Panther is eating his own tail

[lenny2]

Please help me! My 4 year old panther has suddenly started to chew the end of his tail off. It started yesterday and this evening he has tried to eat off the end which has gone black and dried out - the end of his tail is obviously dead. It is bleeding and looks incredibly sore but he wont leave it alone. He keeps chewing on it like a cricket. He is in an exo terra glass viv with heat on 75-80, 2 x UVB 5.0 STRIPS in an exo terra light/heat canopy. He is drinking water ok and ate some crickets yesterday after he started on his tail. He drank water tonight and then started chewing on his tail. The tank set up and environment has not changed at all so I cannot think why he would be doing such a god awful thing. Does anyone have any ideas? suggestions? I can get him to a reptile vet tomorrow but am concerned the trip will stress him out even more. HELP!!!!
Thanks in advance - Andrea

 

[camimom]

Please help me! My 4 year old panther has suddenly started to chew the end of his tail off. It started yesterday and this evening he has tried to eat off the end which has gone black and dried out - the end of his tail is obviously dead. It is bleeding and looks incredibly sore but he wont leave it alone. He keeps chewing on it like a cricket. He is in an exo terra glass viv with heat on 75-80, 2 x UVB 5.0 STRIPS in an exo terra light/heat canopy. He is drinking water ok and ate some crickets yesterday after he started on his tail. He drank water tonight and then started chewing on his tail. The tank set up and environment has not changed at all so I cannot think why he would be doing such a god awful thing. Does anyone have any ideas? suggestions? I can get him to a reptile vet tomorrow but am concerned the trip will stress him out even more. HELP!!!!
Thanks in advance - Andrea

Not sure why he is chewing on his tail, but he shoudlnt be in a glass enclosure. Screens are so much better. He may be chewing his tail bc he can see his reflection and thinks its another chameleon.

 

[sdheli420]

Not sure why he is chewing on his tail, but he shoudlnt be in a glass enclosure. Screens are so much better. He may be chewing his tail bc he can see his reflection and thinks its another chameleon.

exactly what i was thinking..ne may need a vet

 

[pantherlover]

It doesnt matter that your cham is in a glass enclosure whatsoever. It is 100% false that a cham would react to its refection in a glass viv. Even if it did on this rare, blue moon occasion, its reaction would not be to chew its own tail. Haha! Sorry but that is just funny!
How long have you owned your chameleon? 4 years is a pretty good age to achieve as a first time keeper. You will probably need to go to a vet and take the proper measures to ensure that the wound doesnt get worse. Is it possible its tail had been pinched? Was there any type of necrosis before it started? I have a green anole I saved from a warehouse that came in on a shipment from down south, U.S.A. When I brought it home, its front leg and tail where crushed. Within 2 days, it had chewed its front leg and the end of its tail right off. It still darts around the cage and eats like a champ 6 months later.

 

[Olimpia]

That's so weird that he would be doing that. I wouldn't know how to get him to stop - with a dog or cat you would just wrap up the part or get an E colar, but with these guys... Maybe keep him in the dark until the vet tomorrow? If he's sleeping he won't be inclined to chew on it, or at the very least it might slow him down.

Two of my panthers just needed their tail ends amputated from injuries, and the ends were necrotic like yours so I asume your guy will need the same surgery. Especially if the tissue is really dead, there's no way to save it at this point. The trouble with tissue death like this is that it can spread upwards, so your guy will probably need the amputation and then a good dose of antibiotics. Mine are doing really well after the procedure though, so don't think it's a death sentence.

Maybe posting a photo of the enclosure would help us see if there's any reason he ould go after his tail? And also a photo of him now if you can get one.

 

[sdheli420]

It doesnt matter that your cham is in a glass enclosure whatsoever. It is 100% false that a cham would react to its refection in a glass viv. Even if it did on this rare, blue moon occasion, its reaction would not be to chew its own tail. Haha! Sorry but that is just funny!
How long have you owned your chameleon? 4 years is a pretty good age to achieve as a first time keeper. You will probably need to go to a vet and take the proper measures to ensure that the wound doesnt get worse. Is it possible its tail had been pinched? Was there any type of necrosis before it started? I have a green anole I saved from a warehouse that came in on a shipment from down south, U.S.A. When I brought it home, its front leg and tail where crushed. Within 2 days, it had chewed its front leg and the end of its tail right off. It still darts around the cage and eats like a champ 6 months later.

i dont know....to me glass is for fish...and an injured cham isint really funny to me especially when its a newer keeper..this could mean certain death for the animal..


and for the record, even if they dont see a reflection ..they still dont understand they cant go through it..it causes stress to paw at it for hours trying to climb out..as where screen offers an actuall visuall barrier..have people successfully kept them both ways..yes..its just IMO..

