I have no idea what this is
- Thread starter Mila333
- Start date
MiyagiCham
Member
Yep, she's just poofin'. Typically means they're irritated, although I have noticed mine doing it when he's basking. It's best to just leave them be when they do that, especially if they start hissing.
Mikesyring
Member
Hmm could be something else I'm not going say it Powell might chime in and say edema lol post a new thread asking is this edema you'll get lots of responses
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, that looks like a condition called Gular Edema. It is excess fluid in the tissues. It is not deadly and no one really knows why some chameleons get it. Speculation is over supplementation, but that is really a guess. I dealt with it with a chameleon that I took in from another member. He lived to over 6 yrs old. He ate and drank fine, and it would come and go in severity. The previous owner never really gave him much in the way of supplements, so that kinda shot down the theory of over supplementation for me . Sometimes pregnant females will get it and after they lay eggs it will go away. I wouldn't worry about it too much, other than it may not look cosmetically pretty.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
I would agree carol. Looks more like edema, not normal "gular puffing". You'll probably see it show more some times than others. Keep notes when you notice it most, such as after a day when you feed her something different, you use a different supplement dust, she drinks more frequently or less, how long it lasts and how long it takes before it reduces. You might find there's a pattern.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
Gular edema, and as Carol said it is excess fluids that have leaked from the blood into the tissues.
There are many causes of gular edema. The list is huge and some of it is life threatening and sometimes the vet will not ever know and the animal lives a normal life.
Is this the first time you've noticed it?
The species I am working with seem to be particularly susceptible to edema that is triggered by supplements. I think it is the D3. Some cricket shipments will cause edema no matter how long I hold them feeding them only super healthy fresh fruit and vegetables before I feed them. I don't know what it is that commercial cricket farms feed their crickets that causes edema but I could turn on and off edemas just by feeding crickets.
Other causes can be organ failure--heart, kidney or liver. A heavy parasite load can make a chameleon protein deficient and it is protein that holds the serum of the blood inside the blood vessels. Some develop it when gravid.
Keep a diary of when it happens. Note what you have fed and you might see a pattern.
I would recommend you stop all supplements other than plain calcium. Change your feeders to something that isn't a commercial feeder especially crickets.
Edema might not cause any serious problems, but it is an indication that something is not right.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
One other comment and I don't know how to say it without coming across poorly.
A couple of people looked at that picture and didn't see something that was very abnormal to me and a few others. I really believe that to successfully keep chameleons, one must have very good observational skills so they can see a problem right at the start before it is a big problem. I hear it stated over and over again that chameleons "hide" their illnesses. I haven't found that at all--if you are observant you can pick up on when they are just starting to go off. What I have found is that very few people can see things that are obvious to experienced keepers. Partly it is because experienced people have seen more animals--more healthy ones and more sick animals. It's hard to develop your observation skills when you only have one to study. It's a bit of an art, being able to look at an animal and judge its health, but it can be learned.
A couple of people looked at that picture and didn't see something that was very abnormal to me and a few others. I really believe that to successfully keep chameleons, one must have very good observational skills so they can see a problem right at the start before it is a big problem. I hear it stated over and over again that chameleons "hide" their illnesses. I haven't found that at all--if you are observant you can pick up on when they are just starting to go off. What I have found is that very few people can see things that are obvious to experienced keepers. Partly it is because experienced people have seen more animals--more healthy ones and more sick animals. It's hard to develop your observation skills when you only have one to study. It's a bit of an art, being able to look at an animal and judge its health, but it can be learned.
