Baby jackson care - I need help guys :(

[maya2]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Jackson, male, maybe a few weeks-month? He's about 2.5 inches long.

Handling - Only had him three days, took him outside to be in the sun once.

Feeding - He ate 3 very small (not quite pinheads) crickets on his second day with me, I just let him settle in on his first day. Crickets were fed alfalfa, carrot and water gel.

Supplements - Dusted with calcium (nod3)

Watering - I mist with warm water twice a day.

Fecal Description - I have not seen his urait or feces, but he's so small that it might just be hiding.

History - No history, I believe I've accidentally bought him too young didn't realize he was going to be so tiny.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Combo, 12 x 12 x 18.

Lighting - He's got a 10.0 reptiglo (the tubey kind) and a 50watt heat lamp pointed in the corner.

Temperature - 75ish in the hotter area, cool spots in the 60's.

Humidity - Lowest humidity is 50-60, I mist twice daily.

Plants - one pothos, dried n baked sticks n twigs from an old ficus.

Placement - Cage is in a shaded part of my bedroom, the sun is never directly on the cage but there's natural sunlight for a few hours in the evening. Cage is probably only 3ft above ground.

Location - New Mexico. (high altitude, dry climate)

Current Problem - His first day he was very alert and active, but I tried not to bother him too much. Just misted him and checked on him every so often.
Second day he ate (although not much), appeared happy and alert so I took him on a walk so he could get some sun.
He seemed happy, but I noticed that if not in his cage, or not in the sun, he'd close his eyes.
Today I noticed him less active, not willing to eat, and having his eyes closed in the day time. Part of the day he was active, but for a few hours he slept
I know that's not a good sign, and I'm not sure what to do.

I got him online and thought he was going to be a bit older, when he showed up I immediately ordered some fruit fly cultures and extra small silk worms, but I'm worried about keeping him alive over the weekend before they show up.

I know I have some crickets small enough for him to eat, how can I encourage him to go for it???

 

[Lathis]

First - your UVB bulb is great for a large cage, but you're probably bombarding your little guy in such a small enclosure! You probably need the 2.0 strength. Keep the 10.0; you'll want it later.

Secondly, how are you measuring temperature? In such a small cage, it will be easy to overheat your cham, even with a low watt bulb.

Can you post any photos?

Have you looked over the care sheets here? This would be a great place to start with the basics and we can help you with the specifics

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

If the UVB bulb is to strong, it could be irritating his eyes.

 

[Lathis]

Also, some pet stores carry fruit flies and tiny superworms, that might help until your order comes in.

 

[maya2]

First - your UVB bulb is great for a large cage, but you're probably bombarding your little guy in such a small enclosure! You probably need the 2.0 strength. Keep the 10.0; you'll want it later.

Secondly, how are you measuring temperature? In such a small cage, it will be easy to overheat your cham, even with a low watt bulb.

Can you post any photos?

Have you looked over the care sheets here? This would be a great place to start with the basics and we can help you with the specifics

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

If the UVB bulb is to strong, it could be irritating his eyes.

That makes sense. The bulb was originally meant for a larger cage. I'll get him a smaller one tomorrow, do you suggest I keep it off while I'm at work? (his lights turn on at 7:30am and I'm out of work at noon)

I've got two thermometers, one in the high corner where the heat is strongest, and another on the opposite side. Sorry no camera or camera phone

I was planning on taking him out in the sun again tomorrow, should I or would that stress him too much?

 

[maya2]

Also, some pet stores carry fruit flies and tiny superworms, that might help until your order comes in.

Yeah I checked today but there weren't any the only thing in town is small crickets, some of which are small enough to feed and the rest I'm giving to my frogs.

 

[Lathis]

Is your thermometer digital or the dial type? The cheap dials are notoriously inaccurate.

If you can get him real sunshine for a few hours, i would turn off that bulb until you get the weaker type.

 

[maya2]

Is your thermometer digital or the dial type? The cheap dials are notoriously inaccurate.

If you can get him real sunshine for a few hours, i would turn off that bulb until you get the weaker type.

It's dial... I'll replace them when I get that light tomorrow.
I'll move him while I'm at work, it won't be direct sunlight (I'm afraid he'll overheat) but brighter than where he is now.

Hopefully after some sun he can try eating some more. :/

Thank you so much for responding so quickly!

 

[Lathis]

Just make sure he has a dripper or mister running and some shade, and he should be okay. Hopefully, that will fix his issues.

 

[maya2]

Thanks again!

Today he is awake (for the most part) and he seems active, although still not eating

Also, today I noticed a bubble in the skin of his right eye. It only appears when he blinks hard, is there something in his eye? It looks like he's trying to squeeze it out.
In addition, he was rubbing his eye on a branch. What could it be? How can I help him get it out?

 

[maya2]

Update:

I just noticed two small legions on this guys neck...
Is this from rubbing his head/neck on the branch?

I just called the local herp vet and they can't take him until monday. Is there anything I can do until then???

 

[Lathis]

He may have something in his eye. Have you given him extra long misting to give him time to clean his eyes?



Rubbing eyes on branches and "swishing" the eyeball in the socket are normal eye cleaning behavior. Sounds like he may have something stuck inside the turret and needs water to get it out.

 

[antalaotra]

I would put the little guy on some plants and run a mister on him for an hour, if you don't have a mister put him in the shower, towards the end so he's not in direct contact with the heavy droplets! Sit in there with him so you can keep an eye on him, he really needs a humidifier, jackson's like it cool and very humid, if he's too dry he could develop skin and eye issues rather quickly! If he's too hot and uncomfortable he will not likely eat! best of luck with the little guy!

 

[maya2]

Thank you guys so much!

I misted him again with warm water but he seemed too cold (almost black, not moving as much and cold to the touch)

He's so small, and my showers kind of harsh so I ended up taking him into the sun and spraying a fine mist of warm water above him. He seemed happy with that, brightened up a bit and now he's walking around the roof of his enclosure.

I'm just going to keep his enclosure well misted for today, and wait to try and feed him again til tomorrow.
Hopefully the combination of new lights/appropriate temp and uvb intensity, with the promise of frequent mistings will help him even out.


Any suggestions about the cuts on his neck? Should I leave them be until the vet takes a look?

 

[antalaotra]

I'd put a topical antibiotic on him until you can have him vetted! if the weather is in the mid 70's no higher you can leave him in a well planted screen enclosure, you could get an old milk jug and put pin holes in to have a constant water dripping system for him, make sure he has some shaded areas to retreat to! Keep us posted on the little guy!

 

[maya2]

I'd put a topical antibiotic on him until you can have him vetted! if the weather is in the mid 70's no higher you can leave him in a well planted screen enclosure, you could get an old milk jug and put pin holes in to have a constant water dripping system for him, make sure he has some shaded areas to retreat to! Keep us posted on the little guy!

Any specific kind? Or ingredients to avoid?

 

[Lathis]

Neosporin is fine, use just a little bit, i have heard to use the kind without analgesic if you can find it