Sick Chameleon?

[emmanasi]

About a month or so ago I noticed a small black dot on my Jackson chameleon. It has been getting bigger. It looks like a black mole growth thing. I don't think it's a burn.. but today I had just misted his cage and all of the sudden he passed out. He got very dark and was still holding on to the vine but sideways and leaning on another branch. I thought he had died but then I opened the door which had moved his vine a bit and his tail curled up more. I was watching him closely and could see him breathing very slowly, which I don't know what rate they regularly breath at. I had to leave for class, worried as heck, but when I got back home he was fine and drinking some water.


What is the black growth?
And what's wrong with my chameleon?

 

[SSimsswiSS]

A qualified Vet that works with reptiles, would be able to better answer your question. I know a few who check in on this site from time to time.

 

[emmanasi]

That would be great is there any cheap methods of helping heal that area I'm in school. NEED to help my little guy out

 

[CruelData]

Honestly the only cheap things a non qualified vet can do as far as chameleons go is giving him saline for a eye infection. Other than that id highly recommend that you see a legitimate vet for the most accurate diagnosis and reliable solution. Hope he feels better.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

There could be several things to cause that appearance: burn seems unlikely given the location, an insect bite could have become infected, a fungal infection could be starting there, an abscess, a papilloma-like growth, or a tumor. Without knowing what it is there's no way to know how to treat it, cheap or not (usually not). Diagnostics (skin scrape, cytology, biopsy, etc) would be needed to determine what is causing it first, which only a vet can do. If it is something like an infection and continues to spread it could threaten your cham's life.

 

[emmanasi]

It was an infection..

I ended up scrapping together some cash for a vet visit. The vet said it was an infection from improper sheading. When he was younger and sheading he didn't have the appropriate humidity. So he soaked him for about 30 sec. and gently peeled off the bubble of infection filled with pus. Which left an open wound, kind of fleshy, I'm not really sure how to describe it. So he gave me a antibacterial cream to apply to the site a minimum of 2 times daily. Since my cham. had still been eating and drinking regularly at the time the vet said I was very lucky the infection had not spread. After treating everyday it still had spread and unfortunately about a week after the vet visit he passed away. So if you see any small black bumps get the infection removed asap. Don't wait it will spread!!!

 

[carol5208]

I am very sorry your chameleon passed away. Such an unfortunate lesson for you to learn. Hopefully, someone else will read your story and it might save another chameleons life.