Tail discoloration: normal/weird shed/injury/infection?

[Beman]

Thank you! I will keep all your advice in mind! I also think my chams know when to stop when full bc they won’t eat more than a few big ones and not all the small ones but I don’t want them getting gluttonous and overweight so I’ll def make sure to give appropriate amounts based on size. Thanks for all the advice, it’s much appreciated!

Your welcome. Panthers seem to do better with self regulating food. Veileds however are bottomless pits lol

 

[ERKleRose]

It was 7 inches from the screen. I know I based that on what I read for cham set up so I’m stressed. I moved it down to a little over 8 inches. I will readjust the basking bulb tomorrow morning for the new branch height too. Man I’m now worried about the last 7 months with it an inch too high. What can happen? How will it affect him?

Was it 7" from the screen or 7" from the UVB bulb to basking branch? Repashy LoD doesn't have a lot of D3, were your feeders lightly coated or looking like powdered donuts after supplementing. Was he close to the top of cage/bulb a lot or self-regulating? You can always get bloodwork done to check. What do you guys think @kinyonga and @Beman ?

 

[Beman]

Um so with a single bulb T5Ho fixture and a 5.0 bulb going through standard aluminum cage screen you want 8-9 inches from the bottom of the fixture to the basking branch. This will put them in a 3 UVI level.

Even being at 7 inches you would not see the tail discoloration like that. I believe it is shed still. He would have been in a higher UVI level but not in extreme levels. But still good to put it at the distances I mentioned above.

I have my heat lamp raised so that it is 4 inches off the top as well. This keeps thermal burn risk down.

Repashy LoD does have a decent amount of D3 and A in it. But every 2 weeks like your doing is the recommended rotation.

Even being closer to the UVB Light and the LOD, In my opinion you do not have anything to worry about. They convert D3 from UVB light. But their body only converts what is needed. They can not overdose themselves in this way like they can with oral D3 supplements. You are doing the correct supplements and rotation though so I would not be concerned of D3 overdose issues.

I do not see any reason to get blood work done.

 

[DoveSnow]

Was it 7" from the screen or 7" from the UVB bulb to basking branch? Repashy LoD doesn't have a lot of D3, were your feeders lightly coated or looking like powdered donuts after supplementing. Was he close to the top of cage/bulb a lot or self-regulating? You can always get bloodwork done to check. What do you guys think @kinyonga and @Beman ?

It was 7 inches from the screen. I think I did this bc when I got him he was itty bitty and that I must have thought to lower it when he was bigger and therefore closer, then forgot. Either way, I’m so grateful to you all for catching it. I have wracking my brain and that’s the only thing I could think of. He would hang on the top of his cage under the uvb ALL THE TIME when he was a babe and it used to freak me out He was too small to be sold to someone new to chams imo, I didn’t know better then and my chams are lucky we did our research and took them seriously. But my god were they the cutest things ever!

 

[DoveSnow]

Um so with a single bulb T5Ho fixture and a 5.0 bulb going through standard aluminum cage screen you want 8-9 inches from the bottom of the fixture to the basking branch. This will put them in a 3 UVI level.

Even being at 7 inches you would not see the tail discoloration like that. I believe it is shed still. He would have been in a higher UVI level but not in extreme levels. But still good to put it at the distances I mentioned above.

I have my heat lamp raised so that it is 4 inches off the top as well. This keeps thermal burn risk down.

Repashy LoD does have a decent amount of D3 and A in it. But every 2 weeks like your doing is the recommended rotation.

Even being closer to the UVB Light and the LOD, In my opinion you do not have anything to worry about. They convert D3 from UVB light. But their body only converts what is needed. They can not overdose themselves in this way like they can with oral D3 supplements. You are doing the correct supplements and rotation though so I would not be concerned of D3 overdose issues.

I do not see any reason to get blood work done.

THANK YOU!

I’m glad there’s no harm done! And I def know his tail was not a burn. The one thing I was sure of lol it’s my top fear as a cham mom bc it seems to happen so often. Their basking light has always been on a clamp set above the top mesh and I’m super diligent about temps. I go check often bc I’m paranoid that one of the kids (I have 5) might accidentally change the settings or move the lamp. One time my toddler opened the bottom and left it unlocked and We left to run errands for like two hours and Cosmo got out from the bottom and ended up on the fake tree house dollhouse set up on a shelf near a window. He likes to escape and go to the top of his door (or climb on anyone near) and I’m always afraid he will climb on top and touch the heat lamp. I’m so thankful he didn’t when he got out. I put a lock on them after that.
I was so scared and panicked but once I found him, it became a bit hilarious. He was just lording over his domain up on that fake tree he sought up high. The regal Lord Cosmo Dumbledore

Still happy to learn a good lesson and have him be unharmed. Here’s a pic I snapped to show my hubs when I found him- bc I was frantically calling and crying that he was out and missing of course.

 

[DoveSnow]

Ps I lowered it even more today. Closer to 9 in

 

[DoveSnow]

As long as it's at least 55% humidity during the day, you're good! Adding a stand under his cage will allow you to put a drainage system underneath (the cage) to collect pooling water away from inside the cage!

So unless you have a Solarmeter to measure UV levels, you'll want the distance from branch to bulb be between 8-9"

As long as he can't see his reflection, all good then!

