Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My veilded's tongue won't extend out to grab food. What is he wrong? Thanks

Is this a recent condition? Did he use his tongue successfully before? Does he not use his tongue at all, or does he just miss alot? Does he still eat / drink despite the tongue issue?

Tongue issues are often the result of injury and/or nutritional imbalances. Possible causes:
- trauma from getting the tongue wrapped around or entangled or caught on something in the enclosure;
- damage to the tongue by a live prey item (i.e. the spiky legs of adult crickets and grasshoppers and even some roaches - which I now often remove before feeding to prevent such a possiblity);
- puncture wound from hitting something sharp in the enclosure
- hand-feeding injuries (if the feeder accidentally grabs or pulls the tongue when it makes contact with the fingers)
- something caught or lodged in the mouth or tongue tissue
- tongue infection
- mouth abscesses
- hypocalcaemia or vitamin deficiency. Nutritional deficiencies are typically a slower, more chronic loss of tongue function. The chameleon tongue's aim may become misguided, or the tongue's reach gradually decreases until the chameleon can project it just a little or not at all. Missing the insects is often a sign of a deficiency in B vitamins (and sometimes vitamin A deficiency). A good supplement containing these usually helps within 1-3 days if vitamin deficiency is the reason.

Some chameleons that have permanently lost their tongues can actually learn to eat from bowls and will learn to go right up to prey items and grab them with their teeth rather than using the tongue. However, many will just starve unelss hand force-fed and watered.

I suggest you Seek Veterinarian treatment immediately. Your chameleon could easily become rapidly dehydrated and starve unless treated immediately.
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Sandra
BC Canada