Not sure if I should be worried or not..

[FranklinTheCham]

Hello everyone, so I noticed that Frank has some weird coloration on the side of him. Im not sure if maybe he's developing a dark color or if chameleons bruise like that. The last picture is of his other side which doesn't have the dark color. If you can take a look and let me know what you think, it would help a lot!!

Thank you guys in advance!

 

[Beman]

Yes chameleons can bruise. But thermal burns look very similar to this as well when they are on the side of the body... How hot is the basking temp and how close can he get to the bulb? Has he had any falls lately? Could you post a picture of the entire cage lights down?

 

[FranklinTheCham]

He hasn’t had any falls that I know of. His basking temp stays at about 88-90 degrees

 

[Beman]

He hasn’t had any falls that I know of. His basking temp stays at about 88-90 degrees

basking temp is a bit high... Looking for more like 80-85max... But depending on the distance to the branch and the wattage your using it may be too intense and hotter then you think... Thermal burns are most common on the side of the body, along the spine and the casque with a Veiled.

I would double check your wattage and reduce temp at basking. If the black goes away within the next few days then it is a bruise rather than a thermal burn. If it is a bruise we need to figure out why he is falling.

 

[CasqueAbove]

My guess is burns. It looks like a little on his back as well. If the stick he basks on is 90 then his back is like at 96-98. All of which it too warm. 80-81 tops basking.
This are not like burns from a hot surface, but rather a terrible sunburn.
Have yo filled out the how to as for help?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ He seems a bit chucky.

Your set up looks awesome. Just reduce the basking a bit. The basking sometimes works better if it is off the screen just a bit.

 

[kinyonga]

Could be fungal too...

 

[Thompson]

Could be fungal too...

what type of fungal infection would this be

 

[kinyonga]

Did it appear suddenly or over a few days?
Have you tested the basking light to see if it could be too hot?

 

[kinyonga]

what type of fungal infection would this be

I'm not a vet so I can't say for sure...but one that chameleons get frequently is CANV. It could be what others have said it is just as easily.

 

[Thompson]

It looks like it may be a bruise.

 

[Thompson]

My guess is burns. It looks like a little on his back as well. If the stick he basks on is 90 then his back is like at 96-98. All of which it too warm. 80-81 tops basking.
This are not like burns from a hot surface, but rather a terrible sunburn.
Have yo filled out the how to as for help?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ He seems a bit chucky.

Your set up looks awesome. Just reduce the basking a bit. The basking sometimes works better if it is off the screen just a bit.

Looks like old shed on his spine to me...



I would just take him in to a good chameleon vet for a check-up (if you don't have one that you know of near you, let us know if you need help finding one)