Panther Chameleons Black Specs

[unseen65]

I have had three Ambilobe Cross Panther chameleons for about three months now. I believe there are two males and one female. On the female and one of the males i have noticed black specs/marks on their faces. The male seems to be doing fine (eating well and pooping normally) and the female seems to be a little lethargic. She has been pretty stationary and has kept her eyes closed primarily. Other than the black specs/marks her eyes seem to be sunken in slightly. She is still eating but not as well as she had previously. At the moment they are all housed together in a large enclosure, other than that all other conditions (lighting, temp, water, food) should be acceptable. The first two pics are of the female, the third is of the male with the specs, and the fourth is of the male without. Thanks for looking. Let me know if you guys have any ideas about whats going on.

 

[AngieL]

Hi there! I'm sorry your chams are not well! I am not surte what the black spots could be, maybe some sort of fungal infection since they are spreading between two different chameleons.

Can you please fill out this form and hopefully someone here willbe able to point you in the right direction.


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

You should make an appointment with your vet as soon as you can. Sleeping through the day is a sign of illness and should not be taken lightly.

 

[Ulrich]

Besides filling out the form I would separate them right away. They are too big to be housed together. Especially 2 males and one female.

 

[AngieL]

Besides filling out the form I would separate them right away. They are too big to be housed together. Especially 2 males and one female.

Oh are they being kept together? I hadn't realised that! I second this advice.

 

[unseen65]

Your Chameleon - Panther, 2.1 Sex Ratio ( I Believe), I got them 3-4 months ago, they were only a few weeks old.
Handling - Cleaning days and only briefly.
Feeding - Crickets Primarily. I typically feed 2-3 times a day and let them eat as they will for 5 - 10 min before removing excess crickets. Crickets are fed potatoes primarily with squash occasionally.
Supplements - Tetra Reptocal, dusting a good amount of the time (7/10 feedings.)
Watering - 2 Gallon drip bucket and i generally heavily spray the enclosure 5-6 times a day. All three are drinking.
Fecal Description - Normal, nothing unusual. Never tested for parasites.
History - Not that i can think of.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Currently they are in a large powder coated bird cage. Brand new. They were moved there from a smaller screen cage a few days ago. The problem showed up before the move to the new cage.
Lighting - Zoo med 5.0. 10-12 hours a day, unless outside. When outside they are under a partially shaded porch temp is no hotter than 90f.
Temperature - (90-94) Hot spot Ranges down to 75 (+-). Night time they are always inside no lower than 60f. Temp gun.
Humidity - Not exactly sure. Regular spray down of the cage throughout the day.
Plants - Ficus with organic soil. I just added a new fake plant this week.
Placement - Low traffic area. Cage is at waist level and above. Top of the cage is 6' off the ground.
Location - Southern California.

Current Problem - Black Specs/Markings. Lethargic.

I will make sure to separate them today.

The more i look at the black markings, they seem to be raised off of the skin.

Thanks for the help.

 

[sdheli420]

the basking spot needs to be arounf 10 degrees cooler, 94 is too hot..

 

[unseen65]

I am still rearranging the basking spots in the cage i will be sure to lower them or change wattage on my bulbs. Yesterday i measured 93 f at the hottest spot on the branch but a few inches lower it was in the mid eighties. Thanks for your help.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Could be battle scars / marks, from fighting. They need to be kept separate.

 

[Benton1576]

Probably scars from fighting or scratches from your new fake plant. The female doesnt look good at all. I suggest taking her to the vets if she is to have any chance of surviving. The pic of the last male looks deyhdrated. His casque is very sunken in. Have you got a dripper running? Chances are tehy hide a lot and dont move much because theyre housed together and scared of each other. Seperate them ASAP or at least sell/rehome 1 of the males if you cant afford to get another cage.

 

[unseen65]

Thanks for the responses. They are all in separate cages now. In person they don't look like scars or scratches. It looks more like a growth, with a texture similar to charcoal. Hopefully they aren't dehydrated. I will post up some more/better pictures of the black markings and hopefully you guys can get a better idea of their condition.

 

[Lathelia]

Probably scars from fighting or scratches from your new fake plant. The female doesnt look good at all. I suggest taking her to the vets if she is to have any chance of surviving. The pic of the last male looks deyhdrated. His casque is very sunken in. Have you got a dripper running? Chances are tehy hide a lot and dont move much because theyre housed together and scared of each other. Seperate them ASAP or at least sell/rehome 1 of the males if you cant afford to get another cage.

I think all of their casques look sunken. I think the first step is to separate them asap and lower the temps. For a female you want a basking spot to be 80-83, for boys it can be a little more, but not over 90!
Is the suplement you're using calcium or calcium with d3?
It usually recommended to use plain calcium every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month (less if you take them outside) and multivitamin twice a month.
Are you using sweet potato or normal one? I would recommend using more variaty to your feeders, here is a good blog you should check:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/

 

[Lathelia]

Thanks for the responses. They are all in separate cages now. In person they don't look like scars or scratches. It looks more like a growth, with a texture similar to charcoal. Hopefully they aren't dehydrated. I will post up some more/better pictures of the black markings and hopefully you guys can get a better idea of their condition.

Please do, they would probably need a vet to check it out, but I'm not an expert. Your female should probably go to the vet either way.