Opinions, help(?), and advice

[CharlieCharmingo]

Hello guys so before anyone gets worked up I've already booked Tony an appointment because I'd rather be safe and poor than loaded and sorry lol. Also there is going to be a lot of spamming of pictures so beware.

First I want to address the black tips on the spikes on his back. I originally thought they were burns from having too many basking lights. But when I did a temp check the bottom of his cage was 75 and the top in the 80's. I have multiple basking spots because when I used to take him out of his cage he used to feel cold to me and it unsettled me a bit. I was originally hand misting but his water intake started to have highs and lows (never sever dehydration urates but enough to not be happy with) with the highs being when he had some extra hornworms to go along with the drinking. So I'm ordering a mistking because it's honestly time. We all will be happy for it I think.
My question about the black spots is that sometimes they are really dark and sometimes they aren't noticeable at all. I'm wondering if his humidity could be off and since it's not staying humid enough he is getting burned? My other theory is that maybe he is just going to be a chameleon with black tipped spikes? I don't know but it unsettles me.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

My second issue:

Tony has gone through a difficult shed once and then his next shed he shed his legs and tail then his legs and tail again. Then he didn't shed for a while, now it seems he is starting to shed again and I'm hoping it would be a difficult one. I'm bringing this up to say that ever since I first got him whenever he was due for a shed he would start hanging one leg off of his branches. It was never in a limp way just like in an almost i caught between walks way. Of course nobody likes this, but eventually he'd shed and it be over with. But since this shed is taking so long and he's doing it I'm starting to feel like maybe I should be worried. Recently he fell, but I caught him but I could be sure if it was because of the plastic wrap still on the pole or if it was him. He's already a clumsy little guy because in July a few of his nails broke from clawing at the cage (back when I was told maybe he needed more climbing things which i fixed). I know nails grow back slow but I feel like i can't tell if his are growing back or not (none of them ripped out just chipped). When he was on my hand his back legs seemed strong and so did his arms, but part of me feels like maybe one side was slightly stronger,,,,
He's still very active and not in the least bit lethargic or anything but that doesn't always make for a healthy chameleon. Here's some photos of his legs and such.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Till finally my last issue: A week or two ago Tony was eating some wax worms and his tongue got stuck on the cap. Very carefully I brought the cap closer to him and he got his tongue back and had a moment where he seemed to be adjusting it. It scared hell and high water out of me as you can imagine. So I wanted a while then put a worm at a time on my hand for him to get and each time he shot I would move my hand back a little farther to make sure his tongue was in full swing. It worked fine after his adjustment and he hasn't had any problems shooting at anything except island roaches (sometimes he gets too excited for them and chews so fast he nearly drops them out, but this is only when they are a certain size). I thought the matter was forgotten (carefully observed) and we moved on. Today was a nice day so I took him out side for an hour (i don't know when this happened but sometimes when I mist him he'll drink straight from where the water comes out. I know other people say their chameleon will do that but I just didn't think spoiled Tony had it in him.) after I misted him, and put an island roach and two crickets in his cage in case the excercise made him hungry (usually after two island roaches he's g2g), it did not. Anyway so when I came home to put him and the beardies to bed his tongue was out. Not like all the way out and not out in the way that they taste their environment. It's hard to explain. It sort of looked like it was out in the way they get ready to shoot at something but there was nothing around and his eyes weren't locked on anything specific. Not wanting to alarm him I calmly stood there and waited trying to get a better look at his mouth then he did one of those baby hisses but it back in did some swallowing in went on his merry way. I made the vet appointment following after this experience.

And look I get it, i could just be paranoid for trolling so hard when i should be asleep on various thing like mouth rot and such knowing my anxiety levels and hypochondriac tendicies. But i don't know, if you have an ounce of compassion or at the very least common sense you know when something that is alive that is in your custody, which you love, acts or feels different somehow. Otherwise are you really taking care of them? Hopefully it's just over analyzing every single behavior pattern. Still, better to be on the safe side.

Sorry this was a really long rant but I needed you guys to have all the information to really give your input. But I guess are you really a reptile/pet owner if one day you feel like you've finally got the swing of things and the next day, heck even hour you doubt everything you've done up to that point? Lol. On top of that today I found out James my bigger baby bearded dragon is a girl so there goes the neighborhood. Ha.

 

[Decadancin]

On top of that today I found out James my bigger baby bearded dragon is a girl so there goes the neighborhood. Ha.

James is now Jaimie !

 

[JohnnyLawrence]

You need to write a comprehensive list of your questions. Number them in another post! Regarding the tongue issue, I wouldn't worry too much about him getting his tongue stuck on something. It's not necessarily "stuck", it's a muscle. They actually use it like they use their prehensile tails. Meaning, when they launch their tongues and "grab" whatever it is they're shooting for, their instincts tell them to pull back what they've caught. Sometimes they hit other objects and initially don't realize it because it's an involuntary reaction to quickly get back what they caught and eat it. Snakes, and other animals, sometimes do the same thing...they'll grab something that clearly isn't food and then react like it is, even when their senses should be telling them they just grabbed a plastic bag, for example. Can they injure their tongues? of course, just like we can pull a muscle by bending in the wrong direction...but that wouldn't be your fault in this case.

