Chameleon rubbing a sore on its chin

[bandhturtlesite]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Senegal Chameleon. I have had it for about 3 weeks and I am not sure of the sex yet.
Handling - I try to handle it as little as possible but maybe 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I do not mean to handle him he just grabs on to me when I am cleaning the enclosure or just trying to check on him.
Feeding - I have been feeding him crickets mostly but am trying meal worms and dubia roaches. I make sure that my feeders always have a supply of food to gut load them with.
Supplements - Zoo Med Repticalcium
Watering - I mist and use a dripper. I fill up the dripper a few times a day(It is not very big) and I mist for about 2 1/2 to 5 min. I do see him drink sometimes but not a whole lot.
Fecal Description - Orangish brown and clear. It has not been tested for parasites to my knowledge.
History - It is a wild caught chameleon. When I first had the chameleon I had the enclosure in a higher traffic area for a bit until I could get things moved around for the enclosure to go in its proper spot.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Zilla Fresh Air Screen Habitat 18x12x20
Lighting - I have a Exo Terra 50 watt basking bulb and either a Reptiglo 5.0 or a Reptisun 5.0 I can't recall at this moment and I am not at home to check. I turn them on at around 9 and turn them off around 8-9.
Temperature - The enclosure is about mid to upper 70s at the lowest and that is even at night. Baksing area is around 90 degrees. I measure temp with a digtial thermometer.
Humidity - My humidity is around 70-80%, I mist and use a dripper system. There are also live plants in the enclosure. I measure the humidity with a small humidity gauge.
Plants - I have a Peperomia plant, a Bella Palm and some kind of small creeping vine like plant.
Placement - The enclosure is located in a back corner of my apartment. It is a low traffic area and there is a vent about 2-3 feet away but it is blowing warm air as it is winter right now. The top of the cage is about 4 1/2 to 5 feet off of the ground
Location - I live in Southern Illinois

Current Problem - My current problem is that I have had my chameleon for about 3 weeks and it keeps rubbing up against the cage and it has rubbed the front of its mouth raw on the lower jaw. I am not sure as to why he is rubbing his face against the enclosure like that. I am also worried that he may also not be drinking enough as I do not see him drink a whole lot very often. Two days ago I put him in my shower on a plant to try and hydrate him. I let him shower for about 20 minutes but he didn't drink much, he just sat there after a bit and closed his eyes. He seems more active earlier in the day and then kind of just sits around, especially if I have the uvb light on he just sits right under it. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Carlton]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Senegal Chameleon. I have had it for about 3 weeks and I am not sure of the sex yet.
Handling - I try to handle it as little as possible but maybe 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I do not mean to handle him he just grabs on to me when I am cleaning the enclosure or just trying to check on him.
Feeding - I have been feeding him crickets mostly but am trying meal worms and dubia roaches. I make sure that my feeders always have a supply of food to gut load them with.
Supplements - Zoo Med Repticalcium
Watering - I mist and use a dripper. I fill up the dripper a few times a day(It is not very big) and I mist for about 2 1/2 to 5 min. I do see him drink sometimes but not a whole lot.
Fecal Description - Orangish brown and clear. It has not been tested for parasites to my knowledge.
History - It is a wild caught chameleon. When I first had the chameleon I had the enclosure in a higher traffic area for a bit until I could get things moved around for the enclosure to go in its proper spot.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Zilla Fresh Air Screen Habitat 18x12x20
Lighting - I have a Exo Terra 50 watt basking bulb and either a Reptiglo 5.0 or a Reptisun 5.0 I can't recall at this moment and I am not at home to check. I turn them on at around 9 and turn them off around 8-9.
Temperature - The enclosure is about mid to upper 70s at the lowest and that is even at night. Baksing area is around 90 degrees. I measure temp with a digtial thermometer.
Humidity - My humidity is around 70-80%, I mist and use a dripper system. There are also live plants in the enclosure. I measure the humidity with a small humidity gauge.
Plants - I have a Peperomia plant, a Bella Palm and some kind of small creeping vine like plant.
Placement - The enclosure is located in a back corner of my apartment. It is a low traffic area and there is a vent about 2-3 feet away but it is blowing warm air as it is winter right now. The top of the cage is about 4 1/2 to 5 feet off of the ground
Location - I live in Southern Illinois

Current Problem - My current problem is that I have had my chameleon for about 3 weeks and it keeps rubbing up against the cage and it has rubbed the front of its mouth raw on the lower jaw. I am not sure as to why he is rubbing his face against the enclosure like that. I am also worried that he may also not be drinking enough as I do not see him drink a whole lot very often. Two days ago I put him in my shower on a plant to try and hydrate him. I let him shower for about 20 minutes but he didn't drink much, he just sat there after a bit and closed his eyes. He seems more active earlier in the day and then kind of just sits around, especially if I have the uvb light on he just sits right under it. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Your cage is too small for a nearly adult or full adult Senegal which may be the main reason for rubbing on the screen...its trying to get out. Chams feel more secure if they can be hidden in thick foliage out of sight and as high up as possible as well. There may have been a sore there before you got it and as it was probably confined even more during shipping that started it off. Wc chams are pretty stressed by all the transport and less-than-perfect conditions they've been through, and 3 weeks isn't a very long time to settle down really.

