Last shed's skin

Feebo

New Member
My (fairly newly accuired) veiled chameleons seem to retain a little skin on and around thier heads and casques after a shed. Little Phylis my female has had this happened on her latest shed and it's still there nearly two weeks later. I've been careful to maintain proper humidity. I've showered her and I've even (very careyfully obviously) attemped to remove a little with a soft artists paintbrush. Left over skin is quite easy to deal with on my snakes but my chameleons are obviously very different. Is it not really a problem unless the nostrils are blocked or do I need to do a little husbandry tweaking somewhere? Looking closely at where it's being retained, it's actually the ridge along the casque with both sides then retaining. Behind the eyes or the "cheeks". With my snakes, a retained skin can 9although I've never had this problem) apparently lead to infections. Chameleons being sensitive little things I thought it worthwhile starting this thread. I'll just add actually that with the paintbrush, all I've done is very gently try and lift the skin with the wet brush and only while tollerated by her. The skin lifted easily but is stuck on the ridge of the casque and actually pulling at something that is stuck like that is obviously not something I'm about to do! I've not touched the cheek bits as it was quite clearly not going to work by this time lol There are various little tricks to be done with snakes but as I say, chameleons are just so different aren't they lol :cool:
 
If you can't get to it, I would just keep on bumping up the humidity. Hopefully it will work. If you are already trying a soft paintbrush, I really don't know what else can be done.
 
Being a fairly new keeper I was a little hesitant to keep pushing the humidity. I'll have another go with a shower and the brush I think. It doesn't sound like there are any immediate health risks or anything then? I'd have thought as long as the nostrils and eyes are good it's not a huge problem unless it goes on shed after shed. I'll give her a really good shower and get it good and soggy, that should shift it..... Cheers :)
 
My littlest chameleon had shed stuck to his head for months. It didn't come off until his next shed. As long as nose and eyes are okay, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
a small rndom patch is fine, just be aware if its restricting his tail, ankles or anything that could cut off blood flow because while they grow and get bigger the skin gets smaller
 
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