I need help now!!! Wtf is this???

I'm totally freaking out right now...I have never seen this before. I visited loki for some food today and hand fed him some butterworms, came home four hours later and found him like this! Any info would help guys..I'm trying hard not to panic. He was perfectly fine when I saw him four hours ago!!! I don't understand

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Panther, Male, 13 months, 10 months in my care

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? On the Weekends

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, butterworms, silkworms, hornworms switched feeder every feeding. dusted crickets with Repashy cacium plus, gut loaded with bug burger. He gets fed two days on, one day off, and he eats about 5 bugs per day, unless it's the hornworms, then only two bugs.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? dusting crickets every feeding with Repashy calcium plus

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I use a big dripper and a mistking. Mister is 5 min per session at 7am, 10am, 1pm and 4pm. I see my cham drink almost every morning except the past three days.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Nice white urates, solid brown poos. Not tested.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I got him as a baby, only been in my care

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 24 inches wide x 24 inches deep x 36 inches high. Screen

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? reptisun 5.0, floramax growing light, 57W basking bulb. lights on a timer 6:30am-6:30pm

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking spot is at 85-90F, i use a thermometer probe, the bottom of the cage is around 70F. Lowest overnight temp is 68F

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? One pothos, one ficus, one croton. a few fake vines with plastic leaves

Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? In my office, low traffic area. No fans, one air vent not close to cage. It's on a 30 inch stand

Location - Where are you geographically located? Central California

It looks like it could be a bruise. Could one of his feeders have bitten him? I wouldn't really worry much unless the texture changes or it gets puffy. But maybe someone else may have a different opinion?

It looks like a bruise or focal discoloration since it was so acute. If one of the worms but him in the mouth he might be showing a local color change from pain, irritation or inflammation. I wouldn't panic just yet. Wait and see what happens over the next few days. Some of my chams have had focal discoloration before that was temporary. If it spreads or he starts to not act like himself it might be time for some diagnostics, but give it some time to clear up first.

I hope it's only a bruise, I'm so worried

ferretinmyshoes said:

It looks like a bruise or focal discoloration since it was so acute. If one of the worms but him in the mouth he might be showing a local color change from pain, irritation or inflammation. I wouldn't panic just yet. Wait and see what happens over the next few days. Some of my chams have had focal discoloration before that was temporary. If it spreads or he starts to not act like himself it might be time for some diagnostics, but give it some time to clear up first.

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Oh thank god. Thank you so much for your response, I was distraught and my day has been pretty bad on top of it.

I have read about butter worms discoloring skin on chams before. If you Google info about butter worms you will find many accounts of similar incidences.

pigglett79 said:

I have read about butter worms discoloring skin on chams before. If you Google info about butter worms you will find many accounts of similar incidences.

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Does it go away?

Oh my gosh!!! I just read some stories on google! This is crazy! I had NO idea!!! I'm glad I have not given these to my little guy before. Why are these recommended as "safe" feeders???

VanessaS said:

Oh my gosh!!! I just read some stories on google! This is crazy! I had NO idea!!! I'm glad I have not given these to my little guy before. Why are these recommended as "safe" feeders???

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I have an order on the way, don't know for sure if the stories are true. My Jacksons wouldn't eat them, but I thought my panther might like them. I do worry a little though.

I have never heard of butterworms being the sole cause of skin color changes. All 4 of my chams and occasionally even the pygmies enjoy tons of butterworms and have never had a problem.

Just googled it and found one story about a crested gecko repeated on several sites and that's it. Gecko skin is not the same as chameleon skin. No one has ever reported adverse effects from butterworms in chameleons as far as I know.

Ashleigh said:

Does it go away?

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Hopefully it will go away and hopefully it wasn't the butter worms. I just remembered reading supposed accounts before and that was the first thing I thought of when I saw your post.

I've fed him butterworms before though, and it never did this before..

Is there any chance you closed the cage on his face? Like he was trying to sneak out and you didn't notice?

I hope he stays healthy!

He is very pretty btw

ferretinmyshoes said:

It looks like a bruise or focal discoloration since it was so acute. If one of the worms but him in the mouth he might be showing a local color change from pain, irritation or inflammation. I wouldn't panic just yet. Wait and see what happens over the next few days. Some of my chams have had focal discoloration before that was temporary. If it spreads or he starts to not act like himself it might be time for some diagnostics, but give it some time to clear up first.

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We really need a like button on the forums.

djfishygillz said:

Is there any chance you closed the cage on his face? Like he was trying to sneak out and you didn't notice?

I hope he stays healthy!

He is very pretty btw

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He's always begging to come out, but no, I don't think that happend this time lol Thanks, I hope he gets back to normal soon...

I second that!

ataraxia said:

We really need a like button on the forums.

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He is so cute

I hope he is better. I feed butter worms never had a problem. He looks like he has a beard getting ready for the winter months.... All kidding aside I hope he is doing good and the discoloration is going away....

Amy

birdlover71 said:

I hope he is better. I feed butter worms never had a problem. He looks like he has a beard getting ready for the winter months.... All kidding aside I hope he is doing good and the discoloration is going away....

Amy

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Yea I don't think the worms were the issue...it's just the weirdest thing, and it was such a fast change! lol it does look like a beard I hope he gets better soon...Hopefully it doesn't get any worse

I have seen that before in one of my females after laying eggs, and one of my males, but after a few hours later the spots disappear. Maybe is some kind of stress to the area?