Came Home from Work & My Chameleon was stuck

[Kelbel7789]

Hi there,

Current Problem: I have had my chameleon, Morpheus, for about two months. When I came home from work today, I noticed that he was hanging by his tail with his front feet on the branches. At first glance, not out of the ordinary. However, when I looked closer, I saw that his tail had actually been pinched in the line on the branches meant for it to be attached to the mesh enclosure. I am not sure how long he had been like this, but I detangled him as soon as I realized what was going on. I didn't get a picture of how it looked right away, but it had an indent like if you had a rubber band around your finger too tightly. It seems to have regained blood flow now, but I think that the tip of his tail is broken. How serious is this and what can I do to help him heal?

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, unsure of sex
• Handling - weekly; sometimes he is okay with me handling him other times not so much-- will let me feed him by hand
• Feeding - crickets and mealworms; not gut-loading at this time, but I am interested in learning how to do so, feeding twice a day
• Supplements - reptivite and repti-calcium twice a week
• Watering - spray bottle misting at this time, I have a dripper but I am not currently using it; misting 2-3 times a day until the leaves drip; I do see my chameleon drinking
• Fecal Description - I have not had my chameleon tested; consistent schedule
• History - bought from a pet store, was in care of 12 year old nephew before he came into my care

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - screen enclosure
• Lighting - 12 on, 12 off for the day bulb and constant heat
• Temperature - I have a digital thermometer; range 72-79
• Humidity - unsure, looking to but a humidifier for his room
• Plants - only fake plants at this time
• Placement - It is located in my spare bedroom which is my dressing room; the cage is located in front of the heater for my house which is the closed door shown in the pictures. placed on top of a side table
• Location - New York

I am aware that there is a lot more I can do for my chameleon. I am a first time care-giver who more or less inherited this animal. I want him to be taken care of and I am doing my best. I want to learn how to care for him properly and I am receptive to any and all advice in the long term. I have had trouble finding a good selection of supplies for his enclosure at my local stores.

 

[Thehippie]

ok well there is a number of things i would like to politely point out, first, you have a boy.

you should not feed mealworms they cause impaction. instead try hornworms, silkworms, bsf, bsfl, bbf, and roaches.

gut load with an artificial gut load and some fresh fruits and veggies, not the orange cubes you see in stores though.

supplementation should be calcium no d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a week and multivitamin twice a week

you should be misting at least 2 mins each time 3 times a day. this will ensure your chameleon drinks and the humidity stays up

his basking temp should be around 85 to 90 degrees check the care sheet for more information of temps

humidifiers wont really do anything, i would invest in a mist king instead, or at best, both.

as for the current problem, any break should go the the vet, his tail may not be broken, it could just be dislocated but i would go to a vet.

 

[mBuxx]

ok well there is a number of things i would like to politely point out, first, you have a boy.

you should not feed mealworms they cause impaction. instead try hornworms, silkworms, bsf, bsfl, bbf, and roaches.

gut load with an artificial gut load and some fresh fruits and veggies, not the orange cubes you see in stores though.

supplementation should be calcium no d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a week and multivitamin twice a week

you should be misting at least 2 mins each time 3 times a day. this will ensure your chameleon drinks and the humidity stays up

his basking temp should be around 85 to 90 degrees check the care sheet for more information of temps

humidifiers wont really do anything, i would invest in a mist king instead, or at best, both.

as for the current problem, any break should go the the vet, his tail may not be broken, it could just be dislocated but i would go to a vet.

Just wanted to confirm you meant twice a week for d3 and multivitamin. I’m not trying to contradict you but I have always been told twice a month not twice a week. I am asking for my own knowledge as well, thank you.

 

[cloverthechameleon]

Just wanted to confirm you meant twice a week for d3 and multivitamin. I’m not trying to contradict you but I have always been told twice a month not twice a week. I am asking for my own knowledge as well, thank you.

calcium with d3 and multivitamin twice a month on off setting weeks.

 

[mBuxx]

calcium with d3 and multivitamin twice a month on off setting weeks.

What do you mean but off setting?

 

[Brodybreaux25]

What do you mean but off setting?

Think She’s saying not to do them in the same week but it doesn’t matter you can do them in the same week

 

[Brodybreaux25]

ok well there is a number of things i would like to politely point out, first, you have a boy.

you should not feed mealworms they cause impaction. instead try hornworms, silkworms, bsf, bsfl, bbf, and roaches.

gut load with an artificial gut load and some fresh fruits and veggies, not the orange cubes you see in stores though.

supplementation should be calcium no d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a week and multivitamin twice a week

you should be misting at least 2 mins each time 3 times a day. this will ensure your chameleon drinks and the humidity stays up

his basking temp should be around 85 to 90 degrees check the care sheet for more information of temps

humidifiers wont really do anything, i would invest in a mist king instead, or at best, both.

as for the current problem, any break should go the the vet, his tail may not be broken, it could just be dislocated but i would go to a vet.

He know he has a boy. And what do you mean an artificial gutload?

 

[Graves923]

This shows how quickly a thread can become a trainwreck.....

OP should read this: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

Plain calcium no D3 with every feeding. Multivitamin twice per month, and Calcium with D3 twice per month. Lightly dust all feeders being fed.

Gutloading is as simple as leaving the food items in the container you are keeping the feeder insects in. They eat the nutritious food and the cham eats the now nutritious bug.
Gutload all feeders with the proper fresh veggies and fruits listed in this article: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/

As for the tail, keep an eye on it. If he still doesnt have movement in the tail after a few days I would consider a vet visit to make sure that part of the tail is not dead from lack of bloodflow.

 

[Kelbel7789]

Thank you for the advice! I will continue to keep an eye on his tail. Part of the reason I’m hesitant to take him to the vet is because the weather is freezing where I am right now and just transporting him would be traumatic. That being said, if I need to, I will.

 

[Graves923]

If you need to then obviously warm up your vehicle before leaving. You can also put your cham into a dark box with a stick or vine for him to grab onto. The darkness will cause the cham to essentially fall asleep which is a lot less traumatic then holding the cham during the ride.

In the mean time, look into vets near you that have exotics experience and specifically chameleon experience just in case you ever need to bring him in for a check up.

 

[CC's Baby]

Wow, poor guy. Get well soon.

 

[Thehippie]

twice a month oops my b lol

 

[Thehippie]

He know he has a boy. And what do you mean an artificial gutload?

but the thing said unsure of sex, I'm not sure if I'm reading it wrong or somethings whack with me today but I'm almost completely sure that it says hes unsure of the sex... also i meant like cricket crack or bug burger, something commercially made

 

[Brodybreaux25]

but the thing said unsure of sex, I'm not sure if I'm reading it wrong or somethings whack with me today but I'm almost completely sure that it says hes unsure of the sex... also i meant like cricket crack or bug burger, something commercially made

Sorry, now I see where he said he was unsure

 

[Scarface24]

Just wanted to confirm you meant twice a week for d3 and multivitamin. I’m not trying to contradict you but I have always been told twice a month not twice a week. I am asking for my own knowledge as well, thank you.

It's once or twice month to much calum with d3 is not good for them?

 

[Brodybreaux25]

It's once or twice month to much calum with d3 is not good for them?

Yes they can OD on D3. Calcium with D3 should be given twice a month.