Nose crust

[Jac1582]

Hi guys I'm new to the app and loving all the great info and people on here! My veiled chameleon is 9 months old very active and has a very healthy appetite, fogger used to keep humidity up, he recently got sum white crust at his one nostril. It doesn't seem to bother him, and he's a very very active and healthy fella

 

[Raphael1047]

I think that is caused by dehydration. Give him lots of water and he should be fine. If that is not it you should fill out a how to ask form.

 

[SpadesTheChameleon]

someone told me that is caused by to much calcium so it builts up and comes out through the nostrils that is what i heard i dont know if it is true

 

[carol5208]

There has been some debate over this on here before, but the consensus it is an excretion of excess minerals or salts and not from over supplementation such as calcium. You don't need to do anything and should go away on its own most likely.

 

[Trillian]

Yep, excess salts, the calcium idea is a very common myth.

 

[Jac1582]

So if it's an excess of salts, am I feeding the crickets wrong? I feed them feeder bites that have everything all in one, raw organic spinach and raw sweet potatoes

 

[carol5208]

Well I cannot answer if the crickets are causing it but I would change up the gutload and see what happens. Spinach is not recommend because it is supposed to block the absorption of calcium and I would not use the feeder bites either. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best and dark leafy greens such as kale, romaine, collard and mustard greens are good.

 

[tago]

That hapened to me when i was over supplementing my veiled so i stop dusting my crickets for about a week and then continued dusting again even more lightly and it never happened again

 

[Jac1582]

Well I cannot answer if the crickets are causing it but I would change up the gutload and see what happens. Spinach is not recommend because it is supposed to block the absorption of calcium and I would not use the feeder bites either. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best and dark leafy greens such as kale, romaine, collard and mustard greens are good.

Thank u for the info on the spinach! I've never heard that before. I'll stop immediately especially giving it directly to the chameleon himself, he gobbles it down like crazy but I only give him two half dollar size pieces a day

 

[Elizadolots]

Well...as far as I know, there's no actual consensus...there's sort of a surrender to those with titles and stuff....

The overwhelming experience as stated in posts on this board is that reducing the amount of calcium supplement used will make the crusts go away.

I fail to see how that can discounted as evidence. But, it is.

Calcium supplements are usually calcium carbonate, which is a salt.

The substance that makes hard water "hard" is calcium carbonate, so those people who say they switched to purified water and the crusts went away are saying "I reduced the amount of calcium carbonate and the crust went away".

I really don't want this thread to turn into a big debate. I think that should be pulled out for other discussion, but I have to object to the idea that anything has been proven or that there is a consensus...

So, my question to the OP, Jac, is: was this chameleon raised in captivity or was it wild caught shortly before you posted?

 

[azz0703]

my 2cents are just ignore it. happened to my cham but went away do not stop dustung with calcium but moreover excessive temp and sweating out salt throu nostrills just like we do when we sweat. hell be fine just make sure his miuth is clear and hes not sneezing or caughing from too much humidity.

 

[Jac1582]

Well...as far as I know, there's no actual consensus...there's sort of a surrender to those with titles and stuff....

The overwhelming experience as stated in posts on this board is that reducing the amount of calcium supplement used will make the crusts go away.

I fail to see how that can discounted as evidence. But, it is.

Calcium supplements are usually calcium carbonate, which is a salt.

The substance that makes hard water "hard" is calcium carbonate, so those people who say they switched to purified water and the crusts went away are saying "I reduced the amount of calcium carbonate and the crust went away".

I really don't want this thread to turn into a big debate. I think that should be pulled out for other discussion, but I have to object to the idea that anything has been proven or that there is a consensus...

So, my question to the OP, Jac, is: was this chameleon raised in captivity or was it wild caught shortly before you posted?

Wow I didn't realize it was such a disputed topic among many different people. I'm all for a good debate about stuff like that as long as we all do it civilly lol..he was captive before I got him. He's in the process of shedding today as I'm typing this, and his colors r lookin crazy cool underneath, I'll post pix wen he's done!!

