kinyongias blotchy

[Mike Fisher]

The past three days all of my kinyongias have turned blotchy colored in exactly the same areas. I've never seen anything like it. They are acting normally, but this really has me concerned. I've attached photos of two different animals, one male and the other one female, both darker than usual, but with a few light green patches in the same area on the body. Very strange.

Their sleeping color is normal.

Anybody else ever see anything like this?

 

[Carlton]

That IS strange! Light blotches like that suggest burns, but the chances that both of them got burned in the same areas at the same time??? And, that one little dash mark almost suggests a bruise.

 

[Mike Fisher]

That IS strange! Light blotches like that suggest burns, but the chances that both of them got burned in the same areas at the same time??? And, that one little dash mark almost suggests a bruise.

And to make it even more strange is that it is not just two animals, they all got this on the same day, all in different enclosures.

The only thing in common is that it was the day after I freshened up their cage plantings with organic soil and peat moss. I'm wondering if there is something in the soil that I used? Does anyone here know if extra nitrogen or ammonia in the atmosphere can affect how their skin changes color? My theory is that the new soil could be outgassing something that is interfering with their colors.

I've been keeping chams for a long time and this is a new one to me.

 

[Carlton]

And to make it even more strange is that it is not just two animals, they all got this on the same day, all in different enclosures.

The only thing in common is that it was the day after I freshened up their cage plantings with organic soil and peat moss. I'm wondering if there is something in the soil that I used? Does anyone here know if extra nitrogen or ammonia in the atmosphere can affect how their skin changes color? My theory is that the new soil could be outgassing something that is interfering with their colors.

I've been keeping chams for a long time and this is a new one to me.

But why in that particular area? Why not over more of their body or just the underside that would be "closer" to the soil surface? The only other thing I can think of is that is the area of skin that happens to start loosening first as a shed approaches.

 

[nick barta]

But why in that particular area? Why not over more of their body or just the underside that would be "closer" to the soil surface? The only other thing I can think of is that is the area of skin that happens to start loosening first as a shed approaches.

I would agree with Carlton, wait and see if they pop the old skins in a glorious group of new fresh skin!

Nick

 

[Mike Fisher]

Applying Occam's razor, it has to be thermal burns. It looks just like thermal burns, so if you disregard the number of individuals involved, you would instantly say it was thermal burns. The thing that throws you off is the whole collection got them on the same day. The only thing that changed, freshening up the enclosures, same plants, new soil and....wait for it...a few new branches. These new branches are closer to the lights. Same lights they have had for over a year, but they can get closer to them.

Very weird they got them all in the same area of the body though. I don't know the nervous system of chameleons very well, but maybe they don't have as many nerves in that area?

Assuming that they are thermal burns, these are the worst ones I've ever seen in my collection. Any treatment for these or anything to make them more comfortable?

 

[Mike Fisher]

I would agree with Carlton, wait and see if they pop the old skins in a glorious group of new fresh skin!

Nick

I sure hope that is what it is! The don't seem to be in pain or anything, and there is no obvious damage besides discoloration, no blistering or sensitivity to touch, but my prize male has been sitting on the enclosure bottom all day, which is very unusual for him.

 

[Mike Fisher]

They are all totally normal coloration as of this morning. Very odd. Maybe they all conspired to scare the hell out of me.

 

[MelissaB]

They are all totally normal coloration as of this morning. Very odd. Maybe they all conspired to scare the hell out of me.

I'm glad they're better today. That would've scared me too! I think they just want to keep you on your toes.

 

[GrimsbyPatchwork]

Wow man that is strange ..I have noticed seperated shshades of green in this species but not blotches..

My bet would be the new sticks or soil since that was the only thing that changed...that thermal burn on the side is kinda a weird place to get a burn considering there was one on the upper tail..

Most important part is that they are ok ..

 

[Mike Fisher]

.that thermal burn on the side is kinda a weird place to get a burn considering there was one on the upper tail..

Most important part is that they are ok ..

I don't think they are burns, they come and go throughout the day. It is like something is interfering with their color changing in those areas when they darken up to bask. At rest, they are still bright green. I've never seen anything like this documented, so if anyone else has any references I would really appreciate it.

In the next day or so, I'm going to totally redo the enclosures with different plants, soil, branches, the works and see what happens.

 

[GrimsbyPatchwork]

Just posting too check if the blotches have gone away?

 

[frankpayne32]

This looks to me like possible heat stress. Especially because they are all doing it. My guess is they experienced temporary localized heat stress due to the new placement of branches. Hope they're doing well.

 

[Carlton]

This looks to me like possible heat stress. Especially because they are all doing it. My guess is they experienced temporary localized heat stress due to the new placement of branches. Hope they're doing well.

It could be that you are seeing sort of a burn harbinger...an area that got overheated but there wasn't really tissue damage. Maybe like a human sunburn that "glows" the night after exposure, but never blisters or peels. If the chams happened to orient themselves so their intestines and kidneys (around their pelvis area) got warmed up, this was why that area of the skin got the effect.

I have a mental image of all your kinyongias sitting in a row in the same postures (butt upwards and facing you) to bask.