 

[pantherlover]

i dont know....to me glass is for fish...and an injured cham isint really funny to me especially when its a newer keeper..this could mean certain death for the animal..


and for the record, even if they dont see a reflection ..they still dont understand they cant go through it..it causes stress to paw at it for hours trying to climb out..as where screen offers an actuall visuall barrier..have people successfully kept them both ways..yes..its just IMO..

Ok you tell that to the ppl who keep monate species behind glass, or all the people who do the same for panthers and vields who live in a cooler climate like the UK or Canada. Although I am able to provide a warm and humid enough environment to warrant cages for my animals I have kept chams in glass and never once observed this behaviour. How do you know this is a new keeper? Do you own a 4 year old cham? Have you ever been able to keep one alive that long? No, I dont think an injured cham is funny. I think its funny that people think that a cham would react to seeing another cham by chewing its own tail. That is funny. The only part of your advice thats right is suggesting to see a vet. Good call.

 

[sdheli420]

Ok you tell that to the ppl who keep monate species behind glass, or all the people who do the same for panthers and vields who live in a cooler climate like the UK or Canada. Although I am able to provide a warm and humid enough environment to warrant cages for my animals I have kept chams in glass and never once observed this behaviour. How do you know this is a new keeper? Do you own a 4 year old cham? Have you ever been able to keep one alive that long? No, I dont think an injured cham is funny. I think its funny that people think that a cham would react to seeing another cham by chewing its own tail. That is funny. The only part of your advice thats right is suggesting to see a vet. Good call.

i have , for the record kept a cham for 7 years..its nothing new to me..and yes glass helps for uk, and canada, but so does screen with plastic wrapped over the back and sides..all i am saying is that if its a first cham, its still new..4 years is long, but not the same as breeding nomourus species over 16 years..

keep in mind its only IMO..not how things "should be" just what works for me over my time and experience with these special animals.

 

[pantherlover]

Good job on the seven years.

 

[pssh]

Agh. See a vet.

It's fine to have your own preferences and opinions, but when you make it sound like it's the end-all-be-all of chameleons, then there is a problem.

 

[Elizadolots]

I'm wondering if he has some sort of parasite or something that's making his tail itch? I really think a vet visit is in order.

4 years is a good length of time to keep a chameleon, you've obviously been doing something right for that chameleon.

 

[lenny2]

Hi Guys
Thanks for your constructive comments. I have taken Lenny to the vet this afternoon and he is staying with them for surgery. Vet reckons he may have injured it or a cricket may have bitten him and he is trying to 'scratch the itch' as it were and it has just got worse and worse. She said he is generally really healthy and he is still eating and drinking. So he is going for a minor amputation tomorrow, under a general. I am worrying for him but know he is in the best place. I should be able to pick him up on Thursday. I will keep the thread updated. Poor little chap!

 

[kinyonga]

And if by some chance it bleeds the chameleon could bleed to death...not to mention the pain...or the fact that it could get an infection from the open wound. Please take it to the vets and get it done properly!

 

[jannb]

I totally agree with kinyonga. Take your chameleon to the vets.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Glad to hear you found a vet that can help your little guy! Keep us updated on his progress.

For anyone else with a similar problem please always seek veterinary help for problems like this and never attempt to fix it yourself by radical means. (not that the op was considering it here) A condition like this is very painful and humane methods of analgesia should be used.

 

[Elizadolots]

lenny, I think that's a logical explanation. You're doing well by your pet, leaving him with the doctor for the surgery. Please do keep us updated on his progress.

 

[pantherlover]

Good stuff Lenny. Let us know how its going!

 

[laurie]

Any news yet?

 

[antithesis123]

I dont think theres anything wrong with the glass vivarium! what your vet might tell you after an xray is that your cham injured his tail at some point in the last year- as the tail slowly dies he'll have shooting pain in the dying area and will attack it. I've heard of this in a lot of animals- Including my cat which had the very thing happen to him.

Good luck with your guy, the really good thing is that hes eating and drinking!

 

[Olimpia]

Any updates on his condition?

Here's one of mine after his tail amputation. The stitches are still in but once the wound heals he will still have full use of what's left of his tail.