Baby Veiled not eating and eyes closed

[Scyz]

I know there are a big list of questions to help diagnose or suggest what to do so I’m going to try to answer. My chameleon is a male veiled that is 3-4 months old. I’ve had him for 1 month. He is in a 18x18x36 Reptibreeze with the compact 5w uvb (the “u” shape not coil) and the blue heat incandescent bulb suggested from pet store. I have all live plants (bromeliad, croton and compact Hoya). I mist with 2 types of hand sprayers (Both fine mist) at least 3-4 times a day. More lately because of dehydration and shedding. I’m feeding him gut loaded crickets, mealworms, hornworms (not every feeding) and recently added black soldier fly larvae. Crickets are gut loaded with Fluker’s high calcium diet. I had to leave him with my teenage sons last Friday all day until 8:30 or so at night. When I got back he had maybe eaten 4 crickets. They were heavily dusted and by that I mean way too much powder in the feeding cup. I had been dusting at every feeding with Fluker’s repta calcium with D3 but then realized after more reading that he didn’t need that D3 every time so I stopped and used the zoo med repti calcium without D3. The first week I got him I used the sample of zoo med reptivite one feeding and then ordered the Fluker’s reptile vitamin with beta carotene for the next bi monthly feeding of multivitamins. The following day he acted afraid of his food cup or any insects I tried hand feeding (he had eaten from my hand before). He was keeping one eye mostly closed all day. He kept walking around in his enclosure with his eyes closed and seemed unsettled. He would climb into my hand and once resting on me would fall asleep. He did not eat Saturday only drank but not enough. He only ate one meal worm the following day and I had a hard time getting him to drink. He did not eat but would drink Monday and I was able to keep him outside several hours with a mix of sun and filtered sun. Tuesday, same thing. He was opening his eyes less and less and his poop suggested dehydration but still had poop. Wednesday no poop just urates and still creamy yellow but not as yellow as had been. I tricked him into eating when he drank by putting a cricket between his teeth. He ate 2 crickets and 2 bsfl and a mealworm. The next day I did the same thing with 2 BSFL and 1 cricket. Then I got some really small hornworms Saturday and had the pull it apart to feed him but that was all I could get down him other than water. Yesterday I got him to eat most of s hornworm and a BSFL and to drink more but still not opening his eyes. He seems to be most comfortable on my hand.
I’m trying to get an appointment with a vet about 40 miles away as that’s the only one that sees reptiles.

 

[Scyz]

Also he started shedding the next evening. He’s only shed one other time since I’ve had him and that was when I got him.

 

[Scyz]

@MissSkittles

 

[Scyz]

 

[Beman]

I know there are a big list of questions to help diagnose or suggest what to do so I’m going to try to answer. My chameleon is a male veiled that is 3-4 months old. I’ve had him for 1 month. He is in a 18x18x36 Reptibreeze with the compact 5w uvb (the “u” shape not coil) and the blue heat incandescent bulb suggested from pet store. I have all live plants (bromeliad, croton and compact Hoya). I mist with 2 types of hand sprayers (Both fine mist) at least 3-4 times a day. More lately because of dehydration and shedding. I’m feeding him gut loaded crickets, mealworms, hornworms (not every feeding) and recently added black soldier fly larvae. Crickets are gut loaded with Fluker’s high calcium diet. I had to leave him with my teenage sons last Friday all day until 8:30 or so at night. When I got back he had maybe eaten 4 crickets. They were heavily dusted and by that I mean way too much powder in the feeding cup. I had been dusting at every feeding with Fluker’s repta calcium with D3 but then realized after more reading that he didn’t need that D3 every time so I stopped and used the zoo med repti calcium without D3. The first week I got him I used the sample of zoo med reptivite one feeding and then ordered the Fluker’s reptile vitamin with beta carotene for the next bi monthly feeding of multivitamins. The following day he acted afraid of his food cup or any insects I tried hand feeding (he had eaten from my hand before). He was keeping one eye mostly closed all day. He kept walking around in his enclosure with his eyes closed and seemed unsettled. He would climb into my hand and once resting on me would fall asleep. He did not eat Saturday only drank but not enough. He only ate one meal worm the following day and I had a hard time getting him to drink. He did not eat but would drink Monday and I was able to keep him outside several hours with a mix of sun and filtered sun. Tuesday, same thing. He was opening his eyes less and less and his poop suggested dehydration but still had poop. Wednesday no poop just urates and still creamy yellow but not as yellow as had been. I tricked him into eating when he drank by putting a cricket between his teeth. He ate 2 crickets and 2 bsfl and a mealworm. The next day I did the same thing with 2 BSFL and 1 cricket. Then I got some really small hornworms Saturday and had the pull it apart to feed him but that was all I could get down him other than water. Yesterday I got him to eat most of s hornworm and a BSFL and to drink more but still not opening his eyes. He seems to be most comfortable on my hand.
I’m trying to get an appointment with a vet about 40 miles away as that’s the only one that sees reptiles.

Hi there. Can you post pictures of the entire cage lighting down while I go through your form? Also pictures of the supplements so I know exactly what your using.

