Swollen crest

trenutko · May 27, 2014

Yemen Chameleon
1.5 yr old male
Terrarium 90x90x40cm
Lamp exo terra 6% UVB 60mm
real creeper plants and vine branches
humidity 50%

For the last 6mths has been eating only superworms, hasn't wanted anything else . Before that period it was fed locusts and acheta domestica from nature.
Twice a week it gets nekton reptile color. Drinks water every other day.
Spends plenty of time out of the terrarium or outdoors on a branch in the sun. In the last month I have noticed crest swelling and swelling of the cheek behind the eye . One side of the comb is a little more swollen than the other .. swelling is soft to the touch. I haven't been able to find any text about the swelling crest. If anyone knows what could be the cause of this, or / and what would be the right treatment and cure please let me know. Thank you!!

Carlton · May 27, 2014

trenutko said:
Yemen Chameleon
1.5 yr old male
Terrarium 90x90x40cm
Lamp exo terra 6% UVB 60mm
real creeper plants and vine branches
humidity 50%

For the last 6mths has been eating only superworms, hasn't wanted anything else . Before that period it was fed locusts and acheta domestica from nature.
Twice a week it gets nekton reptile color. Drinks water every other day.
Spends plenty of time out of the terrarium or outdoors on a branch in the sun. In the last month I have noticed crest swelling and swelling of the cheek behind the eye . One side of the comb is a little more swollen than the other .. swelling is soft to the touch. I haven't been able to find any text about the swelling crest. If anyone knows what could be the cause of this, or / and what would be the right treatment and cure please let me know. Thank you!!

This sounds like an abscess that is growing. It could have started in a nasal cavity and is spreading under the skin of his cheek and the crest (called a "casque"). Could we see pictures?

I am not familiar with the Nekton reptile dust, but this may not be providing correct supplements. Usually we recommend dusting feeders lightly with plain calcium carbonate powder daily, dusting with a calcium powder that contains vitamin D3 once every two weeks, and also dusting with a reptile multivitamin (maybe the Nekton?) once every two weeks.

It is unusual for any cham to drink only once every other day. Unless you live in an area that is very humid or there is some other source of drinking water while he is outdoors, he may be very dehydrated.

How old is your UV light? If it has been used for 6 months you should replace it, unless he spends time outdoors in full sunlight every day.