Trimming nails

[twig]

Recently, my Jackson's cham has been climbing the sided of his screen enclosure. Is it recommended to trim his nails so that they do not get caught in the screen and potentially breaking or pulling off? If so, what is the best way to go about it? I used to trim my Iguana's nails when he would climb the wire but of course his were much larger. Thanks!

 

[dacrazycanadian]

My understanding is they don't grow back, so don't clip them. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

[LundqvistNYR]

im pretty sure nails grow back

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I can tell you from experience that their nails do not grow back. I have a female panther that came to me with her nails missing. She is incapable of climbing the screen cage, but also has trouble gripping anything we'll. due to this she is very slow and deliberate when moving around her cage, it hasn't kept her from living a good life though, just at a slower pace.

 

[carol5208]

No, do not cut their nails. They need them for gripping and climbing.

 

[Cait0420]

My vet told me never to cut their nails

 

[twig]

Thank you everyone!

 

[laurie]

See we are all happy to help. All the folks that said don't trim, they do not grow back are spot on. Sometimes a cham will get a nail caught in the screen. If they rip it out, you may or may not notice it is gone, but it is gone forever.

 

[fuzzhc]

See we are all happy to help. All the folks that said don't trim, they do not grow back are spot on. Sometimes a cham will get a nail caught in the screen. If they rip it out, you may or may not notice it is gone, but it is gone forever.

Agreed do not trimthey need them for climbing . BUT my female actually lost quite a few nails when frantically trying to get out of her enclosure some time last year, they got caught on the screen top (after letting her out to free range she became and explorer and hated her cage) and now they have all grown back and looking good as new.

 

[nomannomad]

Is there a difference between losing nails and breaking them? Like if they fall out from the root they don't grown back, but would it grow back if they broke just the tip of it? Or will it permanently be short and blunt?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Recently, my Jackson's cham has been climbing the sided of his screen enclosure. Is it recommended to trim his nails so that they do not get caught in the screen and potentially breaking or pulling off? If so, what is the best way to go about it? I used to trim my Iguana's nails when he would climb the wire but of course his were much larger. Thanks!

I suggest you provide something for him to climb on so that he is not using the screen.

Some people put a wider stronger mesh on the inside of screen cages for this reason.