Panther Chameleon has ink looking spots, blisters developed today

[africanginger]

Hi everyone!

My panther chameleon, Fig, has dark blue/ purple spots that appeared about a week ago. I'm not sure if he fell or was too close to his heat source... The dark spots are now starting to develop a raised area along the edge. I'm a bit worried...I'll attach photos as well! Thank you so much!

 

[Carlton]

Hi everyone!

My panther chameleon, Fig, has dark blue/ purple spots that appeared about a week ago. I'm not sure if he fell or was too close to his heat source... The dark spots are now starting to develop a raised area along the edge. I'm a bit worried...I'll attach photos as well! Thank you so much!

Looks more like a thermal burn than a bruise. A bruise wouldn't create any change in skin texture and shouldn't last a week. If the room was chillier than usual he may have spent more time crouched right under the basking spot longer than usual. Chams don't have many heat sensors in the skin, so by the time they feel overheated they may already be burned. Our artificial heat spotlights create a narrow focused beam of heat unlike the sun, so it can happen. You can put some Silvadene burn ointment (ask a vet for a sample) or even some OTC Polysporin without pain reliever on the burn to protect it while it heals.