It is pretty normal for a cham to spend a lot of time just sitting and watching the world go by, once it has warmed up, patroled the territory, eaten or had a drink. Sitting under the UV light is fine. Sitting directly under the heat spot most of the day is a sign its too cool. I am not familiar with some of your plants so can't visualize how much leafy cover your cage has. More foliage means more security, higher humidity (which you need to keep track of especially in our winters with forced air heating), and chances to drink water droplets off the leaves.

 

[Lovereps]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
Glad that you found it since this is a great place to get reliable answers.
Most of your care looks good but there are a few things that you can change to make your cham happier and help to ensure he stays healthy.

Often, a chameleon that is in a cage which is too small will rub against the screen, even to the point of injury--like your poor cham is doing--so I suspect that this is the problem.
Add to that the fact that he wants to come out of his cage and it seems that he is stressed out in his cage.
Chams need taller cages, compared to other critters.
The minimum recommended size for a Senegal is 16x16x30 for younger Senegals and 18x18x36 for adult Senegals.
DIY cages makes some nice cages like this one:
http://www.diycages.com/15201/15922.html

Some dilute chlorhexidine (available at stores as Hibiclens) can be used to disinfect his open wound, followed by Silvadene, if you can get some (it's a prescription medicine) or triple antibiotic ointment.

I also wonder if his cage is also too hot. A 50 watt bulb on a 20 inch cage might be hotter than you suspect. If your thermometer is inaccurate, as many are, this could be a factor.

Hot air heat is typically very dry, so if that is blowing on his cage, he may also be too dry--again an accurate measurement is needed.

In addition to lightly dusting with calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) at nearly every feeding, lightly dust with a multivitamin 2x a month,
and calcium with D3 2x a month

Here is a nice caresheet about Senegals:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/senegal/

If you post clear pictures, someone may be able to determine the sex of your cham.

 

[bandhturtlesite]

Thanks for the help. What can i do in the meantime to stop him from rubbing on the cage until I can make/purchase a bigger enclosure?

 

[bandhturtlesite]

The plants i listed were only the living plants. The peperomia plant doesn't provide as much cover but it has wide flat leaves for the water to gather on like a water bowl. I also have 3 fake plants I can't recall what kind but there is a lot of cover for my chameleon to hide.

 

[Carlton]

Thanks for the help. What can i do in the meantime to stop him from rubbing on the cage until I can make/purchase a bigger enclosure?

Hmm, unless you have a large houseplant you could free range him on in a shower stall or a closet I'm not sure. A bird cage with narrowly spaced bars possibly, but it may be hard to find one larger than the cage he has. You could buy a length of hardware cloth, stand the loop upright with the lights across the top. You could get a roll of fiberglass window screen and drape it over something (like a fake foliage tree) to form an enclosure, and suspend your lights over the top.

Maybe the quickest thing is to put some Polysporin on the sore to help protect it from infection in the mean time.

 

[Lovereps]

As Carlton mentioned, if you have a large enough cham safe houseplant, you could just "freerange" him on it in a shower or spare room. You just have to make absolutely sure he can't touch the lights (or drown in a toilet, if the bathroom is used.
This thread has a fast, relatively inexpensive idea for a quick, temporary cage in post #8 , though Hardware Cloth would be safer to put lights on top of and you would want to use a piece of it to cover the top opening:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-owner-2-female-veiled-chameleons-one-adopted-sick-102843/
There's nothing wrong with using artificial plants. Live plants are better for helping to keep the humidity levels higher.

 

[bandhturtlesite]

Here is an update on my chameleon situation. Last night when I got home from work I put some Neosporin on the sore. This morning I went out and got some Hibiclens but I'm not sure if I will be able to get any Silvadene as there is not a reptile vet close to me.

I set up my little chameleon in my shower with a few plants so he won't continue rubbing his face raw.

I have also uploaded some pictures of my chameleon so you can see what it looks like.

 

[ReptileLove18]

that cham needs a bigger enclosure or to be free ranged asap! i think this because the "sore" looks more like its rubbing its snout away..

 

[bandhturtlesite]

I am trying to find a larger enclosure right now but until I get one I will be keeping my chameleon in my shower as a mini free range.

 

[ReptileLove18]

sounds good! the size ive seen recommended for adults, is 2 feet wide x 2 feet deep x 4 feet tall. thats what im getting for my cham for when its an adult

 

[Carlton]

Here is an update on my chameleon situation. Last night when I got home from work I put some Neosporin on the sore. This morning I went out and got some Hibiclens but I'm not sure if I will be able to get any Silvadene as there is not a reptile vet close to me.

