Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a new male vieled. something is wrong with his tail. my mom didnt notice this whe she got him, but about a 1/4 inch of it is grey, or "wilted." is it completely dead? my mom had the idea of "snipping it off." i thought this was a bad idea. what should i do? i pinched the tail, and he didnt react. i know that snipping sounds morbid and cruel, but i thought that was the only solution.
thanks in advance.
-----
i love toaster struedel. it tastes good.

i don't have much experience with chameleons but what you are describing sounds like some stuck shed skin. check to see if you chameleon is capable of using its tail because this would mean that not that much could be wrong. trimming it would probably cause more problems since their tails are highly prehensile and they don't grow back

Hi-

From what you are explaining it sounds like the veileds were housed together as babies and they DO bite each others tail tips. Once this happens the tips usually loose circulation, the skin will not shed and the tip becomes hard and brittle. The dead part will be a black/brown color. DO NOT CUT IT OFF. It will fall off on its own over time. I have seen this in many pet shop veileds that were all packed into one small cage. If I were you I would call the store and ask them to exchange it for one that dose not have a nipped tail, this is considered a flaw.

I don't know how bad it is but, if you think it is just a stuck shed you can soak the chameleon in warm water for 5 min then try a peel the skin off with a Q-tip. If it is bad and the tip is going to fall off then put some Neosporin or Vaseline on it. If you can post a pic and if I can make it out I will be able to tell you if it going to fall off or if it is just a stuck shed. Hope this helps!
-----
John @ Chameleon Paradise
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers
1.2 Rhampholeon uluguruensis

heres the pic. its really blurry, and its grey and black. its so dead and hard, its kinda crispy. wierd.

enjoy. or whatever.

-----
i love toaster struedel. it tastes good.

Hi-

I really cant make it out but, like I suggested, call the shop and exchange him out for one that doesn't have tail problems, unless you don't mind a piece of tail missing. Your call!
-----
John @ Chameleon Paradise
1.1 Ambilobe Panthers
1.1 Nosy Be Panthers
1.1 Sambava Panthers
1.2 Rhampholeon uluguruensis

thanks. sorry 'bout the pic. my camera is the size of a credit card. my dad spent $300 on it and it doesnt even focus. it sucks.
-----
Seth.

(don't know whos askin, but thats who i am)

What kind of camera, so I know what not to buy.

-Brock

its a casio exilim
-----
Seth.

(don't know whos askin, but thats who i am)

Even though the picture if blurry it does appear to be a injury and most likely a bite from a cage mate. It will either get better or more than likely will fall off. I would suggest taking it back and exchanging it for one that is in better shape. Also on your camera you might want to look at the settings closer. There should be a macro setting that will allow the picture to be focused when close like that. It is represented by a flower on the screen or button usually.
-----
Rob Trenor
RK Reptiles
Your source for Quality Import and Captive Born
Chameleons from around the World

Please read our entire terms for purchase on our website
http://www.rkreptiles.com

We accept online credit card payments through PAYPAL
Please click below to make a payment.
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=sales@rkreptiles.com

This sounds like a bacterial or fungal infection. I think it might be Dermatitis. The causes are: Immune system problems caused by low temperatures and/or a poor calcium regime. Dirty conditions in which bacterial growth is promoted. Over population such that Chameleons above may defaecate on animals underneath. Caging problems causing increased humidity levels. The dilemma here being that some species require high humidity and yet this can be difficult to achieve without significantly decreasing airflow. This promotes stagnation and the promotion of bacterial and fungal growth on the skin. The lesions themselves start as a discolouration of the skin. Initially this may be difficult to differentiate from a burn and the location in a skin fold or area unlikely to come in to contact with surface heat makes the diagnosis easier. They are either dry in which cases the skin becomes dry, thickened and hard to the touch or the moist form is when the skin become moist due to serous fluid weeping out. This skin readily sloughs to leave large uncovered areas of deep tissue. Treatment involves both gentle topical cleaning with pevidine or similar Iodine based disinfectants and possibly systemic antibiotics. In many cases the dead skin needs to be debrided so as to allow topical application of disinfectant directly to the affected areas. If the dead skin is left on the body, it is very difficult to get sufficient antibiotic concentrations in the active infection zone just underneath. As with many conditions involving infection, it is important to look for an underlying cause as well as treating the lesions themselves.

geez ethan. sounds like you know your stuff. i noticed a pretty runny turd with this little guy. he pooped in the feeding cup. well, im gonna take him back and get a different one, that doesnt have these scratches on him. my mom went and got it without taking me with her. trust me, i would have examined the cham if i went. i might get my money back and go somewhere else.

thanks
-----
Seth.

(don't know whos askin, but thats who i am)

What are you keeping him in? Not with the other cham..right?

I remember you bought that hug reptarium - and I think you said your old cage was a 30G glass deal.

Im just curious.

i took the other one back. the female that i thought was a male. i cant risk having a female without knowing the proper care of a female vieled. it was hard, but i felt i had to do it.
-----
Seth.

(don't know whos askin, but thats who i am)