Black scab on Rango's back

[bmat2723]

Hello everyone.

I just got my veiled cham Rango about a week ago and he's only about 4-5 months old. Today when i got home i noticed a black looking scab on his back. I have no idea how he got it and i can't tell if it's a burn or injury. Can someone help me out?

Here's the only good pic i could really get. If anymore info is needed please let me know.

 

[mcbdz]

Hello and welcome to the forums. Yes. To get help the fastest you'll need to feel out this questionnaire. I'll post the link and just copy, paste then, fill in your answers as detailed as possible. More pics are needed. Try and get a clear picture. Even if you can't get real close someone on here may be able to blow it up and see, if it's clear. Pic of encloser and his body will be good also.
Hope you get an answer soon. If nothing else find an exotic/ reptile vet in your area. If it is some kind of a scab/wound you'll need to take him in.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Carlton]

Hello everyone.

I just got my veiled cham Rango about a week ago and he's only about 4-5 months old. Today when i got home i noticed a black looking scab on his back. I have no idea how he got it and i can't tell if it's a burn or injury. Can someone help me out?

Here's the only good pic i could really get. If anymore info is needed please let me know.

It's pretty hard to say for sure, but something sudden like that could be a bruise. It wasn't there yesterday right? Maybe he bumped himself on something in the cage? When a cham gets bruised its skin turns greyish black for several days. You should see it fade away over time. If the skin itself looks different than the skin around the black area it could be a burn or some sort of infection, but these don't tend to show up that suddenly.

Now if it doesn't fade, the edges of the black spot look puffy or inflamed, you should have a vet look at it.

 

[bmat2723]

Ok here's a little bit better photo and a pic of his enclosure. It's a 28 gallon tank and about 2 feet tall and 18" wide. I also noticed today a black spot along the back part of his jaw near his neck so i will be taking him in to the vet.

 

[bmat2723]

I almost forgot, the one on his back is fading a little bit btw

 

[bmat2723]

Chameleon - Male, veiled chameleon about 5 months old. I've had him about a week and a half
Handling - I handle him about once or twice a day for about 30 minutes just letting him crawl up my arms for exercise.
Feeding - 6 crickets every morning. I gut load with Flukers cricket quenchers
Supplements - Rep-Cal calcium with Vit. D. I dust them with about 1 tsp once when i get them. He starting getting that white powder stuff around his nostrils so i use less now than i did.
Watering - I spray his tank down about 3-4 times a day for about 2-3 minutes. His humidity normally stays between 40-60%. I saw him drinking when we first got him but i don't notice him drinking as much now.
Fecal description - white and brown looks kind of like bird poop. not really runny but not really solid either

Cage type - 28 gallon glass tank with a glass top. I normally leave the top off though since it gets too hot and too humid. About 2 feet tall and 18" in diameter.
Lighting - I don't have the bulb specifics but his day light stays on between 8am and 8 pm. I use a red light at night. They were both recommended by the rep at petsmart so i assume they're ok.
Temp - 82 near the bottom and 90 at his basking. our house stays at 75 so it doesn't change at night. I use a tank thermometer near his basking spot. He never goes towards the bottom of his tank.
Humidity - between 40 and 60%. I spray his tank about 3-4 times a day for about 2 minutes.
Plants 1 fake plant that sticks to the side of his tank and drapes over his basking area.
Placement - Bottom of his tank is about 3 feet off the ground top about 5. He is in my sons room but my son hardly ever in there. and there are no fans just the vent on the ceiling for A/C
Geography Fort Worth, TX

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum I would say it's most likely a bruise, but there's a new one now to confuse me .......
There are a few things to mention about your setup though, even with an open top an all-glass enclosure might not have adequate ventilation.
You don't mention a uvb light, and as petsmart are well known for giving dodgy advice on looking after chameleons I think you should check it out. You don't need any kind of light at night (it can disturb sleep, and you need a nighttime drop in temps anyway).
Flukers is a pretty rubbish gutload, there are some much better ones available such as cricket crack or Repashy bug burger. Fresh fruits and veg are always best too - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
You need a plain calcium dust with no d3 for everyday use. The usual schedule used by forum members is to give the d3 twice a month.
He could really do with some more branches that are a good fit for his tiny feet, with more leafy foliage to hide in too.
Here is a great all-round caresheet I always recommend to new owners with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

 

[carol5208]

David already gave you great advice but please change out that tank soon or your chameleon is not going to thrive. Petsmart is notorious for selling chameleons and all the wrong equipment. Your temps are too high, not enough ventilation, substrate that will get soggy and breed bacteria....you are setting up your chameleon for a respiratory infection. Sorry you have been given all the wrong info, but we can help you get on the right track before it is too late. When you get a new enclosure, do not put the substrate back in. Leave the cage floor bare. He should be eating about 15 feeders a day. You are also underfeeding him.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Everyone above hit the key points, you definitely should get rid of the glass aquarium. I noticed that you have a bowl of standing water, is that to catch the dripper run off? Its too far away from any leaves so I don't think so.

Chameleons don't recognize standing water, there are some chameleons that will drink from standing water but its highly discouraged as it can breed bacteria just like the substrate. Veiled chameleons are tree dwellers, so they drink droplets off of leaves, and live in the branches (no substrate).

 

[bmat2723]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone. I will getting him a new enclosure as soon as i can and definitely be feeding him more. I'm taking him into the vet today to have him checked out today and i'll make adjustments to his tank until i can get him a better one. Would a small fan help with the ventilation?

 

[bmat2723]

And yes his light for the daytime is a UVB light

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Remember to not have any lights at night, and also a fan can give cold drafts. (Don't ask me why, but the experienced members discourage this.)

 

[mcbdz]

Sorry the petshop gave you such bad advice. How long do you think it will be before you can get a new cage. It needs to be 2 ft x 2 ft x 4 ft? I don't know if a vent fan can help because the isn't a place to pull from the bottom. Is he in your room. Maybe you and set up a free range out of the tank for him?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/free-range/