 

[Scyz]

His enclosure is outside right now so the lights are not on top and I took one of the plants out of the bottom to clean the enclosure.

 

[Scyz]

This is the light I currently have. I have a 24” T5 fixture coming and the Arcadia light for it.

 

[Scyz]

Here are the bulbs. Again I have the 24 inch fixture coming hopefully soon.

 

[Scyz]

Here are the supplements that I have been using. Here are the supplements that I have been using.

 

[Scyz]

Gut load food for crickets

 

[Beman]

His enclosure is outside right now so the lights are not on top and I took one of the plants out of the bottom to clean the enclosure.View attachment 269581

Ok I am going to post initial notes on pictures... The rock in the plants is too small. You need 1 inch or larger. I get the decorative stones from the dollar store. The size you have he can eat. then you have impaction risk. Not sure what the plant is in the top... I tend to stick to Veiled tested plants since they eat them. Here is a list with Veiled tested... https://chameleonacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chameleon-Plants-122819.pdf

 

[Beman]

This is the light I currently have. I have a 24” T5 fixture coming and the Arcadia light for it. View attachment 269582

Good I am glad you ordered the T5. Did you get the 6% bulb for a single bulb fixture? You will toss the compact bulb when the new fixture arrives.

 

[Scyz]

Yes,

Good I am glad you ordered the T5. Did you get the 6% bulb for a single bulb fixture? You will toss the compact bulb when the new fixture arrives.

I ordered the 6% bulb.

 

[Scyz]

Ok I am going to post initial notes on pictures... The rock in the plants is too small. You need 1 inch or larger. I get the decorative stones from the dollar store. The size you have he can eat. then you have impaction risk. Not sure what the plant is in the top... I tend to stick to Veiled tested plants since they eat them. Here is a list with Veiled tested... https://chameleonacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chameleon-Plants-122819.pdf

I read that Hoya plants are safe and I only it then plastic ivy looking stuff in the corner yesterday to give him more balance since he was wondering around with closed eyes.

 

[Beman]

Here are the supplements that I have been using.View attachment 269584Here are the supplements that I have been using.

Ok so for these. The repti calcium without D3 is used at every feeding lightly dusted on all feeders. Then 2 times a month you use the repta calcium with D3. And two times a month you use the multivitamin. These two are rotated week to week say on saturdays. I personally prefer Reptivite without D3 for my mulitvitamin. I do not have much knowledge of the flukers. But that one may only contain beta carotene rather then the preformed A.

You could do two things here. Buy reptivite with D3 and only use it 2 times a month and do away with both of the flukers or you could buy reptivite without D3 and replace the flukers multivitamin.

I am not sure if the reptivite that comes with the cage sample pack is with D3 or not so I would dispose of it because they do not clearly label it.

Let me know if you need me to clarify.

 

[Beman]

Yes,

I ordered the 6% bulb.

Perfect so with the single bulb fixture 6% you want to have basking 9 inches below the light sitting on the top panel. This will put him in the perfect UVI level.

 

[Beman]

Gut load food for crickets View attachment 269585

These are awful and can be tossed. Switch to all fresh veg with 1 or two fruit items.

Use this list to do your shopping you want multiple green leafy veg.

 

[Scyz]

I read that Hoya plants are safe and I only it then plastic ivy looking stuff in the corner yesterday to give him more balance since he was wondering around with closed eyes.

I also had an umbrella plant in there but it wasn’t very big so I took it out too. I was hoping to make a run to a local nursery for a decent sized pathos and ficus tree

 

[Beman]

@Scyz See my feedback in red bold.
My chameleon is a male veiled that is 3-4 months old. I’ve had him for 1 month.
He is in a 18x18x36 Reptibreeze He will need a larger cage in a few months. 2x2x4 minimum.
with the compact 5w uvb (the “u” shape not coil) and the blue heat incandescent bulb suggested from pet store. Ok but you have the correct lighting coming this is good.
I have all live plants (bromeliad, croton and compact Hoya). I can't speak to the hoya. The croton will die off if it does not have the lighting it needs. I would get pothos they tolerate everything.
I mist with 2 types of hand sprayers (Both fine mist) at least 3-4 times a day. More lately because of dehydration and shedding. How long are you misting for?
I’m feeding him gut loaded crickets, mealworms, hornworms (not every feeding) and recently added black soldier fly larvae. Dump the mealworms they are low in nutritional value. How many feeders was he eating? You can do a hornworm at every feeding at this age if it is balanced with multiple feeders.
Crickets are gut loaded with Fluker’s high calcium diet. I had to leave him with my teenage sons last Friday all day until 8:30 or so at night. When I got back he had maybe eaten 4 crickets. They were heavily dusted and by that I mean way too much powder in the feeding cup. I had been dusting at every feeding with Fluker’s repta calcium with D3 but then realized after more reading that he didn’t need that D3 every time so I stopped and used the zoo med repti calcium without D3. The first week I got him I used the sample of zoo med reptivite one feeding and then ordered the Fluker’s reptile vitamin with beta carotene for the next bi monthly feeding of multivitamins. The following day he acted afraid of his food cup or any insects I tried hand feeding (he had eaten from my hand before). So when did you switch to the calcium without D3? How long and how often was he getting the calcium with D3?
He was keeping one eye mostly closed all day. He kept walking around in his enclosure with his eyes closed and seemed unsettled. He would climb into my hand and once resting on me would fall asleep. He did not eat Saturday only drank but not enough. He only ate one meal worm the following day and I had a hard time getting him to drink. He did not eat but would drink Monday and I was able to keep him outside several hours with a mix of sun and filtered sun. Tuesday, same thing. He was opening his eyes less and less and his poop suggested dehydration but still had poop. Wednesday no poop just urates and still creamy yellow but not as yellow as had been. I tricked him into eating when he drank by putting a cricket between his teeth. He ate 2 crickets and 2 bsfl and a mealworm. The next day I did the same thing with 2 BSFL and 1 cricket. Then I got some really small hornworms Saturday and had the pull it apart to feed him but that was all I could get down him other than water. Yesterday I got him to eat most of s hornworm and a BSFL and to drink more but still not opening his eyes. He seems to be most comfortable on my hand.
So has the eye issue been happening since Friday? Are you misting him in his direction so he can try to clean the eye? Is it one eye or both?

