Small Black Spotty Patch on Belly

[BigBlue]

Hi everyone,

I have a female cham that has developed small black spots on her belly recenltly. I thought it was dirt from her recent laying 2 weeks ago but they haven't gone away yet. She appears to be acting normal and is eating great.
She is 3 years old and has layed 2 fertile clutchs in the last 1.5 years.
Below is the info on caging. Any thought would be appreciated.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - All screen enclore with sold back, 27" wide x 36" deep x 72" tall.
Lighting - 18" Repti glo 5 UVB. 100 watt basking bulb?
Temperature - Basking is 89.
Humidity - I'm not sure of the humidity levels but I spray twice a day and I drip in the morning for about 20 minutes.
Plants - Live ficus (that fills the height of the enclosure) and a hanging pothos (also live)?
Location - The enclosure is in a reptile room, no traffic except for me. No fans.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Female, 3 years old. I have owned her for the full length of her life.
Handling - Rarely gets handled. Usually just for breeding with the male.
Feeding - She is feed crickets (6 - 8 per day) and hornworms as a treat (hornworms are feed every other week). I feed her around 7 o'clock in the evening? I gut load the crickets on carrots/potatoes.
Supplements - Dusting with Rep-Cal Calcium with D3 (3 times a week) and Rep-Cal Herptivite once a month.
Watering - Misting is for 5 minutes twice a day (a pretty heavy soaking). Dripper runs for approx. 10 to 20 minutes in the morning.
Fecal Description - Fecal looks normal. She has never been tested for parasites?

Current Problem - Black spotty patch on her belly.

 

[Kat77]

Could you post a photo? And does it look anything like this: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blackish-skin-14146/

My panther had some black markings on his tail area which turned out to be a bruise from a fall he had. A photo of your little girl would really help though. You need to scroll down to see some decent photos, as the first I took "while running"

 

[ChameleonsTree]

With postings like this unless you post a pic its useless

 

[BigBlue]

Hi Katt77,

Yes it looks exactly like that except my girl has a larger patch. I will take a picture of her and post the photo tomorrow, as she is getting ready to bed down for the night. Lights out in 15 minutes, (Southern Ontario time).

 

[Kat77]

And, the D3 3 times per week is way too much. That should probably only be used once or twice a month at this stage in her life. Supplementing with regular calcium every other day is probably the way to go, rather than using teh D3 all of the time.

Please do post a photo of the area on her belly you are concerned about.

 

[Kat77]

Oh ok, good. I would imagine it is just a bruise then. My panther took a little spill on Saturday and his bruise is already almost gone. But post a photo just in case.

 

[BigBlue]

Thanks Katt,
I will adjust my supplimenting as you have suggested and I will get a pic of her up in the morning.

 

[AndrewH]

Oh ok, good. I would imagine it is just a bruise then. My panther took a little spill on Saturday and his bruise is already almost gone. But post a photo just in case.

Next time are you going to say he fell down the stairs? Tell him the truth. Kat kicked him his biscuits.

 

[Cainschams]

Hi everyone,

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Female, 3 years old. I have owned her for the full length of her life.
Handling - Rarely gets handled. Usually just for breeding with the male.
Feeding - She is feed crickets (6 - 8 per day) and hornworms as a treat (hornworms are feed every other week). I feed her around 7 o'clock in the evening? I gut load the crickets on carrots/potatoes.
Supplements - Dusting with Rep-Cal Calcium with D3 (3 times a week) and Rep-Cal Herptivite once a month.
Watering - Misting is for 5 minutes twice a day (a pretty heavy soaking). Dripper runs for approx. 10 to 20 minutes in the morning.
Fecal Description - Fecal looks normal. She has never been tested for parasites?

Current Problem - Black spotty patch on her belly.

I would definatly cut downon the D3 like Kat said. I would also get some minerall outdoor supplement to go along with the vitamins and calcium. I give vits and minerall 1 or 2 times a month. Usually around 3 weeks with my adults. Juvies get it 2 or 3 times a month, calcium with D3 at most 2 times a month but very lightly. This is only in the wintertime when they dont get any natural sunlight and in the spring and fall I have to adjust to how much I can get them out. D3 can quickly build up and overdose your cham. Natural sunlight lets the cham create its on D3 to obsorb calcium. I give calcium 3 or 4 times a week. All dustings are very lightly. This works for me you just have to find you and your particular chams "rythym".

