Bulging eye(s)?

[drexciya]

Our panther chameleon has recently started to make it eyes bulge out and yesterday I saw him scratching it on the branch. It bulges out pretty far when he does it but then goes back to normal. He's about to move into a larger cage with new plants. Currently have a rubber tree in there and I'm wondering if he got some of the sap in his eye or if he has an infection. He hasn't been eating well for about 2 weeks. Maybe 1-2 crickets or superworm a day. The bulging eye is kinda disturbing so I'm looking for some advice. I mist regularly and have been spraying him directly since the eye problem started. Have been using ReptiSun tube plus basking light and give vitamins with food. Thanks in advance.

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Well rubber trees are toxic to chameleons so get that thing out of there. My recommendation would be to try and give him a shower. Chameleons tend to bulge their eyes in and out to clean them...but the fact that he had that plant in there worries me. The most commonly used plants here are ficus, schefflera, and hibiscus. Try the shower a few times and see if that helps. Otherwise you might have to get him checked out for an eye infection. Hope that helps. good luck.

 

[drexciya]

Thanks. I bought a umbrella plant today and got rid of the ficus rubber tree and cleaned the entire cage. I'm hoping that's all it was and that his eye isn't infected and was only irritated. The eye ball looks normal, not cloudy, red or with discharge so that's a good sign. He also got his first shower today. I think I saw him drinking the mist too. Got my fingers crossed.

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Good luck. With a few showers hopefully he will be able to clean them out.

 

[drexciya]

My boy isn't looking good today. I gave him the shower and put in the umbrella tree, but now he isn't opening one of his eyes and is just snuggled up on a branch. The eyes still look clear but he is still bulging them and is keeping one of them closed almost continually. Time for a vet I'm assuming. Any ideas?

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Take him to a vet ASAP. If you don't know of a specialist locally just time in Herp Vets on google and you should be able to find someone. Call around and find one with cham experience. Don't wait on this. Good luck and keep me informed. I hope your little guy ends up ok.

 

[Murderdoll96]

Honestly this might sound a little crazy, but my veiled seemed to do this too. When he was put outside under the natural light his eyes continually stayed open. Lighting could also be a factor.

 

[summoner12]

What kind of UVB lamp do you have? screw-in or tube? What band? What strength?

 

[Chameleon101]

Reading over your problem, my little guy (almost 4 months old, an Ambanja) seemed to have been doing the same thing, he went almost a whole day with one eye closed and does that "popping" with both of his eyes. Sometimes his pupil looks red???? Now I'm concerned. He's had them both open now for a few days and I did read that eye "popping" was perfectly normal, is this not true?