Make Veiled Casque Turning Black

[Jordan S]

It wasn't like this yesterday, I lowered the wattage to the basking bulb to 75 W, is it supposed to be like this? I mist him 3-4 times a day and I am trying to get him back into crickets.

 

[Theveiled]

can you please post a picture of his whole body?

 

[Jordan S]

 

[KLowery88]

Could use some better photos, but that does look like a burn. The black area is basically dead and will likely fall off. You should look at lowering the basking spot or raising the bulb, or even both to lower the temperature. What is his basking temperature at?

With Veiled Chameleons, especially the males, the casque is much closer to the bulb than their body, so it's being cooked at that higher temperature.

 

[Jordan S]

They look like thermal burns, I feel sorry . Right now I'm in the middle of upgrading his cage so in the meantime I put him in my other chameleons small cage. Any tips to make him heal? So far I see 2 large (one on his casque and on his left side) one on his eye, and one on his mouth tip.

 

[KLowery88]

Unfortunately there isn't much you can do for the current damage. By the time it turns black like this, those areas are already dead or dying. I'd start looking for a chameleon knowledgeable vet and see if they can get you some silver sulfadiazine cream. Eventually the dead tissue will start peeling away and you want to be able to keep any living tissue from getting infected. I'd also be worried about the burn spots near his eye and mouth. You really don't want those getting infected.

 

[Jordan S]

Unfortunately there isn't a herp vet nearby in my area at San Diego nearby, the only one that I know of is in Penasquitos, I'll have to check with them. I'm also hoping that maybe it's just bruising from a accident that happened yesterday that involved his basking lamp exploding when he was nearby.

 

[KLowery88]

Yikes! There's always a chance of it being the case. I'm not a vet, so I can't give you a definitive answer. All I can give are guesses. Checking with the vet is always the best choice.

 

[Jordan S]

Yes I'll have do definitely check him into a vet to be sure, thanks for the help!

 

[KapitalJ]

I'm also hoping that maybe it's just bruising from a accident that happened yesterday that involved his basking lamp exploding when he was nearby.

How did that happen? did you mist the bulb by accident? This doesn't sound good at all..
Regardless of where the vet is, you need to get him there.

Hopefully you can take the necessary measures to get your cham all fixed up!

 

[Carlton]

I really doubt that's a bruise. A burn is much more likely. Even if you can't get to a HERP vet, another good vet practice could probably prescribe some Silvadene...a very effective burn treatment that will protect the injured live tissue from secondary infection and help heal the areas that are still alive. Hard to say how deep the burn went at this point, but dead tissue will dry up and eventually slough off.

 

[Jordan S]

It's going to be pretty sad if they have to remove the casque, but well he is my first chameleon so he is my first experience in all of this

 

[Carlton]

It's going to be pretty sad if they have to remove the casque, but well he is my first chameleon so he is my first experience in all of this

I don't see the need to remove the casque itself, but burned tissue will either heal over or become necrotic if the tissue dies. It may slough on its own leaving a distinct margin where the healthy tissue begins. You won't know for a while yet.