Seminal Plug??
- Thread starter wendyeeeo
- Start date
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
It certainly doesn't look like the sperm deposits that Monty decorates his branches with! Is this your new boy? It does look like a strange poop and urate to me - with both parts there or thereabouts. Never seen anything come out of any of mine with 'spiky' bits in though!
djfishygillz
Avid Member
Could it be a parasite? Like a big dead one?
summoner12
Avid Member
That is a hornworm skin. You can see the feet.
What have you been feeding your Melleri? I suspect the strange shape in the poop will match one of the food items. My concern with this picture is the shape and consistency of the poop overall. That is not a normal shape. I would watch to see if this is a one-off poop or if this is what usually comes out.
It is great that you are being vigilant enough to catch anything strange!
It is great that you are being vigilant enough to catch anything strange!
pssh
Avid Member
Hornworms! That's what it is! I couldn't remember if silkworms had the striping on the feet, but hornworms definitely do.
Check it out:
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/naturephotos/tomato-hornworm-braconids050916-6227durhamz.jpg
Check it out:
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/naturephotos/tomato-hornworm-braconids050916-6227durhamz.jpg
Psychobunny
Avid Member
Yep, look like a partly digested hornworm indeed.
If he is normal now, I would not worry much but keep an eye on his behaviour and what comes out of him for a while!
I have seen my guys (all lizards) pass strange looking things that made my heart skip a beet, but they were okay
Chams can scare you to death sometimes
If he is normal now, I would not worry much but keep an eye on his behaviour and what comes out of him for a while!
I have seen my guys (all lizards) pass strange looking things that made my heart skip a beet, but they were okay
Chams can scare you to death sometimes
wendyeeeo
Established Member
Yep, look like a partly digested hornworm indeed.
If he is normal now, I would not worry much but keep an eye on his behaviour and what comes out of him for a while!
I have seen my guys (all lizards) pass strange looking things that made my heart skip a beet, but they were okay
Chams can scare you to death sometimes
I want to take him in to see my herp vet anyway - he's got something going on with his mouth/tongue. Maybe just a cut from a spikey bug, but he gapes and yesterday had trouble shooting at crickets. I'll bring in my nasty fecal as well.
Thanks everyone for the feedback!! I'm gonna check out all the possibilities.
wendyeeeo
Established Member
You guys were right - it was a not very digested hornworm. Murphy's temps were on the low side temporarily, as I had to keep him in my kitchen until my sweet Oscar passed on - now Murphy lives in the free range Oscar was using. Murphy is warmer and much happier. The vet visit went well - besides the standard oral meds to treat possible parasites, he got a clean bill of health! He weighed something like 450 grams I think! It was also a sad vet visit, as I had to put down my Oscar Meller who had serious burns a few months ago. I was so busy bawling I didn't pay close attention to Murphy's weight. At any rate, Murphy was a huge hit and charmed everyone he met today!
summoner12
Avid Member
I've had similar experiences.... which is how I knew right away lol
Henry wasn't being kept warm enough as well. As soon as temps got warmer his poop was solid and digested well.
