Chameleons are popular reptiles to own thanks to their quiet demeanor and stunning colors, and they are relatively easy to care for. Sometimes chameleons can suffer from conditions such as tail rot. Untreated tail rot can be fatal, so every responsible chameleon owner should know what to look out for and how to treat it.
Tail rot or tail necrosis, in chameleons is a condition where the tail suffers from tissue death and turns black. High humidity levels, bacterial infections, improper shedding, malnutrition, poor husbandry, and trauma cause tail rot. Treatment includes early diagnosis and veterinary attention.
Within this guide, you will learn how to spot the symptoms of tail rot, its causes, treatments, and different prevention methods.
Table of Contents
What Does Tail Rot Look Like in Chameleons?
Knowing what to look out for is key to getting an early diagnosis and treatment. Tail rot, or tail necrosis in chameleons, and other reptiles, presents itself as a black tip on the tail.
Sometimes this darkness can look more like a bruise.
One way to make sure it’s just a bruise and not tail rot is to watch for movement. If your chameleon is curling its tail and moving it around as normal, it’s likely not tail rot but a bruise. But you should keep an eye on it.
Along with a black tip, tail rot can also present other symptoms like swelling, weight loss, pain to touch, and lethargy. Tail rot will cause the affected area to appear darkened and will feel dry, hard, and no longer flexible.
This means that the outside skin is rotting away, and tissue damage is occurring. Sometimes a foul odor will accompany tail rot, and this is a surefire sign that your chameleon has an infection.
In very bad cases of tail rot, the affected area of the tail can become so fragile that it will actually fall off.
If you notice discoloration on your chameleon’s tail, you need to get them proper veterinary care as soon as possible. Tail rot that is left untreated can spread throughout the body and cause a painful death.
Can Tail Rot Be Fatal for Your Chameleon?
Tail rot, while serious, can be treated if caught early on. This is why knowing the signs is important for a chameleon owner.
However, if tail rot is left untreated, it will spread throughout the entire body, both internal organs and even bones, and will result in a very painful death for the chameleon.
If the tail rots off, this can leave an exposed, open wound that is vulnerable to Septicemia. If this wound is not treated, bacteria from the infection will spread into the bloodstream and eventually kill your chameleon.
What Are The Causes of Tail Rot in Chameleons?
Here are the most common causes of tail rot.
High Humidity Levels
Maintaining the correct
Chameleon tanks need to have humidity levels between 50% and 75%. If these levels are higher, it puts your chameleon at risk for tail rot.
High humidity levels in their
Stress and environment are intricately linked when it comes to your chameleon’s health. High humidity levels can stress your chameleon, lowering its immune system and making them vulnerable to tail rot.
Inappropriate
When this process is interrupted, the chameleon can be delayed in fighting off an infection.
Tip: If you got a veiled chameleon, learn how to correctly set up your chameleon’s tank with our helpful care guide.
Bacterial Infection
Bacteria love warm and moist places to breed in, and if your chameleon
Bacterial dermatitis is a common skin infection that affects humans and animals. While this infection is typically quite simple to treat with a topical antibiotic ointment, if left untreated, it can become very serious.
The damper and more unclean your chameleon’s
Improper Shedding
Chameleons shed their dry outermost layer of skin. This process is known as Ecdysis. However, sometimes not all the old skin may shed off properly, and this is known as Dysecdysis.
When these unshed dry skins remain on the tail, it shrinks smaller as it becomes drier and tighter. As this skin gets tighter, it creates a band that cuts off blood circulation to the tip of the tail.
This is when the tip becomes black and rotted. High humidity can slow down the shedding process and make it difficult to complete.
Keep an eye on your chameleon’s tail if this happens, and there are some ways you can help them shed the skin.
Make sure that there are plenty of branches in the
You can help shed that stubborn skin by misting the affected area with water and gently massaging the area with your finger or a damp terry cloth. You should never force the skin to come off or pull it. Let it fall off by itself.
If the skin is still not shedding, you need to take your chameleon to a vet for professional assistance.
