Reptile & Amphibian Forums

most of my chameleons shed on there own but i get 2 of my chameleons which are sort of lazy and dont rub up against branches and the likes, whats the best way to remove it?
i usually use cotton wool luke warm water and some tweezers to remove it and sometimes success but one of my chameleons has a build up of shedding around his cheek and i dont really wanna stress him too much by trying to remove it, it looks like a big mass of dead skin there, any ideas how i could remove this without hurting/causing him even more stress?
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4x Veiled Chameleon
1x Panther
Hollie/Willow > female veileds
Carling/Houdini > Male Veileds
Louey > Panther

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Edited signature file to remove unacceptable advertising. [phw 8/7/04]

Theres many products out that lubricate a shed. I think I have something for chams called "Shed Ease" or a name alike. Really all you need to to keep the humidity up and make the area moist. After a few hours of high humidity (maybe less, especially if you humidity is always high) then you can go about with your work. If is you job to get all of what is unshed, no good can come of it being left on and as you see it's only causing you a pain in the butt in the long run. With a build up area I would guesse after you take it off the skin underneath might be raw or something, like you pulled a scab, so should probably apply some neosporin.

All of that is my sole advice dealing with snakes and lizards (cham's included). However, I never let a incomplete shed go untouched. Your case sounds very special, so perhaps someone that's actually dealt with this problem could post an answer with confidence.

If there is a build up there's a good chance there is an infection lurking under the layers. The commercial sprays may not help get rid of a build up of layers, but I don't know. Haven't used them. An aloe based, natural products type dry skin cream might help soften it. Give a good herp vet a call and they might give you some other ideas. A vet could probably look at the area with a magnifying scope and could also probably give you a lubricant to help it shed. If you insist on removing it yourself be ready to deal with a sore underneath. Coat it with Silvadene (great stuff from the vet...often you can get a free sample) or Polysporin to treat infection. As chams get older some areas of skin that don't flex much (like casque, to of the head, cheeks) don't shed as easily. And, because they don't flex much the cham may not be as aware of the old skin and try to get rid of it.

Try using some jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba). You can get it at most any natural food store or other place that sells quality, natural products. It is great stuff. You can dip a cotton swab into it and then saturate the area on your cham. Don't pull on any skin as you may tear underneath and cause more problems. The jojoba will help considerably. it is 100% safe for your cham. here's a link with inof and where you can purchase - good to have on hand especially if you have ongoing shed problems.
Boston Jojoba

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

thanks for the link, only problem is i live outside the U.S i found a suitable solution for the time being some mild healing cream i got from the chemist which is made of natural ingredients and should start to work, i will keep everyone posted on the situation as it progresses.
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4x Veiled Chameleon
1x Panther
Hollie/Willow > female veileds
Carling/Houdini > Male Veileds
Louey > Panther

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Edited signature file to remove unacceptable advertising. [phw 8/7/04]

hopefully it will work and not be irritating. Another natural oil that you should be able to get is almond oil. It is very similar to (human) skin so it absorbs readily (like the jojoba) and again, is safe. Once it is softened up you can try to carefully(!) remove it with forceps. if there is resistance don't pull. When I had my brevi's one of them did not shed completely around her ankle and by the second shed the skin had constricted I had a heck of a time b/c she was so tiny. She ended up dying soon after (not from that) so I don't have an end to that story.

Is your enclosure maintaining high enough humidity?

btw, what did KS take from your signature? I have never seen a note like that before. Had you noticed it?

lele

>>thanks for the link, only problem is i live outside the U.S i found a suitable solution for the time being some mild healing cream i got from the chemist which is made of natural ingredients and should start to work, i will keep everyone posted on the situation as it progresses.
>>-----
>>4x Veiled Chameleon
>>1x Panther
>>Hollie/Willow > female veileds
>>Carling/Houdini > Male Veileds
>>Louey > Panther
>>
>>
>>____
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>>Edited signature file to remove unacceptable advertising. [phw 8/7/04]
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

well the stuff imusing isnt irritating him he seems to be fine with it, im gonna keep applying and trying to get rid of this nasty shedding as far as the edited sig thats cos i was looking to buy a panther chameleon in the UK they must have seen it as an advertisement of some type but nm cos im getting one soon
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4x Veiled Chameleon
1x Panther
Hollie/Willow > female veileds
Carling/Houdini > Male Veileds
Louey > Panther

____

Edited signature file to remove unacceptable advertising. [phw 8/7/04]