Sharp Nails

[BabyChamCham]

My 6 month old veild chamleon has gotten some very sharp nails over time. Every time I handle him, he scratches me up pretty bad. Anything I can do to wear down his nails?

 

[JGuinan007]

Do you use real branches for him to climb on?

 

[BabyChamCham]

I use fake bendy branches and smooth crepe myrtle branches.

 

[BabyChamCham]

Is there any way I can roughen up the branches?

 

[jpowell86]

You really need to add more branches that are of different textures and sizes. This will naturally wear down the nails.

 

[BabyChamCham]

But my closest reptile store only has crape myrtle branches,grapevine,and fake branches. Where else can I get them?

 

[Virgil1972]

But my closest reptile store only has crape myrtle branches,grapevine,and fake branches. Where else can I get them?

Outside.

 

[Carlton]

You really need to add more branches that are of different textures and sizes. This will naturally wear down the nails.

Use some branches that are bigger in diameter than he can wrap his foot completely around, so he has to grip with his claws more. That will help hone the tips down. Naturally barked branches from your yard usually help. If you don't have a yard, ask a friend who does. Non-toxic trees such as maple, pine or fir, fruit edible trees, etc. can all work. Pick some with rougher bark. Scrub the branches to remove sticky sap, obvious dirt, and moldy rotting flaky bark. Scrub with a 1 part bleach to 10 parts hot water, rinse until you can't smell the bleach, and let dry before using.

 

[BabyChamCham]

I only have 2 crape myrtle trees ( which have some disease) and a small lime tree with really skinny branches. My closest neighbor's tree has to thick of branches any pretty much all of my friends don't have a good tree. Is there anywhere I can buy them from, knowing the length?

 

[Carlton]

Could you try calling a landscaping or garden maintenance business and ask if they haul off tree limbs from their customers? Maybe there's a place you could go to pick through piles. What about landlords who may have landscape companies who do their groundskeeping work? What about a city or county park?

 

[BabyChamCham]

I live in Texas and not many city parks around. I'll try giving them a call. Thanks

 

[jajeanpierre]

I live in Texas and not many city parks around. I'll try giving them a call. Thanks

If you live in Texas the best branches are Live Oak. Call someone who prunes trees. Where in Texas?

I wouldn't use cedar, junipier, or any of the pines since they will leak a lot of very sticky resin.

 

[BabyChamCham]

Around the Dallas area

 

[jajeanpierre]

Around the Dallas area

Lots of Liveoak. Whatever you do, do not cut a branch off any oak tree without sealing it. Oak Wilt is killing great swaths of Texan oak forests and the open wound attracks the bugs that transmit the fungus. Get your branches from someone who prunes trees for a living.

I am a little surprised by your scratches. They are long which means the chameleon was falling and/or struggling to hold on. You need to change how you are handling your animal. Chameleons shouldn't have to scramble to hold on to your hand.

 

[BabyChamCham]

Actually, he will sometimes move very slowly and as he dose that, he will drag his feet a little, causing the scratches.

 

[JGuinan007]

My chameleon will leave puncture holes in my arm when she climbs it she has a really strong grip and pinches my skin and punctures it sometimes with her nails it doesn't hurt really though she just doesn't like staying on my hands and always tries to get on my shoulder.

 

[BabyChamCham]

My cham will try and crawl either on my face or onto my shoulder and down my back.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Actually, he will sometimes move very slowly and as he dose that, he will drag his feet a little, causing the scratches.

I just can't see how it can happen as you just described. If he's dragging his feet, the nails are pointed away from the skin and there is no pressure on the sharp tip of the nail. I wonder if you aren't allergic to something on his feet. Or maybe he is grabbing your arm hard when you try to remove him from your arm and you are pulling him off your arm. Skin, (unless you have some kind of skin disease/condition) is just not so fragile that it is damaged with no pressure, even with something very sharp. I can understand puncture wounds happening when you are handling them correctly, but not a scratch.

 

[BabyChamCham]

Sorry for not explaining it well.My skin is easily punctured. I'll just stick to getting new branches, thanks for all the help.

 

[Decadancin]

My veiled has very sharp claws. You can always tell when I have had him out! He tends to lean sideways when I have him outside in the sun so he can absorb the warmth and as he does this I get some longer scratches on my arms. Along with a ton of little holes, it looks kinda like I had a fight with a small thorn bush (and lost). I have many different types of vines in the enclosure, and all that did was make the claws sharper (he he).