Malnutrition
A poor diet can be an underlying cause of tail rot in chameleons. Chameleons that are not eating a diet that is full of nutrients can suffer from deficiency illnesses, which leaves them more vulnerable to tail rot.
Sometimes you might find that tail rot could be caused by something so simple as a vitamin A deficiency in your chameleon.
Symptoms of a vitamin A deficiency aside from tail rot are:
- Swollen lips and eyes
- Poor coordination
- A weak grip
- Loss of appetite
Along with a lack of vitamins, chameleons that are not getting enough food and water regularly can experience low energy levels.
Low energy levels mean that your chameleon will be weaker and will not be able to fight off infections as well as they could, making them prone to tail rot.
Poor Husbandry
A clean and hygienic
As mentioned already, the environment in which the chameleon lives in can greatly affect their health.
Unhygienic
For example, glass tanks create unnecessary stress on chameleons as they can see their own reflections in the glass.
Trauma
The last potential cause of tail rot in chameleons is trauma in the form of a physical injury.
Sometimes chameleons can fall because of underlying medical reasons, or they are on a slippery surface. Your chameleon might knock or scrape its tail on particularly rough surfaces.
Regardless of how they injure their tails, it is important that you clean the wound if needed and you keep an eye on the tail to watch out for any infection.
How To Treat Tail Rot in Chameleons?
If you suspect your chameleon is suffering from tail rot, your first move should be to seek immediate veterinary attention.
Your vet will prescribe antibiotics to fight off the infection from spreading any further up the body. Unfortunately, the rotted part of the tail will need to be removed either surgically or by letting it fall off on its own.
If you cannot get to a vet immediately, it’s an early diagnosis or the tail rot is not spreading, there are some ways that you can treat tail rot at home.
Betadine Soak
- Fill a small dish or cup with room temperature to lukewarm water.
- Add a small amount of betadine to the water. Ideally, you want the water to look like the color of tea.
- Gently soak the chameleon’s tail in the solution for 5 minutes. Do not soak the whole body, as this is not beneficial to chameleons and is very stressful for them.
- Remove the tail from the solution and pat dry with a cotton swab.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin. This must be the original formula.
If you want, you can swap out the betadine with diluted chlorhexidine. You can buy reptile-friendly diluted chlorhexidine off Amazon.
You can do this daily until you can see that the tail rot has not spread up the tail. However, if it doesn’t stop the spread, you need to seek professional medical assistance from a vet.
Rot Guard Paste
Many chameleon owners recommend using Nature Zone Rot Guard as an alternative to the betadine and Neosporin method.
- Following the directions on the bottle, mix the paste by adding equal parts hot water and rot guard.
- Rub the paste directly onto the affected area of the tail.
You can use this paste multiple times per day until you can see that the rot is no longer spreading.
How To Prevent Tail Rot in Chameleons?
Luckily, there are many ways to prevent your chameleon from getting tail rot.
Maintain Correct Tank Conditions
Maintaining the appropriate humidity levels, cleanliness, temperature, and lighting is a good way of keeping your chameleon healthy and happy, as well as preventing tail rot.
| Tank Features | Appropriate Setting |
|---|---|
| Humidity Levels: | Between 50 and 75% |
| Daytime temperature: | 80 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Night time temperature: | Not below 65 °F for most |
| Lighting: | 12 Hours per day |
| UVB lighting: | At least 12 inches away from access |
Note: There are several common pet chameleon species and they all have different requirements. If you would like to learn more about a specific chameleon, have a look at our panther chameleon care guide and our veiled chameleon care guide.
Maintain a Proper Diet
Make sure your chameleon is getting a nutrient-rich diet of insects and leafy greens. You should be feeding your adult chameleon insects around three times per week and greens no more than two times per week.
Make sure your chameleon is getting enough vitamin A. This can be done by feeding them gut-loaded insects.
Conclusion
Using this guide, you should now be able to identify the symptoms of tail rot, what may be causing it, how to prevent it and how to treat it.
Keeping your chameleon happy and healthy is one of the best ways to prevent tail rot.
If you have tried the above methods and see no improvement, you need to seek professional care from a vet as soon as possible.
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