I’m trying to get an appointment with a vet about 40 miles away as that’s the only one that sees reptiles.

I need to know the information below as well please.

• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

 

[Scyz]

@Scyz See my feedback in red bold.
My chameleon is a male veiled that is 3-4 months old. I’ve had him for 1 month.
He is in a 18x18x36 Reptibreeze He will need a larger cage in a few months. 2x2x4 minimum.
with the compact 5w uvb (the “u” shape not coil) and the blue heat incandescent bulb suggested from pet store. Ok but you have the correct lighting coming this is good.
I have all live plants (bromeliad, croton and compact Hoya). I can't speak to the hoya. The croton will die off if it does not have the lighting it needs. I would get pothos they tolerate everything.
I mist with 2 types of hand sprayers (Both fine mist) at least 3-4 times a day. More lately because of dehydration and shedding. How long are you misting for?
I’m feeding him gut loaded crickets, mealworms, hornworms (not every feeding) and recently added black soldier fly larvae. Dump the mealworms they are low in nutritional value. How many feeders was he eating? You can do a hornworm at every feeding at this age if it is balanced with multiple feeders.
Crickets are gut loaded with Fluker’s high calcium diet. I had to leave him with my teenage sons last Friday all day until 8:30 or so at night. When I got back he had maybe eaten 4 crickets. They were heavily dusted and by that I mean way too much powder in the feeding cup. I had been dusting at every feeding with Fluker’s repta calcium with D3 but then realized after more reading that he didn’t need that D3 every time so I stopped and used the zoo med repti calcium without D3. The first week I got him I used the sample of zoo med reptivite one feeding and then ordered the Fluker’s reptile vitamin with beta carotene for the next bi monthly feeding of multivitamins. The following day he acted afraid of his food cup or any insects I tried hand feeding (he had eaten from my hand before). So when did you switch to the calcium without D3? How long and how often was he getting the calcium with D3?
He was keeping one eye mostly closed all day. He kept walking around in his enclosure with his eyes closed and seemed unsettled. He would climb into my hand and once resting on me would fall asleep. He did not eat Saturday only drank but not enough. He only ate one meal worm the following day and I had a hard time getting him to drink. He did not eat but would drink Monday and I was able to keep him outside several hours with a mix of sun and filtered sun. Tuesday, same thing. He was opening his eyes less and less and his poop suggested dehydration but still had poop. Wednesday no poop just urates and still creamy yellow but not as yellow as had been. I tricked him into eating when he drank by putting a cricket between his teeth. He ate 2 crickets and 2 bsfl and a mealworm. The next day I did the same thing with 2 BSFL and 1 cricket. Then I got some really small hornworms Saturday and had the pull it apart to feed him but that was all I could get down him other than water. Yesterday I got him to eat most of s hornworm and a BSFL and to drink more but still not opening his eyes. He seems to be most comfortable on my hand.
So has the eye issue been happening since Friday? Are you misting him in his direction so he can try to clean the eye? Is it one eye or both?

I’m trying to get an appointment with a vet about 40 miles away as that’s the only one that sees reptiles.

I need to know the information below as well please.

• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

Temps are between 87 at the top and 76 at the bottom. He stays in an area with no fan and little draft so overnight temps don’t drop below 75. We live on the gulf coast so our humidity stays pretty high. Normally around 50% and then goes up to 70% when misted. I had been misting 3-5 times a day and most heavily in the mornings. I hand mist with a small pump up sprayer at the finest setting until every leaf has water droplets and the ceiling has water droplets.
He was only keeping one eye closed and rubbing it. I have been trying to mist him more often when he looks like he is rubbing it in things.
The calcium with D3 was used at every feeding for about 13 days. Some of the time it seemed to get ashes off if he didn’t eat all his crickets at the start of the day.
He was eating 7-10 crickets for the first 3 weeks and a mealworm every day for about 10 days until I found more info on nutritional value of those. I fed him hornworms 2 times a week for the second two weeks Ive had him.