Stuck tongue out too far.

[bloftis1]

I was just watching my 5 month old panther cham eat a cricktet. Which he never has a problem. And he was stalking it, and he shot for it and like his tongue wasn't long enough to reach it, it was a little ways away from him. And his tongue barely "malfuntioned" idk how to explain it but he started franticly walked everywhere, and this is all happening within like 10 seconds. His tongue finally went back it, back to normal and I went to mist his cage, and he probably got scared and puffed up, I should keep an eye on him now shouldn't I???

Update: I've been watching him, and he seems fine, he shot at a water droplet, tongue seems good. I'll keep an eye on him still but so far I believe he is fine!

 

[timw1]

His tongue got stuck on something? Glad everything is ok.

 

[bloftis1]

His tongue got stuck on something? Glad everything is ok.

No like, I think he thought his tongue would be long enough to reach the cricket but it wasn't. Stretched pretty far but his tongue went back in, seems good to me

 

[jannb]

I would closely hand feed him and not allow him to use the tongue for the next few days so tne tongue can rest and heal.

 

[Tiosk]

If you ever see him do this again. Slowly and gently approach what his tongue is stuck on and pull it away from him. It works pretty well.

 

[chameleonneeds]

I don't think pulling what the tongue is stuck on away from him is a good idea.

Pulling is the worst idea as it can cause hyperextension which might even be what happened with your cham. Only you're lucky the tongue went back in. When I noticed my chameleons tongue got stuck on something, such as my finger, I would move my finger towards them to allow them to bite my finger to release their tongue at the same time. Don't EVER pull your finger away in fear that you will be bitten. They have more strength in their tongue to pull it off of an object when their tongue is inside their mouth. That's how you help them, bring the object to them. Or even pick the chameleon up and move him towards the object the tongue is stuck on.

Bottom line..dont make the chameleon pull it's tongue out even further than it should be. Have you ever pulled on a small spring hard enough until it no longer goes back to its normal position? That is hyperextension and will happen to your chameleons tongue.

 

[Tiosk]

I didn’t mean yank it away from him. I meant gently wiggle it off his tongue so that he doesn’t bring it back into his mouth and choke.

 

[jannb]

This is exactly why I don’t free range feed. I hand, cup or bowl feed my chameleons.

 

[bloftis1]

Yeah, like his tongue didn't get stuck though. It just like stretched out as far as it could go? It definitely didn't get stuck on anything. But I'll be hand feeding for a couple days just in case!

 

[Tiosk]

Oh, ok. I get too nervous to handfeed my chameleon. I use a pair of reptile tongs and they work great. I would highly recommed it for hand feeding.

 

[bloftis1]

Oh, ok. I get too nervous to handfeed my chameleon. I use a pair of reptile tongs and they work great. I would highly recommed it for hand feeding.

I do the same! Sometimes I may hand feed but he loooves the tongs when he see's them he come walking towards me for food lol!