Edema?

[jonathansh26]

Hey guys a couple weeks ago I noticed what seemed to be pink/cream colored bumps that would inflate and deflate in and out of my panther chameleon's armpits. It wen't away for a while..but now I noticed it again on one side, it literally comes and goes. What could this be? If you guys think it is edema, what exactly is edema, and is it life threatening? Can it go away on it's own. He is eating, drinking, moving. His poop looks fine. What do you guys think, please fill me in on some info!

 

[carol5208]

if you could post a pic that would be helpful. It sounds like it could be edema. I have a chameleon that I took on about 9 months ago. He came with edema and the previous owner said he had "the boobs" as he described them for about 1 1/2 yrs prior to my taking him. It comes and goes. There are days when it is non existant and other days it is quite present. It is thought to be caused by over supplementation but this guy was rarely supplemented, so that kinda throws that theory out the window. I am very light on the supplementation with him. It is some type of imbalance from what I know but I don't think anyone has really pinpointed the exact cause or how to make it go away. If someone out there knows differently, please let me know!! Do I think it is life threatening...well not in the case of this chameleon has been living with it for over 2 years now and is otherwise quite active and healthy

 

[jonathansh26]

Hmm ok..if anything it's over supplementation on my part, but now I'm afraid I will under supplement him! So chameleons can live normal healthy lives with edema? Does edema just go away on it's own?

 

[carol5208]

From what I have experienced, yes it just goes away on its own. My chameleon has been living with it for quite a number of years. I don't really know what the prior owner did or did not do to cause it. I know that I am giving him a better diet, natural sunshine everyday, plenty of water and spaces to roam and he still gets it from time to time. Here is a very good article on edema. It talks about giving the chameleon Mylanta to get rid of the edema. I have never gone that route. .http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-section-f-gout_28.html

 

[jonathansh26]

Wow you are so informative, I've been very concerned with this matter it's nice to have some insight from someone who seems to have the same experience..I gut load my crickets with bug burger, and give him
The occasional wax worm..I dust them every day with repashy super foods calcium plus..maybe I'm using too much? These methods were suggested from the breeders at kammerflage kreations.

 

[carol5208]

well I spend WAY too much time on here (lol) but you do get a great education!!! My cham in my avatar is a Kammer Cham also. They used to supplement differently before they went with the Repashy all in one.
I cannot remember the exact schedule as I do not really follow it now that my chameleon is 3 years old. I did however, when he was a baby up until about a year old. Chams can be trickly little creatures. They are put on this earth to drive us all nuts!! I think that certain ones, no matter what we do are prone to certain things just like human beings. Why does one person get a disease and another doesn't? ya know you can rack our brains out here!!!! Also, I would start using some gutload besides bugburger like fresh fruits and veggies. Dark greens, like mustard greens, kale, collard greens, etc.