OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
I titled this thread with the purpose in mind that if somebody out there ever does an internet search for a tongue issue with a cham, they may find it.
As some of you may know, Atlas was CH in 2014. I received him at 70g in 2015. He thrived but in March of 2016 he suffered an injury to his tongue.
The injury was entirely due to him shooting at a large tomato worm whose grip was stronger than the chameleon's tongue. Instead of the bug being drawn into the mouth of the chameleon, the chameleon was drawn to the worm. The result, at a guess, was pulled muscle. Since that day years ago, Atlas has never been able to shoot more than an inch from his face. Actually, he doesn't bother. He'd starve to death if I didn't grab him by the nose three to four times a week and give him a roach. Now once it is in his mouth, he eats it. The only thing he will run over for is a Mantis, which he still can't shoot. He'll just try and grab it.
So, for the few asking about him, here's your update.
I have force fed him weekly now for three plus years. He gets mostly orange head roaches. Twice a month he gets a fuzzy mouse. When he started getting force fed he was less than 200g.
As for now....
He's just shy of 800g. I'm not proud to say that over 600g of that is me force feeding him. Actually from my past exp. with these animals, he should be bigger at his age. A rough estimate would be about 10% more, so 850g? My last male was just under 1050g over twenty years ago. He was much larger than Atlas here. Each of those metal squares is an inch. He's about 7 inches long snout to vent. So he turned five years old this past May. Close to 800g. The old man I was referencing from twenty years back was about 12 inches long snout to vent.
For anybody referencing this trying to find a 'cure' for a damaged tongue, there isn't one as of this post. Sorry. I've spoken to many genuine experts, no dice. I keep forgetting I'm an expert myself, despite that - I don't know everything. I do reach out to those who I know also have a ton of real hands on experience.
I've made sure the supplements are solid, his lighting needs met, and the fact he's still alive after 3+ years of being force fed, should logically inform you that he's had ample time to heal. Has gained a huge amount of weight, and still can't shoot. It's permanent. So if you are unlucky enough to have this issue, be prepared to care long term for your invalid lizard.
As some of you may know, Atlas was CH in 2014. I received him at 70g in 2015. He thrived but in March of 2016 he suffered an injury to his tongue.
The injury was entirely due to him shooting at a large tomato worm whose grip was stronger than the chameleon's tongue. Instead of the bug being drawn into the mouth of the chameleon, the chameleon was drawn to the worm. The result, at a guess, was pulled muscle. Since that day years ago, Atlas has never been able to shoot more than an inch from his face. Actually, he doesn't bother. He'd starve to death if I didn't grab him by the nose three to four times a week and give him a roach. Now once it is in his mouth, he eats it. The only thing he will run over for is a Mantis, which he still can't shoot. He'll just try and grab it.
So, for the few asking about him, here's your update.
I have force fed him weekly now for three plus years. He gets mostly orange head roaches. Twice a month he gets a fuzzy mouse. When he started getting force fed he was less than 200g.
As for now....
He's just shy of 800g. I'm not proud to say that over 600g of that is me force feeding him. Actually from my past exp. with these animals, he should be bigger at his age. A rough estimate would be about 10% more, so 850g? My last male was just under 1050g over twenty years ago. He was much larger than Atlas here. Each of those metal squares is an inch. He's about 7 inches long snout to vent. So he turned five years old this past May. Close to 800g. The old man I was referencing from twenty years back was about 12 inches long snout to vent.
For anybody referencing this trying to find a 'cure' for a damaged tongue, there isn't one as of this post. Sorry. I've spoken to many genuine experts, no dice. I keep forgetting I'm an expert myself, despite that - I don't know everything. I do reach out to those who I know also have a ton of real hands on experience.
I've made sure the supplements are solid, his lighting needs met, and the fact he's still alive after 3+ years of being force fed, should logically inform you that he's had ample time to heal. Has gained a huge amount of weight, and still can't shoot. It's permanent. So if you are unlucky enough to have this issue, be prepared to care long term for your invalid lizard.
