i just whitnessed my 1 1/2 year old cham budweiser fall from nearly the top of his 4 foot cage as he was climbing on the cage and tree. he did not seem hurt because he started to climb right back up. i took a good look at his claws and noticed his back feet the inside of his toes did not have nails. im not sure if they fell off from all the climbing or w.e. any thoughts ?
claws
- Thread starter tino442
- Start date
ThatDigitalChameleon
New Member
Here's a link to a form if you could fill it out... just for more information for us to go off of.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
This isnt a "normal" thing for chams but it does happen in screen enclosures, if that's what you use. A lot of times they get snagged and the cham can injure itself in doing so.
There are some things you can do to help prevent them from climbing up screen enclosures... but no way to actually stop them. (well... a plastic screen on the inside can... but i've never dealt with that so i don't know how to explain it in detail.)
It can also be from falling ill. So go ahead and check for redness or any lameness in the back feet and let us know how it all checks out.
Pics can also be helpful.
Personally i have to go get my sons dinner ready but i'm sure someone else will chime in to help as well. If no one does by the time i'm done we'll go through this together
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
This isnt a "normal" thing for chams but it does happen in screen enclosures, if that's what you use. A lot of times they get snagged and the cham can injure itself in doing so.
There are some things you can do to help prevent them from climbing up screen enclosures... but no way to actually stop them. (well... a plastic screen on the inside can... but i've never dealt with that so i don't know how to explain it in detail.)
It can also be from falling ill. So go ahead and check for redness or any lameness in the back feet and let us know how it all checks out.
Pics can also be helpful.
Personally i have to go get my sons dinner ready but i'm sure someone else will chime in to help as well. If no one does by the time i'm done we'll go through this together
TerryLund
Member
Claws Gone
It is said to see that your chameleon has lost some of its claws. Have you had this chameleon since it was a baby? I was just curious to know if you bought him this way and did not know or it this truly happened in his current environment. Is this chameleon the only one in his cage? What I have read is that these claws will not grow back if they have been ripped out because of the screen. If they are just a broken nail then they can grow back. Maybe some close of pictures would help.
Terry
It is said to see that your chameleon has lost some of its claws. Have you had this chameleon since it was a baby? I was just curious to know if you bought him this way and did not know or it this truly happened in his current environment. Is this chameleon the only one in his cage? What I have read is that these claws will not grow back if they have been ripped out because of the screen. If they are just a broken nail then they can grow back. Maybe some close of pictures would help.
Terry
ThatDigitalChameleon
New Member
okay back
the falling aspect is just going to have to be monitored as chams fall all the time in the wild... as a defense mechanism so they can fall out of a tree and scurry away while the predator is left dumbfounded as to what happened. (i know they do it... i don't know what the predator does after witnessing it) So this could mean the cham was spooked and maybe his nails were gone beforehand.
Perhaps they got stuck in the cage mesh, as you said he was near the top and maybe he put too much faith in his feet holding him and they got ripped out. THis makes sense as seeing if he could grip it properly it wouldn't have been a problem.
But you do have to check for infection and make sure he's acting "normal". They do need their nails for proper climbing and reaching out.
Since i don't have personal experience with a situation like this i can't really say anything else other than educated guesses and general information.
Like i said though... infection is a possibility
really sorry this happened to you and the little guy
the falling aspect is just going to have to be monitored as chams fall all the time in the wild... as a defense mechanism so they can fall out of a tree and scurry away while the predator is left dumbfounded as to what happened. (i know they do it... i don't know what the predator does after witnessing it) So this could mean the cham was spooked and maybe his nails were gone beforehand.
Perhaps they got stuck in the cage mesh, as you said he was near the top and maybe he put too much faith in his feet holding him and they got ripped out. THis makes sense as seeing if he could grip it properly it wouldn't have been a problem.
But you do have to check for infection and make sure he's acting "normal". They do need their nails for proper climbing and reaching out.
Since i don't have personal experience with a situation like this i can't really say anything else other than educated guesses and general information.
Like i said though... infection is a possibility
really sorry this happened to you and the little guy
fuzzhc
Member
This happened a few months back with one of mine, it looked like they had been ripped out and I was a bit upset to think she might be missing 4 claws for thw rest of her life. Today I found that they are growing back nice and healthy . Hopefully the same will happen for your little guy
. Hopefully the same will happen for your little guy 
