so my Jackson chameleon, lex luthor, I just got the other day, appears to have a deformed foot. it doesn't appear as a violent injury but im not sure. it doesn't appear to inhibit hisability to climb. but what makes me not so sure about if it was a violent accident or not is that the tip of his tail, about 2 cm of it is crooked with a small black ring around it. im justcurious if this is a bad health issue or if he'll be fine. he seems to be very happy and isn't afraid of me. if that helps. its his back foot shown in the photo. thanks!
jackson chameleon deformed foot
- Thread starter Sonicgil
- Start date
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Its hard to say why he is missing his toes. It could have been a birth defect or maybe it was bitten by another chameleon or something. It looks like it is healed and not infected or anything. Can you post a pic of the tail?. I have seen kinked tails before, but not sure about the black.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Ouch! That does not look too good. It seems as if this little guy has had some injuries. Is he Wild Caught do you know?? Honestly, I think I would have that tail looked at by a vet. It looks quite bruised, but maybe even a little necrotic. You don't want that traveling up the tail any further...You could keep an eye on it and if it worsens, go to a vet.
i'm not sure. I got him in a pet store in... ironically, Jackson Kentucky, I believe they said they got him from a breeder. but they said he had been there for 2 weeks and he had always had that since they got him and it didn't appear to be getting worse according to them. he is still curling his tail normally and is still using every part of his tail, including the tip to balance and grip on his vines. so im not sure if he is in much or any pain. I've had other reptiles before and I know it can be hard to tell how their feeling. but i'm not sure how he is feeling. I would think that since hes using it normally that hes not having pain but I am very much worried about it being an infection pain or not.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
I am not surprised the pet store sold him to you like that. That is the nature of the beast unfortunately. Chameleons will turn black when they bruise, but it should usually go away in a few days or so. Just watch it yourself and see if it changes. I would say if he were in pain, he would not be using it or curling it. Have you looked at the caresheet for Jackson's in our Care Resourses?? The reason I am asking as I know you bought him from a petstore and I don't know if you are following their instructions for care. 9 times out of 10 they are wrong.
I haven't looked at these specific recources yet as i'm new to the site but I would like too. I've done a lot of research before and after I got him. so far I've found out that he's a lot different for the care of than the tokay and lep geckos/ I had. so anything and everything I can learn is very much helpful!
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
You have come to the right place finding this forum. Here is the caresheet:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/
Baileywick
New Member
A store I regularly use has a carpet chameleon with a "deformed" foot. It was caused by a black cricket who had been nibbling it on a night time while it slept. This is in the UK however, not sure which feeders your US store uses but could be a possibility
