White substance around nose - should I be worried?

Hi!

My veiled chameleon, Randell, has developed a white substance around his nose in the past few hours. I’m worried he may have a respiratory infection, and I’m unsure whether to take him to a vet. There is a photo attached.

He’s roughly 8 months old, and I’ve had him for about three weeks. He’s eating well, very greedy! And I’ve been dusting his food every few days, he’s been on mainly crickets and locusts and has the occasional wax worm. I’ve been struggling to keep his viv warm, as it’s next to a window. He has a hot and cold area, cold area is usually 26 degrees Celsius during the day, 21 at night. Humidity stays at 50-60%. I’m getting another heat lamp as he usually sits close to the lamp most of the day, and need to get it warmer. Although during the day, he will have a wonder around his viv and loves being handled.

I’ve noticed a few times over the past week, he has been gaping. So made sure he’s got enough food, fresh water in his water dish and spray his decorations twice daily.

I’ve read on here the gaping and white substance around his nose could be a sign of RI. But also, the white substance could be salt discharge?

Can’t figure out why he could be gaping if he hasn’t got RI. Do they do this as a defence mechanism? I have a Chinese water dragon which he knows about as he constantly loves running around my apartment and climbing anything possible.

Just want him to be okay, he’s a really friendly chameleon with a curious personality! Any ideas?
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Hi there welcome to the forum. If you can fill this form out and be very detailed in your responses as well as include images of his cage from the lights down it would be helpful for us to give you the best feedback. :)

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.
 
Hi there welcome to the forum. If you can fill this form out and be very detailed in your responses as well as include images of his cage from the lights down it would be helpful for us to give you the best feedback. :)

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.
Every thread I’ve clicked on today you’ve flow in like superwoman lol
 
I believe I’ve read that it could be caused from over supplementation such as calcium etc. And it excretes through their nose.
 
Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, around 8 months, I’ve had him for roughly 3 weeks
  • Handling - I handle him quite regularly, he’s very curious and loves wondering around, I make sure I sanitise my hands before
  • Feeding - Crickets, locusts, was worms. About 5-6 crickets/locusts each day, and occasional wax worm only once a week maybe? Feed him mainly mid-day, and just put his food in his viv
  • Supplements - Vetark calci-dust, dust a fewcrickets/locusts every 4-5 days
  • Watering - Mist his viv twice daily, use a water dish, tap water. I see him drinking, been a few times where he’s sat on my hand and I’ve held the water dish for him
  • Fecal Description - Poop is okay definitely (uses me as a toilet sometimes lol) yellow/whitish urine, normal consistency poop and normal colour, not been tested for parasites as far as I’m aware
  • History - Unsure of any history, got him from a good pet shop who are exotic specialists

Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - glass viv, 60x60x45
  • Lighting - Exo terra canopy 2x25watt daylight bulb and fluorescent light, night light 15watt, and 60watt ceramic heat lamp, ceramic on all the time. Daylight and fluorescent on 9am-9pm then night light gets turned on
  • Temperature - 26 degrees in cold spot during day, 21 at night, hot spot 34 during day, 28 at night. It goes from top corner on one side to bottom corner of other side, have thermometer in each corners
  • Humidity - 50-60% using moist substrate and misting twice daily
  • Plants - No live plants, just plastic decorations
  • Placement - It’s on the floor next to the window which makes it difficult to maintain temperature, however it has good ventilation
  • Location: England

Current Problem - white substance and gaping

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Make sure you are lightly dusting with the repcal no D3... No powdered donut effect lol.

lol no, i know. definitely no powdered donuts around here! i actually was initially overdusting and have lightened it up since but she still has it. only on one side though and it was a very small piece. i just use a qtip to gently wipe it away.
 
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