Black spot in the front bottom area of teeth/mouth of my 8 month old chameleon Flick

[Flickmycham]

My 8 month old panther chameleon has black spots on his front lower teeth/mouth area. I noticed it for the first time earlier this week. He has been eating normally. He mainly eats black soldier fly larvae and flies, dubia roaches and hornworms. I’ve tried getting him to open his mouth to get a closer look and I’m not able to. He’s very docile and hardly ever gapes at me or anyone so it’s hard to get a good look. The pictures are while he is chewing a hornworm. Anyone have any ideas what this looks like?

 

[bruce the cham]

mmmmm

 

[Beman]

@kinyonga what do you think?

 

[kinyonga]

Not really sure...it's hard to see it clearly on my tablet.

 

[Beman]

Not really sure...it's hard to see it clearly on my tablet.

I just tried to blow it up for you. Can you see it better here?

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks @Beman !
It could be the beginning of mouth rot. Have you tried touching it gently with. Q-tip?

 

[Lindasjackson]

Is mouth rot a bacterial infection?

 

[Flickmycham]

Thanks @Beman !
It could be the beginning of mouth rot. Have you tried touching it gently with. Q-tip?

I wanted to do that but he won’t open his mouth Ive tried grabbing him by the back of the head, hand around his back and he just won’t open his mouth. He puffs up and huffs like he’s mad but he won’t open. Any suggestions on how to do this?

 

[bruce the cham]

could he have eaten dirt

 

[Flickmycham]

could he have eaten dirt

It’s possible. One time about a month ago I seen him shoot his tongue at some dirt, so it’s possible he does eat some dirt when I’m not around or looking I guess. Would it be possible it’s dirt stuck in there for days? I first noticed the spot I believe on Sunday so it’s been about 5 days. My first thought was that it was bug parts stuck in there but the spot hasn’t changed or moved..

 

[bruce the cham]

yay try getting it with a q tip if it moves

 

[Flickmycham]

yay try getting it with a q tip if it moves

I just hope I can get him to open his mouth. I’ve tried twice today for about 10 minutes each and he just would not budge. But I just watched a YouTube video showing how to do it so I’m going to try again tonight, hopefully I’ll be able to get a q tip in

 

[MissSkittles]

I just hope I can get him to open his mouth. I’ve tried twice today for about 10 minutes each and he just would not budge. But I just watched a YouTube video showing how to do it so I’m going to try again tonight, hopefully I’ll be able to get a q tip in

He doesn’t get fired up and gape when your phone is in front of him?

 

[Flickmycham]

He doesn’t get fired up and gape when your phone is in front of him?

No I swear he models for the camera lol which is cool except when I’m trying to get him to gape like a normal cham

here’s some Flick pics for your viewing pleasure

 

[Lindasjackson]

He’s beautiful!

 

[Flickmycham]

He’s beautiful!

He says thank you he’s really so sweet. I just don’t know what I would do if anything happens to him.

How would a vet open his mouth? I’ve heard of vets accidentally breaking chameleons bones and jaws, so that’s why I’m hesitant to immediately run to a vet, in addition the one that is experienced in chams has a month wait with a deposit required to even make an appointment. Any advice?

 

[Beman]

So I am not seeing swelling, discoloration or oozing... Which you do typically see with mouth rot.

Does he actively drink like if you do a long misting session? This might help flush the mouth if it is something stuck in there.

 

[Flickmycham]

So I am not seeing swelling, discoloration or oozing... Which you do typically see with mouth rot.

Does he actively drink like if you do a long misting session? This might help flush the mouth if it is something stuck in there.

Agreed, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of infection other than the black color. Do you think it could be chunks of bug stuck in there? I never see him drink but I assume he probably is because his urates are always very white though I do feed him hornworms.. will hornworms hydrate them enough for them to make white urate even if they are not drinking?

 

[Beman]

Agreed, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of infection other than the black color. Do you think it could be chunks of bug stuck in there? I never see him drink but I assume he probably is because his urates are always very white though I do feed him hornworms.. will hornworms hydrate them enough for them to make white urate even if they are not drinking?

What supplements are you using?

So hornworms hydrate.. But more then likely he is drinking when you are not looking. If your fogging at night this is also another form of hydration.

 

[Flickmycham]

What supplements are you using?

So hornworms hydrate.. But more then likely he is drinking when you are not looking. If your fogging at night this is also another form of hydration.

I use Arcadia earth pro-A every day and then Repashy multivitamin every 2 weeks (just used it today).

I use a humidifier at night aimed in the enclosure, it ups the humidity to about 70% at night during the winter