I found my female chameleon with her tongue stuck on a branch stretched needle thin and dried out looking, after I took her tongue off the branch it was just hanging from her mouth dead looking so I cut off the thin dead part, she didn't even seem to notice I cut it. I don't know what to do for her now, she can't eat with an injured tongue, anybody know how I can help her? Think I'm gonna donate her to a reptile store tomorrow( if she lives thru the night) and hopefully they know what to do
Help please, carpet chameleons tongue cut off
- Thread starter AshleaM
- Start date
squeekz1992
New Member
Hello,
As stated your girl need a vet asap. It is pertinent to her survival.
We also would appreciate some more detail about your girl so that maybe we can find out why this happened. Filling out this form will get you the best help we can give, although, keep in mind, this is a forum, and should not be used as a substitute for veterinary assistance.
Hoping the best for you and your girl.
Here is the form:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
As stated your girl need a vet asap. It is pertinent to her survival.
We also would appreciate some more detail about your girl so that maybe we can find out why this happened. Filling out this form will get you the best help we can give, although, keep in mind, this is a forum, and should not be used as a substitute for veterinary assistance.
Hoping the best for you and your girl.
Here is the form:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
Tzimisces
New Member
IMO-how long does it take for a chams tongue to stick to a branch and dry out? I have never heard of that before...and not only that, but I have never heard of someone willing enough to amputate without medical attention first to their pet (I would never attempt to cut anything off my baby). I understand this person was likely distraught and was probably not thinking clearly at that time, but it seems harsh to me that one would just simply cut/snip off the main source of their meal and then attempt to "drop them off" without a second thought to the animal at a pet store (who in most cases, have no idea how to handle a cham properly, much less one in need of Vet care!) If a person really intended to take care of this animal, at least attempt to take it to the vet before dropping it off at a reptile store and hopefully the vet will be willing to not only assist, but know of a shelter the animal can be taken.
xxzmmorexx
New Member
obviously a vet is the FIRST place you need to go. Then think about finding a better home for the cham if you don't feel up to the challenge. I am curious how this all happened, could you please give some more details on this....i feel like a tongue would have to be stuck out for a VERY long amout of time for this whole situation to even occur. and i constantly am in my reptile room, so if you are dedicated I'm sure you spend some time there too! lets get this figured out and get some VET CARE going on. updates please.
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
I'm on my tablet and so can't write out a long reply but let's lay off the judgement, ok? Would you want people to judge you in an emergency or help?
This isn't the first time something similar has happened on this forum, and I'm sorry that it happened to your chameleon, AshleaM. Your chameleon will probably need antibiotics but can go on to live fairly normally, most tongue-less chameleons do learn how to catch their food like other lizards do and go on for years.
Please let us know how she is doing, one way or another.
This isn't the first time something similar has happened on this forum, and I'm sorry that it happened to your chameleon, AshleaM. Your chameleon will probably need antibiotics but can go on to live fairly normally, most tongue-less chameleons do learn how to catch their food like other lizards do and go on for years.
Please let us know how she is doing, one way or another.
Dez
Chamalot Chameleons
No need to be hard on the OP. People have to go to work or school so it in not possible to be with your chameleon every hour of the day. I myself work a full time job and the chameleons have to be on their own up to 10 hours a day.
It is not so unlikely that the female got her tongue snagged on a branch early in the day, injured it where she could not retract it. And since it was not discovered hours later the tongue dried out and the tissues died.
A chameleon can live and feed without the use of its tongue. It would be a good idea to have a vet see your carpet to make sure the tongue does not get infected.
It is not so unlikely that the female got her tongue snagged on a branch early in the day, injured it where she could not retract it. And since it was not discovered hours later the tongue dried out and the tissues died.
A chameleon can live and feed without the use of its tongue. It would be a good idea to have a vet see your carpet to make sure the tongue does not get infected.
