Black on back

[Beenletloose]

Hi, I'm brand new to this site and as a chameleon owner.
I have a python and leopard geckos, so a reptile keeper.

My chameleon Karma (panther blue bar) who I just got from a friend that has not the time to care for him

Has along his spikes on his back either missing or gone black, there is no swelling or oozing and no sign of infection from what I can tell

My friend said it is where the locusts has bit him, but I didn't think they did as they never have on my geckos.

She has fed him roaches too and morio worms, could it be from either of these, even thou unlikely the worms as it is on his back on not around his mouth.

Has anyone experiences this kind of thing, thanks really appreciate it

 

[camimom]

Locusts can and do bite.

but without pics, we cant speculate on what caused it.

 

[xephyr17]

If you post pics that would help. Seems like it could potentially be burns from being too close to heat

 

[Beenletloose]

Black spots

2 pics hope they are clear

 

[Beenletloose]

Black spots

No 2 picture

 

[Lazy Boy]

I would say it looks like a burn or maybe stuck shed that then killed the spikes but I'm far from a expert.

 

[Lovereps]

Welcome to the forum!

It's always nice when a new cham owner is actively seeking information to help his chameleon.

It probably is bites.
If you keep a fresh piece of carrot, potato, etc. in the cage, it will keep any feeders that have eluded him from chewing on him.

It probably isn't necessary but you could dilute some povidone iodine or chlorhexidine and apply it with a cotton swab to help prevent infection or apply some silver sulfadiazine cream.

It's a good idea to read through everything on the forum's Panther page, just to be sure that everything is as your cham needs it to be.
It's here https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/

Far too often people receive incorrect or incomplete care instructions and even though they're doing all they were told to do, their cham gets sick because of it.

 

[Beenletloose]

Thanks guys, I was worried it was something serious
I know the previous owner didn't put any bug food in the viv and no live plants, so I have today put some food in with the morio bowl like I do for my geckos so hopefully it will stop, I'm going to get a live plant too once I have done some research
I love him Soo much already I want him to be healthy and happy

Thanks again
Really appreciate it

 

[Beenletloose]

Hi lovereps

Thanks I've read the link you gave me
And just one question some of the items are not as they should be, but obviously he has lived with the previous already for a year now and seems healthy
Should I do a gradual change to the viv items and keep an eye on him
And she didn't mention giving vitamins only calcium so do you have a recommended vitamin

Thank you so much

 

[Mike Fisher]

Don't leave prey items in the enclosure overnight. They snack on your sleeping chameleon especially if no live plants in there for them to eat, because they are looking for hydration.

 

[Lovereps]

You're very welcome.
I'm always glad to help when caring new chamkeepers inquire so they can do what's best for their chams.

As for what changes to make and when, it truly depends on what isn't right.

For example: you could have a cham without a UVB bulb and think that he's fine without one because you didn't know that he was previously kept mostly outdoors.
If you then kept him indoors, he would soon have problems.

Another example is the absence of a multivitamin.
Most people use them to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
The previous owner may have used a "gutload" that made for exceptionally nutritious feeders.
If you then don't, deficiencies result.

FWIW, I use Reptivite but I also feed all of the feeders a very nutritious diet.

Some people use good commercial gutloads--Cricket Crack and Repashy Bug Burger are the only 2 I know of that are very nutritious.
Others opt to use a variety of veggie scraps with some other ingredients, such as Sandrachameleon describes here https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/835-simple-gutload-bug-food.html



A few of my captive bred Jackson's are here https://www.chameleonforums.com/young-cbb-jacksons-females-133320/ for those interested