What should fecal look like?

[loosekannon]

I believe my cham pooped today and it was like a dark mushy poop and also the urinate was white... I really hope its nothing... he seems healthy and just started eating today... this is his second day home.

Just want to make sure this could happen maybe from being stressed in the new house.

-Devin

 

[ChromaChameleons]

Urates should be white. If they are brown or orange , it suggests your cham isn't drinking enough water.

Stools should be well digested. If there are any coarse bits in the stool , this could be an indication of basking temps being too low. Mucus in the stool , can be , but not always, suggest a bacterial or parasite issue. If this persists, consider taking a stool sample to the vet.

 

[loosekannon]

Ok Thanks, the urinate was white and the fecal was just black and mushy.

 

[adam1v]

I found a very mushy white urinate this morning (for the first time).
I do have the cham on a worming regieme at the moment though

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy

Fecal material can vary quite a bit depending on the food items being consumed as well as parasite loading and other health issues. Urates with colors other than white can give some insight into the level of a chameleon's hydration level and kidney function. Sometimes colors other than white can be associated with certain feeder types (excessive superworm consumption can sometimes add a bit of orange tinge) and not a health issue. That's why it is important to know what your chameleon's normal poop looks like relative to his normal activity so that you might spot a health problem. Knowing that your chameleon has had a recent clean fecal check for parasites while still having runny poop might indicate some other health problem or just that he has been eating a lot of really juicy worms .

Good lookin' poop:

Overly big dump from a constipated, partially dehydrated chameleon 24 hours after orally given 5ml of 50/50 Pedialyte and water:

 

[loosekannon]

Thanks a ton for those pics!

His poop looks just like the one you showed but tiny and a little mushy... but it mighta been mushy because it fell from the top to the bottom? idk ill keep an eye on him..