Chameleon Health

A strong immune system is strengthened by optimal husbandry, nutrition, and hydration and is reinforced by minimal stress and comfortable surroundings. It is our responsibility to keep our chameleons as healthy as possible so they will be capable of fighting off sickness, healing from injury, and fulfilling every natural purpose a chameleon seeks to achieve in their brief time here on earth.

The health and comfort of your chameleon can be divided into 3 categories: Normal, Distressed, and Critical. 

A normal, healthy chameleon will be calmly patrolling or perching in its enclosure, while constantly scanning the area and surveying its surroundings. Physically, your chameleon should have a firm grip and good balance, full-round eyes, vibrantly colored skin (unless during a shed), straight bones in arms and legs, and be able to curl its tail into a perfect spiral. Bones and muscles in arms and legs should be slightly visible and mouth should be sealed when closed. Check your chameleons feces and urates, the fecal portion should be tightly compacted and properly digested, while the urate portion should be 50-90% a white/cream color with the smaller portion an orange/brownish color. 

A distressed chameleon may have behavioral changes like constant basking, gaping, screen climbing, keeping weight off of a particular limb, notable clumsiness, or pointing nose upwards. They may also start to be particularly shy in attempts to hide any developing problems. Examine your chameleon from tip to tail, checking for any abrasions, burns, sores, discoloration, swollen areas, abnormal curvature or kinks in arms, legs, or tail, sunken eyes or thick/stringy saliva. Check for visible undigested insects in feces and/or dry/orange urates. These are immediate signs that they are hurt or sick, or that there is something wrong with their husbandry, nutrition, and/or hydration. Mild cases may be as simple as a change in temperatures, light, or supplementation. However, in many cases, these symptoms appear to owners only after developing into serious issues and require veterinary care. Being an observant caregiver can help you see the signs early and will give your chameleon the best chances for recovery.

Your chameleon is in critical need of veterinary care if you notice any lethargy, gaping with popping sounds, sleeping during the day, lying on the bottom of the enclosure, open/weeping sores, skin growths, tissue protruding out from cloaca, bleeding, or the inability to climb, eat, or completely pull in its tongue. Be prepared by having a chameleon veterinarian in mind just in case.