I set up my little chameleon in my shower with a few plants so he won't continue rubbing his face raw.

I have also uploaded some pictures of my chameleon so you can see what it looks like.

This looks good! The Polysporin (I've read that it is a bit more compatible with herp skin than Neosporin) will work if you can't get Silvadene. The main points were to stop the rubbing and to protect the sore. You'll also be able to keep the humidity higher which is always a good thing for a new stressed cham. Occasionally running the shower lukewarm, aiming it at the wall so the spray bounces gently onto the plant will give this cham lots of opportunity to rehydrate and drink while it tries to stay out of sight. It looks pretty dehydrated to me. Good job and good luck!

 

[bandhturtlesite]

Is there any other way to help hydrate my chameleon or is the best way to use the shower with water spraying at the wall?

Today when I put my chameleon in his mini free range in my shower, I kept finding my chameleon on the floor of the shower or climbing down onto the floor from the large plant. Why is my chameleon doing this? Is it normal or could there be something he doesn't like about the new shower setup?

 

[Lovereps]

You can run a dripper or use a spray bottle with warm water to mist him or both. Some folks use an eyedropper but I wouldn't drip water onto the tip of his nose with a dropper until after the wound has closed up.
What works for some chams doesn't work for others.

Maybe he is just exploring the shower or looking for an escape route.
If you add another plant, maybe that will encourage him to hang out in the plants.
My chams typically stay in the top and middle of their enclosures but they will sometimes wander to other areas, including the bottom.


FWIW, Silvadene is also used for people and probably was developed for human use.
You'd be wise to find a reptile knowledgeable vet nearby for when you absolutely need one.
There is probably one nearer to you than you realize.
ARAV vets have a special interest in reptiles and can be good for cham medical care:
You can locate one in Illinois here:
http://www.arav.org/find-a-vet/
Other vet locating resources:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinarian-resources-67/
And of course you can search past posts or ask for help from forum members if none of the others pan out, which is doubtful.

Senegals are generally wild caught and wild caught chams very often have internal parasites which can lead to serious health problems or death.
Fecal testing by a vet is recommended because it is how the majority of common internal parasites can be detected.


Carlton, do you have a source for your info on Polysporin?
The only difference between the Neosporin and the Polysporin is that Neosporin (aka triple antibiotic cream) adds Neomycin. The other ingredients are the same. You may be right or it might just be hearsay.

 

[bandhturtlesite]

I have a plant on each side of the large houseplant and 75% of the time that I come in to check on my chameleon it is on the floor of the shower. It seems like it is trying to find a way out of the shower. If I don't find him on the floor of the shower or making his way down to the floor, he is sitting with his eyes closed. He sits like that most of the time.

My chameleon has also not eaten in the last few days. I have a small cup in the shower with a few meal worms and dubia roach in it. Is there anything I can do to entice him to eat? I have also not seen it drinking either, despite misting often and running the shower a few times a day.

 

[Lovereps]

Unless you are not using any lighting so he is in a dark area during the day, it sounds like he is sick.
Chams do not close their eyes during the day when they are healthy.
Chameleons hide all signs of illness for as long as they possibly can.
Once they are showing signs of illness, it's because they've become too weak to hide it any longer.
Your cham is showing at least 3 signs of illness; lethargy, daytime sleeping and loss of appetite.
Not drinking, if indeed he isn't, is not a good sign either.
Think of how sick you'd have to be to not be bothered drinking anything.

The nose wound may be infected or a respiratory infection may have set in or he may have internal parasites that are overwhelming him--or a combination of these.

In any case, the only solution is to take him to a good vet without delay.
There are no home remedies or inexpensive petstore medications to help him.

ARAV vets have a special interest in reptiles and can be good for cham medical care:
You can locate one in Illinois here:
http://www.arav.org/find-a-vet/
Other vet locating resources:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinarian-resources-67/

 

[bandhturtlesite]

Yes I have a light on the chameleon.

This is what I was afraid of when I saw him sleeping in the daytime. It is a wild caught chameleon so the possibility of it having parasites is pretty good.

 

[Lovereps]

Well, parasites and infections, when treated, aren't necessarily a death sentence, so I hope you'll get the little critter to a vet--and get him a new enclosure to feel stress-free and secure in..

 

[bandhturtlesite]

Here is an update on my Chameleon. Sunday the Chameleon was not doing so well it wasn't drinking and it was just sleeping most of the day. On Monday I got it to eat and it began drinking again. Today, Tuesday, it has been drinking like crazy and has been keeping its eyes open. My chameleon seems to be doing a little better now and I hope to keep up the progress. I am still misting and showering him often during the day to try and hydrate him.