Reptile & Amphibian Forums

in noticed in my dwarves cages some white fluff this morning - i cleaned it out, but i noticed more later on - what is it?
is it harmful to my chams?
how do i get rid of it?
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Jason, Ichiro, Mika, & Toki
razior_@hotmail.com

Most likely the chameleon is shedding and that is his old skin.

.....to get rid of it, either completely change your bedding,or dont oversaturate it as much...theres no point in removing it, cause it will regrow again...

well, this response came thru as I was writing mine, so there is another vote for fungus, but I have to disagree about not replacing the bedding. Fungal spores can survive even moderatley moist conditions and can explode when given the right environment.

lele

It sounds like it could be fungus/mold/mildew. This is just a guess - how's the humidity? Are they in glass or screen cages? If you have them in glass moisture can build up very quickly and fungus even quicker (you'd be amazed!). If they are in screen you may have the bedding too wet. I recall you posting with a question about dry bedding - could you have gone to the other extreme?

If it is the bedding you are best off taking it out completely and replacing it. You could oven dry it, but fungal spores are tricky buggers so just replace it. If you do have them in glass I would suggest doing the same thing and regulating the humidity better.

OR I could be completely wrong and someone more experienced...Carlton, Bill Strand, Big T...? may have another answer altogether. As for shedding, I suppose it could be but it should be obvious in other ways that it is in fact shedding.

Hi- What are you using bedding for? There should be nothing on the bottom of the cage, except maybe paper towels or newspaper. This is because it will mold, grow and harbor bad bacteria, and if eaten by your chameleon can cause an internal impaction in your chameleon. Remove any bedding in your chameleon cage, and this problem will go away! Hope this helps!
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John
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers

...or at least that is what I am assuming. Jason?

that exactly right - thats why i am confused (first clutch was layed today!)
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Jason, Ichiro, Mika, & Toki
razior_@hotmail.com

i thought you posted a week or so ago that you had just gotten them? and they are already laying clutches? i thought you were looking for a veiled also to add to your "herps"?

cc

i have a veiled ... was looking for a panther, and got the dwarfs gravid
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Jason, Ichiro, Mika, & Toki
razior_@hotmail.com

Lele-

The only time I have heard of bedding being used is for live bearing chameleons right before they are due, to help absorb the impact from falling to the cage floor. If it is an egg laying chameleon which I think it is, I believe he has dwarf panthers. Then there should be no bedding in the cages, and a container of moist soil should be provided for her to dig a hole to lay her eggs. Hope this helps!
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John
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers