Possible Burn?

[Dylan]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, approx. 4-5 months. In my care for 29 days.
Handling - Only when bringing outsidde or cage maintance
Feeding -Crickets, superworms, dust with Repashy plu every feeding. gutload with mango, carrot, collard green, sweet potato cricket crack.

Watering - Constant drip, misting twice a day, minute each time.
Fecal Description - Normal, white urate, never tested

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen cage, 2ftx2ftx3ft
Lighting - zoo-med naturalistic terrarium hood, zoo-med repti-sun 5.0 and a zoo med basking spot lamp 75W. 12 hous on/off
Temperature - 74 degrees middle of cage during day, 71 at night. Uncertain of basking temp.
Humidity - around 50% maintained all day.
Placement - In my bedroom, I'm only in there to maybe 7 hours a day, thats including sleeping.
Location - North Carolina.

Problem: I took him outside today and with the better lighting from outside I notcied that his casque was much darker than the rest of his body and had black spots. I'm concerned he's burnt. His basking lamp was 12" away, I just moved it to 15" about 20 minutes ago. I use a 75w ZooMed Basking bulb with Flukers ceramic dome fixture. If he is burnt, should I switch bulb wattage, distance, type, etc.. thank you!

 

[HolyToledo]

I'm not familiar with burns but, I remember freaking out when Twister started getting black spots on his casque too. I was told it is a sign of growing up.

When in doubt, put a bit of antibiotic ointment on it and watch it closely. If it stays all the time and/or gets worse, vet trip time. If it is just a sign of maturity/stress the spots will fade and reappear--sometimes in the exact same places, sometimes not but Twister's were not only on his casque like those in your pic, his eyebrow ridges would turn black sometimes too.

Hope this is all it is!

 

[ISA my Veiled]

I'm not familiar with burns but, I remember freaking out when Twister started getting black spots on his casque too. I was told it is a sign of growing up.

When in doubt, put a bit of antibiotic ointment on it and watch it closely. If it stays all the time and/or gets worse, vet trip time. If it is just a sign of maturity/stress the spots will fade and reappear--sometimes in the exact same places, sometimes not but Twister's were not only on his casque like those in your pic, his eyebrow ridges would turn black sometimes too.

Hope this is all it is!

I second Toledo on the growing up part. I know that Jann B has some pictures of Luie where his cask is almost all black where your guys is. I think it is a normal coloration for Male Veiled chameleons as far as forum pictures I have seen.

 

[Dylan]

Thanks guys! I was a little worried but I feel better now.

 

[camimom]

its totally normal.
as males mature, they get black markings on their casque.