Tongue hanging out

[myma81]

Hi guys,
I went to check on my veiled a minute ago and his tongue was hanging out. Not all the way, just the big sticky part. I panicked and sprayed his face to get him lubricated and after a sec or 2 he retracted it. He looks normal in every other way and seems ok again now. Does this sometimes happen to chameleons for no reason and will he be ok? Should I take him to the vet or just keep observing him? Any advice pls? xx

 

[camimom]

Did he retract it?

Had you just fed him?

its possible you caught him pulling it back in if he missed a bug with it.

its also possible he hyperextended it.

I would keep an eye on him, and observe him when he eats.

 

[myma81]

Did he retract it?

Had you just fed him?

its possible you caught him pulling it back in if he missed a bug with it.

its also possible he hyperextended it.

I would keep an eye on him, and observe him when he eats.

Hi Camimom,
He did retract it but only a few seconds after I gently misted his face. I don't know whether he had just eaten because I wasn't in the room. But he was in the same place as I had left him, hadn't moved. Wasn't basking, just sitting on his hibiscus plant with the tip of his tongue sticking out. Was very strange. I have just hand fed him calci-worms and everything seems ok for now. Do veiled chameleons have tongue issues in general? I'm concerned there's something wrong with him but don't want to fork out for a vet if you guys think I'm being silly. xx

 

[camimom]

Is the tongue back in now?
you say it was just the tip of the tongue?

he may have been preparing to get a bug, or had just licked up some water.


thres no one species prone to tongue stuff as others.

Cna you post a a pic of him?

I think hes fine.

no need to rush to a vet right now.

 

[myma81]

Yea the tip, about an inch or so but it's back in as normal now. He's eating fine. I've watched him eat many times and he wasn't about to fire his tongue at prey, it was just sticking out for no apparent reason. Here is a pic I took earlier. Do you think he looks healthy?

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the chameleon forums. Your little man is adorable! What's his name? From what I can tell from the photos he looks fine to me. Let's hope the tongue thing was just a one time thing and will not happen again. If I were you I'd find a good chameleon vet and have one ready just incase it does happen again. I'm attaching my blog for new keeps below. I hope you will find it helpful.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[myma81]

Thank you Jan, he's called Neo and I hope he'll be ok too, the family wouldn't be the same without him. I already contacted my local vet when I bought him home to check they can treat chameleons and it's only down the road from me. I will keep an eye on him and I'll take him to the vet if it ever happens again. Thanks for the reasurement ladies xx