My chameleon has a hurt leg!!!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!!

[Haley Hendrix]

I have a 2 year old veiled chameleon. I got her less than 2 weeks ago. I rescued her from a friend of a friend. He was trying to mate her and the male cut her leg. This guy said her leg was mostly healed and to just feed her some wax and horn worms for nutrients. I did that the first week that I got her and she was good. He didn’t feed her real crickets due to the cage that he had, they could get out. She has been a little stressed and dark in color due to moving to a new environment and new home. I try to just feed her and leave her alone till she gets adapted to her new home. Anyways, yesterday I noticed that she had blood on her little knee area. I’m not sure what to do, I cleaned it up and put some neosporn on it. Can anyone tell me what to do to help her adapt? What should I do with her leg?

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I have a 2 year old veiled chameleon. I got her less than 2 weeks ago. I rescued her from a friend of a friend. He was trying to mate her and the male cut her leg. This guy said her leg was mostly healed and to just feed her some wax and horn worms for nutrients. I did that the first week that I got her and she was good. He didn’t feed her real crickets due to the cage that he had, they could get out. She has been a little stressed and dark in color due to moving to a new environment and new home. I try to just feed her and leave her alone till she gets adapted to her new home. Anyways, yesterday I noticed that she had blood on her little knee area. I’m not sure what to do, I cleaned it up and put some neosporn on it. Can anyone tell me what to do to help her adapt? What should I do with her leg?

Welcome @Haley Hendrix sorry to hear your girl is not well . If you could fill this out to the best of your ability . If you could add pictures of her her leg and her set up as well that would be helpful for other keepers . Do you have an exotic vet familiar with chameleons ?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Secondly you might want to see if this thread can be moved to the health clinic @Brad ?

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Thank you Kristen. I appreciate it greatly. I will fill this form out. I’m new to chameleons. I don’t have a exotic vet near me. However I have friends that are vets for most animals.

 

[nightanole]

You are looking for redness and swelling. A little blood might just be from the scab getting ripped off by wondering around the tank, or worst case the cham biting it. If that happens its vet time.

 

[CasqueAbove]

She is safe know. If healthy they have very strong healing powers. Let her rest, get your husbandry checked so you are on a good path. I would not be concerned too much just keep an eye on it.

Fill out these questions and we can offer more help. My male suffere a parrot attack and is now fine. They are tough. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/injured-chameleon-a-case-study.173892/

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 great, get all angles and close as you can.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Thank you Kristen. I appreciate it greatly. I will fill this form out. I’m new to chameleons. I don’t have a exotic vet near me. However I have friends that are vets for most animals.

She likely will need a vet visit , possibly antibiotics . We can’t say for sure a vet determine’s that .

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Your Chameleon- Veiled Chameleon, Female, 2 years old approximately, I have had her less than 2 weeks.
Handling- I haven’t held or touch her at all since I got her
Feeding- I feed her waxworks with 4 crickets, hornworms, and freeze dried crickets. I haven’t gut loaded the crickets. I feed her every other day.
supplements- I don’t use any
Watering- I have a dripper and i also mist her three times a day. Her previous owner said that she drinks out of a bowl as well so I have a little bowl of water.
Fecal description- it’s mostly white with some black in it
History- She was previously being bred and the male got a hold of her leg and my friend said that she was good to go just to feed her wax and horn worms for nutrients.

Cage type- it’s a glass enclosure with a hole on top for air circulation. It’s 2x2x2
Lighting- brand: Thrive UVB bulb that is 13 watt then a thrive daytime blue heat bulb that is 60 watts
Temperature- the floor is around 70, the mid way up is 80 and basking is 90, overnight temp is 75, hydro thermo thermometer and humidity checker
Plants- I haven’t put any in there but I plan to put ivy in there
Placement- it’s in the guest bedroom that no one goes near, it’s on a dresser so about 3 feet off the floor
Location- Texas

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Her eyes look a little sunken and she has been sleeping a lot.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

This is her enclosure

 

[Haley Hendrix]

I put these on it last night

 

[Haley Hendrix]

She is sitting on her water bowl area. Her hurt leg is mostly hidden and she has been asleep.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

She turns that color when I come into the room

 

[CasqueAbove]

This is her enclosure

So this is beautiful. But not quite right for cham. If others haven answer you husbandry I will get to it, just working at the moment.

Most problems come from long term care. She is where she is from somebody else. She does look a bit rough, but with care she can improve.

 

[CasqueAbove]

She turns that color when I come into the room

This injury looks trivial, and too be healing. Once her husbandry is good she should recover. Mine had injuries 10 times worse from the parrot.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Thank you. Do you know how i can help her? I just want the best for her.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

I plan to get a bigger enclosure this year that’s 4 feet tall. When i was looking for enclosures I couldn’t find anything that so I’m paying someone to make one for her.

 

[CasqueAbove]

I plan to get a bigger enclosure this year that’s 4 feet tall. When i was looking for enclosures I couldn’t find anything that so I’m paying someone to make one for her.

You are on right path. Being ill the smaller cage is OK for now.
Lights are you next big buy. Just spend the money and get a duel fixture when you do. The plants need their light too, and she will need the the plants for safety, comfort., and humidity.
One UVB buld one plant bulb.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Okay do you have any suggestions on what brand and type of light?

 

[CasqueAbove]

Okay do you have any suggestions on what brand and type of light?

Well the sun blaster line makes good products at a fair price. Make sure it is a T5HO fixture. I am in US I think you may be in UK so not sure what is available.