Tail turning black, tip fell off

[Dirtybird2020]

I have a 8 month old panther chameleon, his name is emelio, and one day his tail was perfectly curled and the next it was not wanting to curl. Soon after the tip turned black, he fell off his vine about 3 weeks before it started tuning black on me.I have 3 spots for him, one at 91,one at 86, and cage at 74, he has plastic taped on back and side of cage to hold hummidity. He sheds pretty well, his eating has changed alot, he use to eat like 15 crickets a day, but now he eats like 6 every other day. His poop looks normal, pee is white with orange where it connects to the poop. I mist him 4-5 time a day to keep hummidity at 60 or above. He in a 18x18x36 cage now, sphagnum moss in the bottom tray. A dripper , I spend alot of time focusing on him and would like to hear thoughts on his tail, or something I can do better, I will take his to the vet if needed, but I can't find a good one in or around elgin illinois. The last time I took my water dragon to a vet things got worse and he eventually died, even though I focused on getting him better and tried everything to get his environment as reccomended. And It cost $200 for the visit, please help!!

 

[TheCoop]

Could be constriction from dry shed..

 

[Dirtybird2020]

I feel like he's she'd pretty well, the last shed happened yesterday and looks like it came of properly, looks kind of like a bruise but it keeps moving up his tail, I'll post pics in a few minutes, thanks for the reply btw

 

[Dirtybird2020]

The black dried tip fell off, now it looks like skin, but on one side it's like black, Ive been putting basic neosporin on his tip where the scab fell off after shed

 

[GrimCamel]

Your problem is listed among the care sheets etc. here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/health/tail-vent/

 

[Dirtybird2020]

Here's some pics

 

[Dirtybird2020]

Thanks, I guess I'm worried cause it's sposed to get better, but seems like the bruise is moving up, I guess that's why I'm worried

Your problem is listed among the care sheets etc. here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/health/tail-vent/

 

[GrimCamel]

Thanks, I guess I'm worried cause it's sposed to get better, but seems like the bruise is moving up, I guess that's why I'm worried

You should try visiting a vet with chameleon experience for futher treatment asap
I hope one of the seniors would join this thread for some quick tips more than a vet visit
I wish you good luck!

 

[TheCoop]

I would apply Nuskin on the area, it will create a barrior on the open wound.

 

[Dro B]

I'd at the very least dip it in peroxide for a few minutes, I beleive that you can use neosporin, or use colloidal silver gel which is a microbial barrier, but obviously do research before you do any of these. The pictures of his tail look a million times better than what I imagined when I read the thread title...hope you figure it out.

 

[kinyonga]

Could be dry gangrene. If it is you need to see a vet ASAP.

 

[brownie64]

This may sound silly, but do you think a cricket might of ate it off? I've seen it happen before. Do you leave live feeders in his cage while he sleeps?

 

[Dirtybird2020]

I don't think so, it fell one night. It looked like a shed didn't fall off tbh, but I monitor that pretty well. He is looking much better. Neo sporin, reptaid, and colloidal silver seem to be doing the trick. I took him in to the vet, he said it looked like a shed didn't come off, but I know it did, so I'm kinda questioning going back, I asked about a fecal exam to but he said he would do it on my next visit if it worsens.kinda upset about the whole vet visit experience. He shouldve still been able to do the feces exam whether he worsened or not. I'm just happy the remedy I'm doing now seem to be working, his tail is healing well, the black is still there but seems to be getting less noticable. We will see, thanks for all the responses helped alot

 

[MissLissa]

How is your cham doing today?

In my experience working in reptile clinics, a fecal float result would likely have zero affect on the diagnosis or treatment of tail necrosis due to shed constriction, so I can see how he would try and save you some money while you are dealing with this much more pressing issue, especially if he was worried your cham might be facing rounds of antibiotics and possible surgical amputation. A fecal sample could be brought in at any time and run.

 

[Dirtybird2020]

How is your cham doing today?

In my experience working in reptile clinics, a fecal float result would likely have zero affect on the diagnosis or treatment of tail necrosis due to shed constriction, so I can see how he would try and save you some money while you are dealing with this much more pressing issue, especially if he was worried your cham might be facing rounds of antibiotics and possible surgical amputation. A fecal sample could be brought in at any time and run.

He seems to be doing better, he is on cricket strike, but eats meal worms like crazy, just ordered some horned worms, and reptiworms so we will see if he will eat better, he looks healthy, tail is healing well, tail curls completely, still a tad black but overall better. Seems to have more energy since I started giving him reptaid.

 

[Dirtybird2020]

He seems to be doing better, he is on cricket strike, but eats meal worms like crazy, just ordered some horned worms, and reptiworms so we will see if he will eat better, he looks healthy, tail is healing well, tail curls completely, still a tad black but overall better. Seems to have more energy since I started giving him reptaid.

Here's his tail now, he seems healthy, his stools look good, I can't wait to get his new feeders, thank you everyone for your help. I worry too much I guess, just want him healthy and full of energy.

 

[MissLissa]

Careful with those mealworms- they aren't the best feeder and can lead to impactions due to their high chitin content. They really should not be fed more than as a very rare treat. You can usually find superworms in your local pet store- if you gutload those well they can make much better feeders than mealworms until you get your other options in.