Mouth rot?

[tatkins]

I am concerned my chameleon has mouth rot. I am nervous about bringing him to a vet and would like to avoid it because I got him 6 weeks ago and do not really handle him yet so I'm afraid it would really stress him out. His mouth looks like it's full of mucus and his teeth look like they might be black and I can't tell if there's something black discoloration on his tongue. He can close his mouth fine and it looks normal when his mouth is closed. He has been gaping some recently but only while on his basking branch so it could be he is too hot and trying to cool off although according to my temp gun I believe it's around 85 degrees. He's 10 months old and I believe he's been eating fine.
Should I be concerned? Thanks for your help!

 

[MissSkittles]

I don’t like the way his mouth looks and you are right to be concerned that he may have mouth rot. You are reluctant to see a vet, but imho that is the best course of action. If it is moth rot, untreated it can and will expand and can eat away at his jaw bones. The only thing that I would do before taking him to a vet, would be checking at various times of day and for maybe a couple of days, to make sure it isn’t bug guts or other dirt in his mouth. Attaching the vet list for you.