Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thank you guys who all responded to my post below about my jacksons cham's swollen toe.

I took some of your advice and started to soak his toe twice a day and squeeze out the green puss and then cleaning it up.

So far, it's doing great! The swelling/nastiness of it is starting to look better.

but boy.. is he not happy with me. In the time I've had him, Ive pretty much been hands off 99% of the time. He's in my 'lizard room' and I just leave him alone... but now, bothering him twice a day.. I dont know if he's taking it very well.

Now every time I go into the room to take care of the other lizards he immiedetly turns to his scared darker colors. And runs when I open his cage to get him out to treat his toe. He's also dramatically slowed down his eating. He wouldnt even eat mealworms, which are his favorite.

And it's only been two days since I started his treatments. Is this going to be too much stress on him?

My chameleon is being kept in a reptarium for now... everyone is saying it might be the wire, and catching his claw on the wire, that caused this infection in teh first place.

But all I hear is to use screen for their cages. What other type of screen should I use?

Thank you so much!
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Randilyn -;,-
Desolate Gray: Reptiles

Randilyn,

Q: And it's only been two days since I started his treatments. Is this going to be too much stress on him?

A: It is better than the alternative...! The swelling/infection can move up the leg and become gangrenous - resulting in amputation. I have seen this with some rescues.

Keep a close eye... you may need see the vet, and to orally administer Baytril for the infection to go away.

Q: My chameleon is being kept in a reptarium for now... everyone is saying it might be the wire, and catching his claw on the wire, that caused this infection in teh first place. But all I hear is to use screen for their cages. What other type of screen should I use?

A: For most of our cages we use aluminum mesh - but we "line" the cages with the black plastic stuff (1/2" mesh) that we get in rolls at Home Depot (gardern dept). We staple this inside (back and sides), and the chams can't walk on the metal mesh - and the crickets can't get out either.

We have used every mesh there is in recent years... we are not sure that it is the metal wire... but there is that chance - especially if they get the toenail caught! Sometimes I think they can get irritations around the toenail from branches too. We started using rope in many of our cages for additional highways. The chams seem to like it.

Keep us posted on how he is doing.
Morgana - Reptayls, Ltd.