No disrespect but your gutloading isnt really up to par. Potatoes are really high in protien and to much protien can cause gout. Carrots are also somewhat high in oxalates which can interfere with the obsorbtion of calcium. Not to say you should be gutloading with these but definatly not as much. A few really good things are any dark green veggies like collard greens, chickory or endive, and kelp along with many others. Also things like squash, sweet peppers, and fruits. There is a gutload recipe on adcham.com and if you use the search engine lots of good things will come up.

I forgot. Cutting down the food intake of your females is a good idea. They wont produce too big of clutches and have problems. I dont know what size crix you are using so. I feed 8 every other day or equivilant to. Also she might like some variety like throwing in some roaches, superworms, and silkies. Feeding in the morning lets them burnup and use the food. At night they sleep with the full stomach. Just like humans eating before you sleep isnt the best thing and can cause weight gain.

It sounds like your doing good if youve raised her for 3 years so no disrespect at all just some food for thought

 

[Kat77]

Next time are you going to say he fell down the stairs? Tell him the truth. Kat kicked him his biscuits.

Well actually, last time he walked into a door...so...

 

[Kat77]

I would definatly cut downon the D3 like Kat said. I would also get some minerall outdoor supplement to go along with the vitamins and calcium. I give vits and minerall 1 or 2 times a month. Usually around 3 weeks with my adults. Juvies get it 2 or 3 times a month, calcium with D3 at most 2 times a month but very lightly. This is only in the wintertime when they dont get any natural sunlight and in the spring and fall I have to adjust to how much I can get them out. D3 can quickly build up and overdose your cham. Natural sunlight lets the cham create its on D3 to obsorb calcium. I give calcium 3 or 4 times a week. All dustings are very lightly. This works for me you just have to find you and your particular chams "rythym".

No disrespect but your gutloading isnt really up to par. Potatoes are really high in protien and to much protien can cause gout. Carrots are also somewhat high in oxalates which can interfere with the obsorbtion of calcium. Not to say you should be gutloading with these but definatly not as much. A few really good things are any dark green veggies like collard greens, chickory or endive, and kelp along with many others. Also things like squash, sweet peppers, and fruits. There is a gutload recipe on adcham.com and if you use the search engine lots of good things will come up.

I forgot. Cutting down the food intake of your females is a good idea. They wont produce too big of clutches and have problems. I dont know what size crix you are using so. I feed 8 every other day or equivilant to. Also she might like some variety like throwing in some roaches, superworms, and silkies. Feeding in the morning lets them burnup and use the food. At night they sleep with the full stomach. Just like humans eating before you sleep isnt the best thing and can cause weight gain.

It sounds like your doing good if youve raised her for 3 years so no disrespect at all just some food for thought

Good stuff! I meant to say all of that

 

[BigBlue]

Hi everyone,

I am attaching a picture of my veiled with the black spots. Let me know your thoughts. The spots are on her belly, just under her arms.

And thank you all for the supplement advice. I will get some Rep Cal Calcium today and definitley change my supplementation. I hope to be a better cham keeper by all the great advice, I appreciate it.

 

[bucky]

I dont know,it may be a burn? Dont take my advise yet,i may not see it clear or not. Did you say how close your basking spot was to any vine or a perch that your cham could stay on?

 

[BigBlue]

The basking area is about 6 - 8 inches away from her basking branch and it is on the outside of her cage. The spots don't look as large of a patch this morning so I am hopefull that it is just a bruise and will clear up, althogh I never seen her fall. I will keep a close eye on it and keep everyone posted.

 

[BigBlue]

Hi everyone,
Just to let you know that I picked up some Minerall and Calcium without D3 today and I will add this to my supplimenting program.

 

[Cainschams]

Hi everyone,
Just to let you know that I picked up some Minerall and Calcium without D3 today and I will add this to my supplimenting program.

Sounds good BigBlue!!! Try adding some of those fruits and veggies too. Then you will be on your way. Im gladyou can take constructive critisism and respect the quick actions. Very good.