A smooth tubing would be best as some contaminants aren't always visible. Also, if you haven't looked into this yet, Star San is what a lot of people on here use to clean their fogger and lines. It might be easier for you!

Also, you have one beautiful cham!!! If you wouldn't mind spamming us with more pics of him and his brother, it'd be greatly appreciated!

Oh I forgot pics! We have a lot. It super cute when they climb out on us every time we open the cage. They love my oldest son (14) and my youngest daughter (3) and the feeling is mutual. They know I’m their mom and I’m their favorite lol

Most of these are Cosmo Dumbledore, the first two are Loki Jasper. Cosmo is a shenaniganizer extreme lol and his brother is not far behind
Most of these are escape attempts and subsequent rescue and return. Half the time I look down from misting and Cosmo and Loki have beelined for my three year old they love to climb in her hair and on her head I’ll post some more, always happy to share

 

[DoveSnow]

And more, going back to the beginning…

 

[DoveSnow]

And more

 

[kinyonga]

So you have two chameleons that are brothers?
Are they in separate cages? Do you have more than 2?

 

[ERKleRose]

They're SOOO CUTE (your kids are adorable as well, and you can see how much they love the chams)!!!

When you raise their cages, you'll probably notice then trying to run out and up y'all less, as they're most likely trying to get to a higher vantage point so they feel safer

 

[DoveSnow]

So you have two chameleons that are brothers?
Are they in separate cages? Do you have more than 2?

Two brothers always in separate enclosures

 

[DoveSnow]

They're SOOO CUTE (your kids are adorable as well, and you can see how much they love the chams)!!!

When you raise their cages, you'll probably notice then trying to run out and up y'all less, as they're most likely trying to get to a higher vantage point so they feel safer

Actually, Cosmos cage is up off the ground on a small table and he’s our major escape artist

I’ve already talked to my hubs about getting a stand for Loki as well. I had mentioned the situation in earlier posts with the set up for the boys and why I had it that way, but I do think now that I’ll put Loki up higher if it might possibly be better for him even though he’s always seemed happy

 

[ERKleRose]

Two brothers always in separate enclosures

Can they see each other?

Actually, Cosmos cage is up off the ground on a small table and he’s our major escape artist

I’ve already talked to my hubs about getting a stand for Loki as well. I had mentioned the situation in earlier posts with the set up for the boys and why I had it that way, but I do think now that I’ll put Loki up higher if it might possibly be better for him even though he’s always seemed happy

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/drainage-systems-for-cages-get-creative.102038/
Check out this thread on drainage ideas! There are a million and one ways to do it! You can also buy a drainage system from DragonStrand if you want to spend that much

 

[DoveSnow]

Can they see each other?

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/drainage-systems-for-cages-get-creative.102038/
Check out this thread on drainage ideas! There are a million and one ways to do it! You can also buy a drainage system from DragonStrand if you want to spend that much

No they can’t see each other. Not unless one is out or trying to escape or when we have to replace the barrier. We have plants and a forest picture screen thing on Cosmos cage, on the side where their enclosures face each other, which we have to replace pretty often bc it gets damaged so easily. I’d love suggestions for something better, having to replace it so often is frustrating. I was thinking of just covering that one side completely with something more permanent but I don’t know what to use. So we just visit the local pet store where they sell it by the foot…

 

[Beman]

I use the solid pvc sheets... You can get them at home depot or lowes. Typically they come in a 4ftx8ft sheet. I use the thin one that is like 1/8th of an inch thick. I did replace my screen and attach it with screws but you could cut the sized pieces you need and then use the command stick velcrow strips on the outside cage frame to have them removable for cleaning.

 

[DoveSnow]

I use the solid pvc sheets... You can get them at home depot or lowes. Typically they come in a 4ftx8ft sheet. I use the thin one that is like 1/8th of an inch thick. I did replace my screen and attach it with screws but you could cut the sized pieces you need and then use the command stick velcrow strips on the outside cage frame to have them removable for cleaning.

Ohhhh that’s exactly what I want! Thanks!!!

 

[DoveSnow]

Also, I got the new fogger and it broke last night after only two uses! Same thing, it just spilled all the water and no longer fogs. I’m so frustrated, I’m obviously not getting the same one again. Does anyone have a suggestion?

 

[ERKleRose]

Also, I got the new fogger and it broke last night after only two uses! Same thing, it just spilled all the water and no longer fogs. I’m so frustrated, I’m obviously not getting the same one again. Does anyone have a suggestion?

This one is popular (just replace the tubing): PETSPIONEER Reptile Humidifier Digital Timing Fog Machine with Double Hose & 4 Liter Reservoir, Automatic Terrarium Fogger for Reptiles/Amphibians/Herps/Vivarium https://a.co/d/7IX7tOV

 

[DoveSnow]

This one is popular (just replace the tubing): PETSPIONEER Reptile Humidifier Digital Timing Fog Machine with Double Hose & 4 Liter Reservoir, Automatic Terrarium Fogger for Reptiles/Amphibians/Herps/Vivarium https://a.co/d/7IX7tOV

Hahaha that’s the one that I have!!! I’ve had two. I was happy with the first one until it died after 7 months and the second one was purchased by a different seller but it’s identical and died the same way in two days