White Crusty white stuff on Panther Chameleons nostrils...

Hi,

I'm new to this site but i'm hoping you can help me!

Meet Levi a 4 month old Nosey Be Panther Chameleon...

We have him approx 3 weeks now. He is kept in an Exo Terra 90cm x 45cm x 90cm Glass Viv with mesh Top. He has an Exo Terra Repti Glo 2% and a 5% plus 2 halogen heat bulbs as well as a 100w Heatglo bulb plugged into a thermostat which is set at 28 during the day and 22 over night.

We have given him a selection of vines and plants to climb in and hide in and areas to bask under the heat and halogen bulbs.

We feed him every day - generally as much as he can eat... which ive since read is wrong. All of his crickets and locusts are dusted in Calcium powder and once a week in Nutrabol. I do put alot on so that the insects look almost white - probably half a teaspoon per little tub. We tried feeding him mealworms from a dish that we attached up on a brance but he shows no interest.

We were misting his terrarium twice a day, but last week installed a dripper and this is dripping day and night, i have a put a tub on the floor of his home to catch the water so it doesnt get too wet.

Humidity is between 68 - 78% depending on temperature. If i do mist this goes up to 80-85%.

The water we use is just water from the tap we dont use any additives. The water is hard where we are with a pH of almost 8.

He appears to be eating fairly well but prefers locusts to crickets! Pooping well too - generally every other day.

Since we have had him, he must have grown almost an inch, his tail has definately got longer and the scales on the top og his head are more defined. He is also getting friendlier as i get him out every evening.

Last night i noticed that he had white crusty stuff on each nostril and a couple of spots around one eye. He sat still whilst i gently picked the stuff off. I then misted him and he sat under his heat lamp, but i did notice he went and drank from the mist that had gone on the glass.

Both nostrils where clear last night, but this morning i noticed that one nostril, the side that has a couple of spots round his eye is a tiny bit crusty again.

Please can you help? I googled the problem and came up with your site.

I hope that he isnt getting sick and that i have just over done the calcium or Nutrabol and that its easily remedied.

Look forward to some replies.

The picture attached is of Levi the night we got him... it shows white on him - but i think thats what is left from a previous shed??

You only want to use a pinch of calcium without D3 everyday. The calcium is in the form of a salt (calcium carbonate) and your little guy excretes the excess salt out the nostrils. I use a set of tweezers to grab a tiny pinch for about 15-20 crickets.
Good luck

Welcome to the forum!

They excrete excess salts from their bodies out the glands by their noses. That is what the white stuff is. Not a health issue

When you dust your Feeders you do not have to make them into Ghosts. A little in a bag or cup and swish or shake. should not really change the color of the feeder.

I do not have a panther or know a lot about them so I will leave the Husbandry to them. Except that bowl that catches the excess water- you need to cover it with mesh or screen so they do not fall in and drown .

Any other questions keep posting. Here is an over view
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/
Levi is a cutie !!

Welcome! glad you found us, and side note... we arent all crazy.. though we are all addicted to chameleons!
Now as everyone said, the white stuff is jsut excess salt, dont worry about it.
As for your husbanddry, there are a few things you should change.
1- he doesnt need 2 uvb bulbs. one 5.0 will be just fine.
2- next time you need to replace your basking bulb, just get a regular house bulb, sooo much cheaper.
3- if he is 4 months old, and it is a male, let him eat as many crickets as he wants. Only females need calculated food intake.
4-supplments are as follows- calcium without d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month. reduce the amoutn you dust with, and the nose crust will stop. they should be lightly dusted, not coated and white looking (called ghosting). The calcium without d3 you cant get at a petstore, but you can order online.
or if you want to make your life easier, buy repashy all in one calcium plus, which has all the supplments he needs in one powder and you can use daily.
5- dripper shouldnt drip all night, hes asleep, he wont drink it anyway! NTM you want the cage to dry out at night. Even though you have a dripper going, you still need to mist to coat the leaves, and keep humidity up. it will also help when he is shedding.

I think thats it.. Good luck!

thank you sooo much for your help. It has put my mind at rest

Being in the UK i can easily get hold of calcium on its own and calcium + D3 so i'll cut down the amount i dust with.

He is a cutie. He is getting quite tame now. to the point that he quite likes his chin having a rub

I'll keep you updated with his progress, and once again, thank you x

joanne1920 said:

thank you sooo much for your help. It has put my mind at rest

Being in the UK i can easily get hold of calcium on its own and calcium + D3 so i'll cut down the amount i dust with.

He is a cutie. He is getting quite tame now. to the point that he quite likes his chin having a rub

I'll keep you updated with his progress, and once again, thank you x

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Good luck! I hope you make the changes I suggested. it only leads to happier chameleons! (Which leads to happier parents)