For more basic info, you can go here: https://chamouflage.com/pages/care

 

[Tattoo1611]

For what I read, it's a little bit of paranoia lol, I used to get really nervous with my chameleon for everything! Why did he made that movement? Why did he made that noise? Why did he... and so on. I've had him for almost 5 months and he's perfectly fine. Sometimes we are just too worried for things that are not a problem

 

[Mtnlaurel]

I can't tell you much but I soooo feel your pain on this one. I'm totally paranoid about everything. I keep thinking it will get better but it doesn't.

FWIW, my guy dangles a leg every now and again. I researched it a little and I think it's pretty normal. I'm guessing if your black scales change color they probably aren't damaged. But what do I know, I completely freaked out yesterday because my guy was a little slow getting out of bed.

I keep telling myself that these guys are extraordinarily able to heal themselves as long as your husbandry is on point. Just look at some of those import stories. (Or don't, you'll just worry more, lol). Jajeanpierre just posted one about a Cham whose tongue was ripped off, and they are even giving her a chance.

I think you are doing a great job, because you care enough to worry. Let me know if the paranoia wears off. Until then, there's always wine Cheers!

 

[Nursemaia]

@JohnnyLawrence
Are you pushing this care sheet because there's a tab that takes you to where you can purchase chams and ultimately you're just trying to make a buck? So really it has nothing to do about offering advice but more about making sales.

 

[Angelwolf]

I wouldn't be alarmed by the dark spikes and the seemingly random shedding patterns. Those are normal. And if those particular spikes haven't shed in a while, them the old skin on them are going to look dark and dirty. Just make sure you are supplementing properly, and showing when need be. That will also help his nails grow back faster. If he is showing happy colors and is active and eating/drinking, I would say there really isn't anything to worry about. But a visit to the vet is always a good idea.

 

[JacksJill]

@CharlieCharmingo you've got it bad and that's a good thing! If taking him to the vet makes you sleep better go for it.
I'm not a vet nor do I play one on TV. If his spikes can still change colors I would take that as a good sign despite the damage they have at the tips.
It always pays to examine the mouths of reptiles any time the opportunity presents itself. (i.e. Hissing, eating) It's a window to their health. Your observations will help you spot trouble early. Keep an eye out for color changes, misaligned jaws and foam.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

James is now Jaimie !

Her name has now been changed to Jane Lane.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

For what I read, it's a little bit of paranoia lol, I used to get really nervous with my chameleon for everything! Why did he made that movement? Why did he made that noise? Why did he... and so on. I've had him for almost 5 months and he's perfectly fine. Sometimes we are just too worried for things that are not a problem

Not a little bit a high dosage of paranoia. Constantly. Haha.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

I wouldn't be alarmed by the dark spikes and the seemingly random shedding patterns. Those are normal. And if those particular spikes haven't shed in a while, them the old skin on them are going to look dark and dirty. Just make sure you are supplementing properly, and showing when need be. That will also help his nails grow back faster. If he is showing happy colors and is active and eating/drinking, I would say there really isn't anything to worry about. But a visit to the vet is always a good idea.

Showering helps the nails grow back faster? Is it because it's like an extra dose of humidity to help clean them out and such?

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

@CharlieCharmingo you've got it bad and that's a good thing! If taking him to the vet makes you sleep better go for it.
I'm not a vet nor do I play one on TV. If his spikes can still change colors I would take that as a good sign despite the damage they have at the tips.
It always pays to examine the mouths of reptiles any time the opportunity presents itself. (i.e. Hissing, eating) It's a window to their health. Your observations will help you spot trouble early. Keep an eye out for color changes, misaligned jaws and foam.

Haha. You don't play one on tv!? Well I'm flabbergasted. But yes I just returned from the vet. He got a clean bill of health and a look in his mouth. The vet said "He looks structurally sound" lol. And we talked a bit about how I feel about his limbs and such and he said that sometimes chameleons/reptiles favor a side like being left handed and right handed. He said he didn't notice any weakness between the four though which is good. His lungs he said were sounding good and he went from 158 grams to 164. I still had them do a blood test. The white blood count one not the blood panel one only because i didn't have the money and also if he's Overall healthy then I think i can hold off on this until a new anxiety level is reached. The beardies will be next and then I think I'll be able to relax till summer haha.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Thanks everyone for your sympathy and kind advice! Glad to know there's a place to have a melt down at and have people get it lol. All my friends usually say "oh so they take a lot of work then?" And move on.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

I can't tell you much but I soooo feel your pain on this one. I'm totally paranoid about everything. I keep thinking it will get better but it doesn't.

FWIW, my guy dangles a leg every now and again. I researched it a little and I think it's pretty normal. I'm guessing if your black scales change color they probably aren't damaged. But what do I know, I completely freaked out yesterday because my guy was a little slow getting out of bed.

I keep telling myself that these guys are extraordinarily able to heal themselves as long as your husbandry is on point. Just look at some of those import stories. (Or don't, you'll just worry more, lol). Jajeanpierre just posted one about a Cham whose tongue was ripped off, and they are even giving her a chance.

I think you are doing a great job, because you care enough to worry. Let me know if the paranoia wears off. Until then, there's always wine Cheers!

The paranoia never wears off just slows to a simmer like the moment before a storm hit haha. I've had Tony for a year and a month and this was the result so....I can only assume it never wears off. But I'm glad to know I have a comrade in my over bearingness.

 

[JacksJill]

Hope you can get a good nights sleep now! Enjoy your three day weekend.