 

[Jac1582]

my 2cents are just ignore it. happened to my cham but went away do not stop dustung with calcium but moreover excessive temp and sweating out salt throu nostrills just like we do when we sweat. hell be fine just make sure his miuth is clear and hes not sneezing or caughing from too much humidity.

I'm glad to hear your Cham is fine from his crusties, I'm not too worried more curious than anything. I use distilled water in a fogger to keep about 60% humidity on average, I'm switching the gutload of my crickets to kale, and collard greens and sweet potatoes, from spinach to see if that makes a differance. I'll see this evening if my Cham will gobble down the kale as much as the spinach, I'm sure he will as he's a pig!!

 

[Elizadolots]

Okay, so, ignoring all the various disputes (and this is a rather hotly disputed topic) I think we would all say the same thing: it's harmless. You might try upping your misting or even wiping it off with a damp cloth if you are bothered by the appearance. The big thing is: don't stop using the calcium every day.

I look forward to seeing pictures.

 

[Jac1582]

Here's a pic of him a few hours ago just starting to shed

 

[Elizadolots]

That's great! There's nothing like a really good shed picture. Thanks!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Well...as far as I know, there's no actual consensus...there's sort of a surrender to those with titles and stuff....

Well that was mature now wasn't it? It was more a surrender to real evidence and logic. You're right, my education makes my argument much more credible. Sorry. I was going to stay out of this, but since you opened the door to things dead and done rather than just stating your opinion, here's the debate that was referenced for anyone interested. There is really only one person on the other side still trying to make this a debate, and I think it's obvious who that is. Some people would just rather keep arguing than admit they are wrong.

Sorry Jac that this was brought up this way. It would be nice if people could remain civil, but that is not always the case.

 

[Trillian]

Ferret, please don't feel the need to stay out of discussions on issues like this for fear of causing conflict. It just means that ditherers like me end up doubting ourselves! I love robust debate, and as long as all parties maintain respect, it benefits those discussing and those lurking.

 

[Elizadolots]

Well that was mature now wasn't it? It was more a surrender to real evidence and logic. You're right, my education makes my argument much more credible. Sorry. I was going to stay out of this, but since you opened the door to things dead and done rather than just stating your opinion, here's the debate that was referenced for anyone interested. There is really only one person on the other side still trying to make this a debate, and I think it's obvious who that is. Some people would just rather keep arguing than admit they are wrong.

Ah...there's that maturity I've come to know. It's on display in the linked thread too...Repeatedly descending into capslock just screams "grown up debater". We might as well provide the link to the other, even earlier thread.

The fact is you have a theory based on animals of other species in completely different situations. Further, in order to hold your theory you need to discount (and somewhat defame) the one researcher to address the issue of adaptation of the salt gland.

Additionally, you need to discount the stated experience of many, many members of this board that cutting back on supplements will make the crust go away.

Theories are not fact. I have no problem when people say things like "the prevailing theory is that it's not calcium". However, when they are saying "the consensus it is an excretion of excess minerals or salts and not from over supplementation such as calcium" and " the calcium idea is a very common myth" I feel the need to comment.

Theory and fact are not the same thing.

A theory with no basis in research on the animals being discussed and which completely ignores the one researcher who touches on the issue is, I think, somewhat weak.

And, yes, a weak theory that gets accepted as "consensus" and "truth" is probably evidence that titles make a difference.

You said yourself that you had no proof because that study has not been done...but you allow your theory to be held up as "fact" and "proof" rather than reminding them that, no, there is no proof, you just really believe it based on your reading.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

A consensus does not mean unanimous btw, it means a majority agreement on the prevailing theory. You're arguing semantics, and very childishly. The truth is that the crusts are harmless, whereas the recommendation to decrease calcium supplementation is not. So it is irresponsible to make that recommendation and that is my point. Move on already.