swollen casque

[Sabine]

My female veiled chameleon has a swollen casque and a bump between her eyes. At the beginning I didn’t think it was anything but they both have been very slowly growing the past few months. I feed her 5-10 mealworms or 4-7 crickets. I use calcium plus that has calcium and vitamins in it . I have a humidifier that I turn on every other night. I would love any suggestions on what I should do thank you

 

[CalamityCrow]

Howdy!

That lump on her head/nose is definitely worrying. That's usually indicative of some sort of infection, possibly one with the sinuses. You need to schedule a vet appointment ASAP. That needs to be treated - likely with antibiotics and also cleaned out by a vet.

As far as her swollen casque - you're probably very much overfeeding her. How often do you give her that many insects? See how her cheeks are puffy too? Those are both indicators of an overweight chameleon. Also, mealworms are VERY fatty and generally not great for chams. If she's eating 10 of those every day, that's far, FAR too much. 4-7 crickets, depending on size, every day, will also be too much. Veileds especially are often garbage disposals and so they'll keep eating even if it'll make them overweight.

This forum is EXCELLENT in helping people with their chams - would you be willing to fill out a husbandry form? Getting an idea of cage/feeding/temperatures/humidity/etc. will GREATLY help us take a shot at diagnosing what's going on. I you're willing, go ahead and fill out the form I've pasted below, and reply here. Also with the form, please send pictures of your enclosure top to bottom (including the lights) and be as specific as you can. The more info you give us, the better we can help!

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

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Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.