Shedding problem-thorns

[Ceilli3]

Hi there,

I posted on here a while bk re:my panther Cham Jackson. He had necrosis of the tail due to a bit that didn't shed. That has almost completely healed now after injections & time.

Unfortunately he now keeps having difficulty shedding the thorns on his back, resulting in them turning black a couple times. The shed stays retained for ages & I end up having to pick it off which seems painful & stressful for him. Once it even bled. The vet told me to leave it as it will come off in its own time but it doesn't. Recently he had this same prob again & I left it as the vet said, putting Jackson on a towel when i have shower & spraying lots to help with humidity & moisture but the thorns still did not shed. Just picked off now (with great difficulty) & again they are black underneath & is even black a bit under the thorn on the top of tail where there was also retained shed. this has worried me as we just got his tail better & this is above the part where they can amputate. I am hoping it will just go away now the shed is off but would appreciate advice, ie. should I take him to vet or put antibacterial cream on it (the cream made his tail worse last time although the vet says it can't have been the cream but I'm sure it was). Also any advice on future shed probs with the thorns. I don't know what to do & I don't want him to keep having this problem.

Thanks in advance xxx

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Hi there,

I posted on here a while bk re:my panther Cham Jackson. He had necrosis of the tail due to a bit that didn't shed. That has almost completely healed now after injections & time.

Unfortunately he now keeps having difficulty shedding the thorns on his back, resulting in them turning black a couple times. The shed stays retained for ages & I end up having to pick it off which seems painful & stressful for him. Once it even bled. The vet told me to leave it as it will come off in its own time but it doesn't. Recently he had this same prob again & I left it as the vet said, putting Jackson on a towel when i have shower & spraying lots to help with humidity & moisture but the thorns still did not shed. Just picked off now (with great difficulty) & again they are black underneath & is even black a bit under the thorn on the top of tail where there was also retained shed. this has worried me as we just got his tail better & this is above the part where they can amputate. I am hoping it will just go away now the shed is off but would appreciate advice, ie. should I take him to vet or put antibacterial cream on it (the cream made his tail worse last time although the vet says it can't have been the cream but I'm sure it was). Also any advice on future shed probs with the thorns. I don't know what to do & I don't want him to keep having this problem.

Thanks in advance xxx

Get Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid. Make sure the humidity is where it is supposed to be at. Remember, what is warm to you is hot to your chameleon. Wish I could be more help but Im a panther cham guy.

 

[laurie]

You need to work on two things. First the humidity in his cage, it needs to be much higher that it is now. Second is water, he needs lots and lots of nice warm hand mistings. Just a little warm, not hot. If you work on both of those, and I mean work on them every day, he will start to shed normally. There is not sufficient water in his body or the air around him for him to shed. Do not pick it off. You are correct that you are hurting your Cham. I can see that is not what you are trying to do.

If you have to stand by his cage and spray him for a hour 3 times a day, just do it. After that make sure the humidity is up high enought, and that he drinks and gets sprayed. That should take care of the problem. Please let me know how he is coming along.

 

[Elizadolots]

His spikes won't become necrotic if that's what you are concerned about. I'm sure your vet was suggesting waiting at least until the next shed. As long as there is no shed around a growing limb (or tail) it should be fine to leave it. As Laurie said, get that humidity up.

 

[Ceilli3]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice. I have started spraying him regularly with warm water & we have set his fogger to come on for half hour periods instead of 15 mins as he has had v dry skin. Livinglegend, what is the shedding aid? Will see how he goes.

We have been having other issues too: since we moved a month ago he never wants to come out yet before the move he was always at the cage door & I'd get him out 3 times a day. He keeps sleeping in (staying curled up & low down) in the morning & unless I move him up under heat lamp he will stay there hrs. Have checked temp & that's fine. He keeps going to sleep early too, have now reduced UV light from 13 hrs to 12 a day. I don't know if it is psychological or he is unwell. It is v dark in our new hse & at mo he is up in bedroom as living rm tiny & dining rm full of boxes. Before he was in living rm & used to me being around most of the day. Again, any advice appreciated. Xxx

 

[Elizadolots]

How long has it been since the move? He might still be stressing over that. Unless you now live someplace with almost no sun, try setting the lights to match sunrise/sunset. Where I am now, I'm only getting 10 hours of sun a day. They seems to be able to tell when the sun is actually up.