Ever see a mark/color like this?

[mattj]

So I went to take Murdoch out to clean his cage and after giving up a little bit of a chase got him out and went to go put him on a rope to hang out on while I cleaned up. As I did I noticed a weird black spot on his mouth.

I finished up and put him back in and its still there about 15 minutes later. It almost looked wet/shiny like ink or oil. Obviously I have neither in his cage and just wondering if its a stress color. He doesn't like me taking him out.

 

[deadhd5]

Did you happen to feed him a butterworm? They are know to occaisionally cause irritations that look similar. If no, I would guess a bruise.

 

[camimom]

have you fed butterworms recently?

 

[carol5208]

did you feed butterworms? The reason I ask is because a couple of members chameleons got black around their mouths after eating butterworms. Now,I don't know why and neither do they, but they think there was a connection. Maybe like an allergy or something?

 

[mattj]

Wow, no, no butterworms but I guess ill stay away from them.

I did recently introduce silkworms and hornworms though. Silkies about 2 or 3 weeks ago and hornworms within the past week. He seems to go right after the silks and has only had one horn.

But I did have a question I was going to make another thread about. I put the hornworm in and he was in there for a while. Later on that night I noticed some white thing around the head I think. Almost looked like he "exploded" and it was all white but he was still alive.

 

[deadhd5]

Wow, no, no butterworms but I guess ill stay away from them.

I did recently introduce silkworms and hornworms though. Silkies about 2 or 3 weeks ago and hornworms within the past week. He seems to go right after the silks and has only had one horn.

But I did have a question I was going to make another thread about. I put the hornworm in and he was in there for a while. Later on that night I noticed some white thing around the head I think. Almost looked like he "exploded" and it was all white but he was still alive.

Butterworms are good feeders and I don't believe the black patch caused any health problems for the affected chameleons, so I wouldn't rule them out.

I doubt that silks or hornworms cause this... Perhaps a cricket, roach, mealworm, or superworm bit his lip during feeding. Otherwise, I would guess he fell and knocked his chin, causing a bruise.

 

[mattj]

He did fall a little while I was trying to get him out. But it was just a few inches from one part of a plant to a lower branch. I know they're fragile I just cant see that having done it.