Do chameleons get ticks?

[shaunaroxanne]

Just wondering because ticks are SO bad here this year. I had 2 kids with them after recess today. So do chameleons ever get ticks? Should I be checking under their arms and in other less visible spaces after they have been outside? And, should a chameleon get bitten by a deer tick, can they get Lyme disease?

 

[BocaJan]

Ticks are attracted to warm blooded things and since chams are cold blooded I would think ticks wouldn't be attracted to then. Just my guess.

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Crap, I just replied with this long reply and my phone rang, deleting it
so here is the short version:
I don't think so, ticks work off a warm body, not sure if they would recognize a reptile.
And unless they are in outside fr, how would a tick get in an enclosure?
but if it did, would a Cham eat it?
Anne

 

[Whatcamo]

I've seen pics of boas and such in the Everglades loaded with ticks but I don't know if it's a certain type of tick that's attracted to reptiles or not?? But when in doubt always error on the safer side

 

[Branman]

I've never heard of a reptile having a tick. This is interesting. I didn't even know a tick would be interested in reptiles.

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Eww
Ticks are just nasty
makes my skin crawl thinking about them attaching.
But with dogs and horses I have pulled my share and squished em!

 

[Whatcamo]

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/diseases/mitesticks.html

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Yes reptiles can get ticks. Your cham getting one is unlikely however. Never hurts to check though.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/diseases/mitesticks.html

So we do need to be concerned. I take mine out to sit on the trees while I'm close. Guess I'll be checking thoroughly.

 

[Whatcamo]

Like I said just error on the safe side my friend owns my old iguana and he has a favorite tree in his yard and he got a bunch of those flee and tick collars and placed them around the tree and he said he hasn't seen a tick on the tree since he lives down in Louisiana fwiw