Pungent smell in cage

[AgnesTheCham]

I am new to having a chameleon so obviously I have several questions, but one I really need to know is my female Jackson's chameleons cage has a very pungent coppery smell that kinda makes me woozy. She currently has all fake plants (her habitat with real plants is still in the process of being built) so I am wondering what is causing the smell. Is this typical for chameleons or should I be concerned?
Thanks

 

[Hakai]

I am new to having a chameleon so obviously I have several questions, but one I really need to know is my female Jackson's chameleons cage has a very pungent coppery smell that kinda makes me woozy. She currently has all fake plants (her habitat with real plants is still in the process of being built) so I am wondering what is causing the smell. Is this typical for chameleons or should I be concerned?
Thanks

Please post a picture of your enclosure. It will be very helpful for us to see in order to determine the cause of the smell and address any husbandry issues there may be. Don't worry though, nobody will yell at you if you did something wrong. Were just here to help so we can ensure your cham is taken care of.

 

[AgnesTheCham]

I am not exactly sure how to post pictures on this but I believe I have

 

[newtochams]

it could be dead feeders, fecal mater or rotting shed skin if you notice anything that looks unusual just post it

 

[Hakai]

I am not exactly sure how to post pictures on this but I believe I have

There are some good things and some bad things I see with your enclosure. I suppose we'll start with the good. First of all, I notice you have plenty of plants for him to hide and some walkways for him to roam on. Now for the bad. I can't say for certain, but that appears to be an all glass enclosure, which is not good for chameleons as lack of proper air ventilation could cause respiratory infection. Unless you are using an exo terra terrarium, it is vital to use an all screen enclosure. It is also better for the enclosure to be taller than it is wide as chameleons are arboreal and prefer to be higher up. I believe an 18x18x36 is sufficient for a jacksons chameleon, but don't take my word on that. Also, standing water is not unnecessary because most chams don't see standing water as a drinking source and even if they do, standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria. So if that is a tray I see in there, I would remove it immediately. Chameleons obtain their water from droplets on leaves which can be made available through multiple misting sessions a day or an automatic mister. I would check out this care sheet and make any needed adjustments https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/ .

As far as the smell goes, I honestly have no idea what could be causing it as of now. Maybe somebody else who has had this experience can help.

~Ben

 

[Hakai]

it could be dead feeders, fecal mater or rotting shed skin if you notice anything that looks unusual just post it

That is a good suggestion, but she said it smelled coppery. So I don't see how what you've suggested makes much sense, but at least it's something. Do a cage clean I guess, if you haven't already.

 

[Eltortu]

How often you clean the cage?

 

[Fretfreak13]

How old is your female? I've never owned a jacksons, but I've done a lot of research on them.

Jacksons chams, unlike most others, are viviparous. All the other female chams that are oviparous will lay infertile eggs once they reach a certain age, even if they've never been in contact with a male. I've read somewhere that jacksons do something similar and will "give birth" to a sac of yolk? Any chance she may have done this and its sitting in the cage somewhere? The lack of ventilation is definitely not helping with the smell either.

 

[AgnesTheCham]

My chameleon isn't a year yet, I am not sure of what the exact amount of months is. My chameleons cage has a metal top with netting and she has been having some flaking skin. As I haven't been able to find any reptile vets in the area are there any suggestions as to what I can do at home?

 

[szpond]

I recognize that enclosure, I have one for a lone pygmy chameleon. Now, that enclosure (5 gallons) can house one pygmy chameleon and really should be larger for a pygmy, IMO (and these guys are tiny!). I wouldn't put a Jackson's in there.

My Jackson's is in a 18x18x36 screen enclosure. I would recommend upgrading ASAP depending on her size. If I am correct, this 5-gallon is wider than it is tall. Chameleons are a climbing animal, they prefer more vertical space, as said before. Definitely take a look at the care guide and upgrade your care a little bit. Glad you're on the forum! Always let us know if you have questions!
The link again:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

P.S. I have smelled that copper-like smell before. For me it was due to a piece of wood (must have been a mold smell). I got rid of the wood immediately when I smelled it and haven't since. It made the paper towel smell too. I used a sealant spray on the wood and I'm thinking about putting it back into the enclosure.

 

[AgnesTheCham]

Oh, ok thank you! I do have a piece of wood in there, I will remove and also try to get her into a bigger habitat!

 

[midcoastchameleon]

As said, the plants are fake. The lighting might be heating the plants up a little to much. This might create a chemical smell, or if familiar, burning plastic.
Just a suggestion as to the culprit of the coppery aroma

 

[Hakai]

My chameleon isn't a year yet, I am not sure of what the exact amount of months is. My chameleons cage has a metal top with netting and she has been having some flaking skin. As I haven't been able to find any reptile vets in the area are there any suggestions as to what I can do at home?

Here's a vet list. Just click on your state and throw the addresses into google maps or something to find the one closes to you. http://www.arav.org/find-a-vet/

 

[szpond]

Oh, ok thank you! I do have a piece of wood in there, I will remove and also try to get her into a bigger habitat!

Great! If you're interested in the type of spray I used to seal the wood to make it waterproof, let me know. I'll have to do some digging to find it.