Mouth problem/injury

[klkoun]

Hello everyone, I would like to ask you for your help/opinion regarding my chameleon Ralphs inside of mouth.
Around one month back I noticed that inside right lower side is somewhat larger than the other, it seemed like something small has grown there. I decided to wait, if it will disappear or something, but today I noticed that it was a bit bloody.
I figured maybe he bit in the grown thing when he had eaten before that, but this was the first time I have seen it bloody.
Its highly probable I will get him to vet (will look if i see more blood after eating, photos of his mouth with no blood were taken after the event happened, there is clearly visible the wound), just wanted to ask you if you have seen anything like this before.. Otherwise he is still the same, pretty active, has normal appetite and most of the time nice color.
However some time ago, I think before this anomaly developed, he started to not quite hit the crickets 50% success (fed from tweezers), always aims a bit higher, even if shooting from low distance around 6cm. But when hes feeding from the feeder, he shoots +10cm and hits the crickets. I dont know whats wrong.

I will be very grateful for any help, thank you.


Chameleon Info:

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  • Your Chameleon - male veiled cham Ralph, 3y, 2,5y in my care
  • Handling - once a week; also around once a week he climbs outside on hibiscus
  • Feeding - mainly cricets, occasionally strawberies, apple, mandarine, orange; occasionally superworms and grasshopers. cricets around 20x a week, fed on greens/tomatoes/cucumber, whats left in fridge
  • Supplements - reptile multivitamin on fruits once twice a week
  • Watering - I sprinkle every morning and have fountain inside, have seen him drink from fountain only once or twice throughout the years
  • Fecal Description - never been tested for parasites, normal poop rather dry, he may be dehydrated as I read through the forums
  • History -

Cage Info:

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  • Cage Type - whole glass, 100x50x50cm
  • Lighting - UVB bulb (6 hours a day), 150w infrared bulb for basking, normal lowenergy bulb for light
  • Temperature - thermostat set to keep 28,9 at basking level, floor level 23-25
  • Humidity - 40-50%, i have fountain inside and sprinkle every morning if possible
  • Plants - no live plants
  • Placement - living room, 1m from the ground
  • Location - slovakia
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[Carlton]

I haven't seen an injury like that, but its possible an insect leg or shell cut his gum and it developed an abscess. Maybe the abscess has been broken open and bled. The gum tissue around it looks healthy, but its hard to tell from a photo. I would definitely take him to a vet in case there is a growth or additional abscessed area deeper in the gum that you can't see.

There are a couple of things in your husbandry that could use improvement, though you have kept him for over 2 years and he looks pretty healthy otherwise. I would increase the amount of UV light exposure to 12 hours per day (unless you are using some sort of blacklight as a UV source). What brand of UV bulb are you using and how old is it? Does his jaw feel soft or flexible? I didn't see a source of calcium listed in your supplements. Chams should be getting a light dusting of plain calcium (no added multivitamins) daily, a dusting of calcium with added vitamin D3 every 2 weeks, and a reptile multivitamin every 2 weeks.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

One of two things possibly.

Birth defect in the form of that extra tissue. Unlikely but I've seen the occasional odd genetic thing.

Something is causing swelling, most likely an abcess or it could just be a cut from a feeder item.

Our opinions don't matter, either way you need a solid herp vet to take a look. Just make sure it's a good herp vet and not a quack.

 

[klkoun]

I use exoterra reptile uvb 10.0 for over a year, but as I wrote it worked 6 hours a day so the time has come for new bulb. As you recommend I have already set it to shine whole time. Question though: what time should the basking and lights work? right now I have set from 6:30 until 21:00 because the days are getting longer. What do you recommend?
He does not feel flexible at all, jaw is strong, also his "horn" is firm and hes capable of awesome climbing, has strong grip and also legs. Until end of last year I had used multivitamine with D3, right now I have exoterra multivitamin. is it really enough to feed him only once in two weeks with multivitamin? sadly the label does not say anything about that. I did not use calcium so far, maybe the previous owner did, but he did not say anything about it. I should have taken better care :-(. I will start with it right away and also calcium with D3. However, as I have written, he seems okay, no deformities (except for slightly curved horn) that would suggest MBD.
I noticed that when hes aiming and slightly points out tongue, the extra tissue is visible and is in between his jaws, I think he had just bit it when he was eating.
No matter what, I will get him to vet asap. Thank you