Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two Plumed Basilisks, who are both showing these signs. In places on their body, they get small black patches on parts of their skin, most notably under the jawline and under their main sail. They disappear after a couple of days, but i've noticed they come back in different places. Anyone have any idea as to 1) what they are and 2) how to prevent them?

Black patches or spots can be the result of a few different causes. Small bruising can cause it; mild infection, usually the result of high humidity, or scratches from other cage mates, is another possibility. Mites, can cause black patches as the cut off the blood flow to areas of the skin. To rule these out, ask yourself these questions:

1. Are prone to frantic behavior and running into things when startled(very common with this species).
2.Would you describe the cage as wet or damp, do your lizards feel clammy or dry when you first take them out?
3. Are they often on top of each other? Have their nails been trimmed? Could they be mating?(biting to the nape may be a cause).
4. Looking closely can you see small specs of white or black or red, usually around the eyes and mouth. Animals with mites usually have very irritated looking eyes.
Hopefully it's nothing serious, good luck!

The bruising sounds like the highest possiblilty. I check the humidity very often, and i'm always on the look out for mites and other parasites.

The problem I have is when one of them gets startled, the other reacts to it, and they both end up jumping all over the vivarium, usually into each other. This would definatly cause some impact with the speed they run at.

I may be seperating them soon as they both appear to be growing into rather large males, so hopefully this behaviour will lessen.

Thank you very much