dirty vent area

[Highway61]

Jack is my 2 yr old Jacksons that I've had in my care since he was 4 months and my first cham. Recently I've noticed his butt looks like he's been tragging it in the soil of his 2x2x4 bioactive enclosure. But I never see him walking or even near the bottom. Could it be something he's eating? His staples have always been crickets and dubias but lately its just been dubias.

 

[janjan20]

I don’t want to be an alarmist but it kinda looks like dried blood to me. Have you tried wiping it with a wet Q-tip?

 

[Highway61]

I don’t want to be an alarmist but it kinda looks like dried blood to me. Have you tried wiping it with a wet Q-tip?

I haven't yet. Been that way for a few weeks now. He seems happy (as happy as a cham gets) healthy, otherwise.

 

[JacksJill]

I'd try cleaning that up and seeing if he has a wound there. If so I'd start with triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin) and go from there.

 

[Highway61]

I'd try cleaning that up and seeing if he has a wound there. If so I'd start with triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin) and go from there.

Will do, thanks!

 

[JacksJill]

Let us know what you find.

 

[Highway61]

It looked to me like the vent is fine and the dirt accumulation is just behind the vent at the base of his tail:

I didn't see anything that looks like a cut so when I wiped the area with a wet q-tip, it came off like dirt:

A few weeks ago, in an effort to try and raise humitity, I hung some of the store bought moss on some of the branches and when misted, they become very wet. What I see near Jack's vent looks a lot like this moss so I have stripped it all out now. Hopefully this is the issue that I can chalk up to trial & error:

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

If the Q-tip doesn't work, you can try gently using a soft-bristle (mushy) toothbrush.
Soak the area first with a Q-tip or cotton ball to soften the crud (technical term).