anything that can cause closed eyes/lethargy

Docility

Docility

New Member
ok so i have a vet visit scheduled tomorrow at noon. i need everyones help in telling me what causes chams to close their eye when they are well hydrated, and show no signs of Vitamin deficiency. this is leading me to think its a parasite. he hasn't sustained any type of trauma. the more information i know the better the questions i can ask the vet. thanks

like i said anything, and everything that leads to a chameleon not opening his eyes, and becoming very lethargic .
 
Id have to agree, But, Only one eye? or both? Check your lighting maybe!
Other than that, is it rubbing the eye/s on branches? This is a regular normal Thing, but too much might indicate a problem, dust debris in eyes or something?
 
My veiled is having the same thing. She seems to not open one of her eyes and she is well hydrated and seemed to be doing fine. I thought it might be something in her eye at first but i'm not sure if its that.
 
both eyes. i found a piece of debris on his eye, but it happening the same time hes shedding. so would he have been rubbing his eyes on his cage to scratch the irritated skin? he had a piece of screen on his eye lid, and that stuff is sharp. i managed to remove it, and i flushed his eyes with water, but still closed eyes, and he wont walk around, because he cant see. he still has amazing colors, and i can see him sitting there bobbing his eyes around like his eyes are itchy, but i have been putting drops of water in his eyes, and still no luck (im running it through RO to keep it clean) ideas?
 
If you are using lights like this compact. Could cause lethargic behavior and closes eyes.
 

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Docility said:
both eyes. i found a piece of debris on his eye, but it happening the same time hes shedding. so would he have been rubbing his eyes on his cage to scratch the irritated skin? he had a piece of screen on his eye lid, and that stuff is sharp. i managed to remove it, and i flushed his eyes with water, but still closed eyes, and he wont walk around, because he cant see. he still has amazing colors, and i can see him sitting there bobbing his eyes around like his eyes are itchy, but i have been putting drops of water in his eyes, and still no luck (im running it through RO to keep it clean) ideas?
Click to expand...

I have seen my cham rub his eye to get rid of dry skin. But never keeps its closed afterwords.
 
Howdy Ben,

Aside from an actual eye infection or debris in the eye, think of eye closure as a chameleon's way of showing stress, distress, pain, illness etc. It's kinda like a human wincing from pain. This is why it's important to have a baseline for chameleon husbandry. If we have the basics under control then we can look for the most likely source(s) of the illness that lie beyond the usual possibilities such as hydration, food, lighting, temps, supplements, enclosure, room environment, planting, etc. This leaves the vet with things (hopefully) not related to husbandry issues such as parasites, hereditary problems, some kinds of infections, etc. The bottom line is that if you have eliminated all of the things under your control (husbandry) then you are left with the things that require a vet's intervention.
 
Dave Weldon said:
Howdy Ben,

Aside from an actual eye infection or debris in the eye, think of eye closure as a chameleon's way of showing stress, distress, pain, illness etc. It's kinda like a human wincing from pain. This is why it's important to have a baseline for chameleon husbandry. If we have the basics under control then we can look for the most likely source(s) of the illness that lie beyond the usual possibilities such as hydration, food, lighting, temps, supplements, enclosure, room environment, planting, etc. This leaves the vet with things (hopefully) not related to husbandry issues such as parasites, hereditary problems, some kinds of infections, etc. The bottom line is that if you have eliminated all of the things under your control (husbandry) then you are left with the things that require a vet's intervention.
Click to expand...

yeah. hes hydrated, and was eating very well till his recent shed, and i noticed on his tail it was rather difficult to get off so i helped him and man it was on there pretty good. i found the piece of debris on his eye, and he has livened up a little bit, but still leaving his eyes closed, but good news is he was moving around a little bit from spot to spot opening his eyes on occasion to see where to go. i hope its something simple like eye drops not only for my $$$ sake, but we have really bonded, and i would hate to loose him. just from him feeling so bad today i can tell he trusts me. he just lays his head on my hand like trying to say fix me =(, but tomorrow will come, and i hope for some good news!
 
I'm praying for the poor guy...and for you...

I very recently had the same experience with a very young male panther chameleon. We have no idea what caused this problem. When it started he was healthy, active, and happy. His name was Sparky. He went downhill so quickly, it was very alarming. Within 4 days, and after our veterinarian and I had done everything we could to help him, he died. He was treated for parasites, and fed. The night before, he had acted as if he might get better. Had even opened one eye for a little while, after the vet had cleaned it with an eyewash. I had had him less than a month, and the female (Ember) that I received on the same day is still perfectly healthy, happy and thriving. We still have no idea what caused it. The two cages were nearly identical. Fed the same food. Same temperatures, lighting and humidity. He was well hydrated and had been pooping just fine. I hope that you find a solution, because maybe then I will find the answers I so desperately need.
Thankfully, I had purchased them from the most wonderful breeders, who were just as heartbroken as I was, and offered to send me a new boy. Sparky's brother arrived on Tuesday morning, and we are letting him settle in. He seems to be getting quite comfortable today, and we are still trying to find a name for him.
 
The articles research is all based off the Zoo-med 10.0 compact light. I a have used exoterra 5.0 compacts with no problem what so ever. I must admit all the things i hear about them seems to be all based on one mans resarch of the zoomed 10.0 compact bulbs. From my own view point the wole compact "witch hunt" seems a little bit overboard and excessive. I have yet to hear anything bad come from using exotrra 5.0 compacts. Howver, i hav heard alot of people talk about it as though they have some sort of expertiece in UVB lighting. When in reality they are just repeting what thy heard someone else say who hard some one else say, from the person who actually read the one article about zoo meds compact 10.0. Wel thats my two cents.
 
My, male panther too has been having the closed eye issue. He is outside, no lights now, but was inside for the winter then this all started. He rubs his eye all the time and seems to close one then the other, never both at one time yet. I have washed it out with saline and some relieve for awhile but seems to come back? No signs of infection etc.
 
I am having the same issue

Ok my chameleon has had both eyes closed for 3 days now, not time for shedding and no apparent signs of shedding. This morning she has started gaping her mouth to breath, i attempted to give her some water drops and she acts as though it is painfull to swallow. Tking her to the vet today, but does this sound like the symptoms of respiratory infection?
 
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