those that share these issues is we all can learn from them.

I understand where you live, glass enclosures are more common (thus the reason you were probably sold that set up), where I am it doesn't work. If we set up the chameleon to achieve his/her needs based on the environment we live in then we should be providing what the chameleon needs. It's not fair or right or wrong to say one set up is 'better' than another. The most important aspect is MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS & NEEDS OF THE CHAMELEON.

Try not to get frustrated with the replies and know that there is tons of people here wanting to help to ensure success for your chameleon and you.

Boas? Chameleons? I have both and believe me my boas are much easier to maintain

 

[lizgentry]

Im really sorry if i sounded frustrated - i totally didnt mean to (although i am arguing with my brother at the mo so maybe it filtered through! )

I had no idea about this site until a couple of days after i bought her home and no i think i am suffering from information overload - but im sure its best to know too much than not enough!

I had a nightmare with the first boa and i remember being like this with him too!

I just really want everything to be right for the cham (kermy).

I have a snow corn too btw who is a dream compared to everything else! lol

Thanks again for all the help!