My chameleon is dark, has a white spot, and missing toes. Is he sick?

Are you sure he isn't going into a shedding period? Confirm proper environmental parameters, especially heat and UVB lighting. Low temps may cause stress which could cause him to become dull. Replace the UVB lights if older than 6 months. Mist him daily and use hygrometers in his enclosure to confirm proper humidity levels. Monitor for lethargy or decreased appetite. If necessary, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury.

Thanks for reaching out about Nelson. There are several possibilities that could be causing him to itch, a dermal infection being one but not a high probability, or could be a secondary condition. Vitamin A deficiencies are fairly common causes of dermal condition in reptiles. Insect prey needs to be supplemented with a wide variety of vegetables, both green and red/yellow/orange. A veterinary visit is recommended to access and provide a treatment plan. An injection of vitamin A will probably be recommended. Systemic antibiotics or anti-fungals might be recommended depending on what the lesion looks like. Good luck.

It appears she has suffered injury to the nail or to the toe itself. If that is nail you're seeing, it may or may not grow back. If it doesn't, there really is no cause for concern. If that is bone that is exposed, then she needs to be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. The tip or the toe may need to be amputated and sutured closed to allow for healing. In the meantime, keep the area clean and dry. Use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine solution to gently clean it. A dab of triple antibiotic ointment can be used as well. Have her seen sooner rather than later since a potential bone infection can be life threatening.

Thank you for your question about Loki, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful! From what I can see in the photos, I think that you are asking about the large white area that extends from the eyes forward to around his nose and down along his mouth. This looks like areas of retained shed on top of new skin. Difficulty shedding, or dysecdysis, is often the result of imperfections in the husbandry. I would recommend starting with soaking Loki in 85-90 F water once daily for 15-20 minutes. While in the bath, you can wet a paper towel or cloth and get the areas of retained shed wet. Use caution around his eyes and nose, however, as we don't want him to feel uncomfortable or panicked. I would also suggest evaluating the husbandry and diet closely. You can consult an online care sheet, such as anapsid.org or Reptiles Magazine, and see if there are any areas that you may need to make adjustments. Common areas that require adjustment include lighting (UV lights need to be changed every 4-6 months), temperatures, and humidity/hydration/water. I would also recommend taking Loki into a veterinarian at some point for a wellness examination. Your veterinarian can make recommendations that are tailored to Loki after his physical exam has been performed. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Survey the area around the cage for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, strong drafts or high traffic. Reduce or eliminate any if found. Confirm proper temperature. If it is too hot up high, he will move to cooler temps. Be sure to gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Dust with a calcium supplement as well as a multivitamin regularly. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your vet or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat illness or injury. You can review chameleon care a the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Panther-Chameleon/

Thanks for reaching out about Harley and including photos. The toe appears to be non-viable tissue. The toe should be amputated to prevent further spread of infection found in dead tissue. Keeping the environment clean by removing sand, bark or other particulate substrates and replaced by soft towels to prevent further contamination. Removing feces and urates as soon as possible. Schedule a veterinary visit to help. Good luck.

He may have injured it somehow or a bit of stuck shed could have strangulated the tissue. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. In the meantime, soak the toe/foot in diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) a couple times a day. Dry it thoroughly afterwards. Use plain paper towels in the enclosure until he heals.