What is wrong with my Panther chameleon?

[Owen’sChameleons]

Hello! Last night, I noticed something wrong with my Panther Chameleon’s left wrist. It looks more swollen than usual. After examining him for a bit, I cannot find what could be. I do have a possible cause of what might have made his wrist look like this. Also, he has an eye issue. He keeps rubbing and cleaning it out by how chameleons usually do it. They roll and bulge their eyes to get the irritant out. He had an eye issue months back and had been taken care of by a vet. I don’t know what could be in his eye. I just need someone who might know what could be wrong with my cham.

 

[Beman]

Hey there. Classic sign of gout. Here is a link to tell you more. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-medical-gout/

Gout symptoms like this can also be related to a husbandry issue. Linked up with renal function. A few husbandry related causes are feeding insects a gutload that is far too high in protein, hydration is not adequate (typically seen with urates being mostly orange for a consistant period), potential link to supplements if you are overdoing fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A and D. When husbandry related you can get it to subside as it is more of a pseudogout. Where if it is fully connected to renal function/failure you can only medicate to help with the symptoms as the renal function is permanently impacted.

Post pics of the entire chameleon and the entire enclosure including the lighting on top. Then copy and paste the form below into your reply and answer all the questions with detail. Once I can see all husbandry I can try to narrow down the eye issue as well.

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.

--------------

Please Note:

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

 

[Owen’sChameleons]

My chameleon is a Panther chameleon. Sex is male, about little over a year. I only take him out when he wants to and most of the time he does want to. He eats crickets, Dubia roaches, rarely superworms and hornworms. He only eats about 4 or 5 insects because he’s an adult. I feed him twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. I use dandelion greens, apples (rarely), butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas (rarely), mustard greens, and kale. I use Repashy’s Super LoD (has the Jackson’s chameleon on the front) and I use calcium without D3. I dust lightly every feeding (I need to space out more). I maintain misting by hand but I am about to get an automatic misting system. I use a fogger at night to maintain humidity and I spray. I mist for about 2 minutes and I do see him drink. Recent colors have been white and stools have been moist. I have tested him for parasites and I have seen no parasites in the last few times I have tested him. I take a very thin wipe of his stool and put it on a slide and then examine it under a microscope. He has a tongue issue which is a birth defect he has. He cannot get the insects first try. So I help him make it easier on eating. I use a ZooMed 2’ x 2’ x 4’ and it is mesh screen. I use ZooMed UVB 24” lighting hood along with a 22” UVB bulb that is also ZooMed Reptisun. I use a 75w daytime basking light. Temperatures get up to about 90. Lowest night temp has been around 68. I use a laser thermometer to check basking, ambient, etc. Humidity is between 50% - 60% (which is where it needs to be for a Panther) and at night around 80%. I use a hydrometer in the cage. I have two pothos and a hibiscus as the main plant he climbs on. His cage sits on a table and there is a vent near his cage. He sits near a window. I am located in Ohio.