SidneyJohnsonPhil
Member
Before reading: keep in mind that that the chameleon is in a condition, specified below, that may or may not justify the unusual conditions. I also must stress that I cannot go to the vet for financial, location, and age reasons.
Type: Female Veiled chameleon, about a year to a year and a half old.
Handling: Haven't had her long enough to handle very much, but doesn't seem to mind or even move while I handle her . To me this is a bad sign since she should be somewhat alerted when i touch her . (he does change color with no noticeable movement.
Feeding: I am planning on feeding her through a syringe, I have given her food including crickets, horn worms, meal worms, and super worms. I have tried a few feeding techniques including force feeding, but to no avail. I plan on using crickets and mixing with the specified supplements after I figure out a plan. I am gut loading with carrots and some fluker's calcium.
Supplements: I am planning on putting calcium without D3 and vitamins when I syringe feed her . I don't know the ratio or if this is a good idea, so please, if you can, tell me how much of each i should have in the syringe when I feed her .
Watering: I mist her cage about every hour, there is always water on the leaves, but i do not know her previous situation.
Fecal description: Have not seen her poop yet. I am also not sure, since she can't move, how i will deal with her poop, since i don't want her to smear it on her self. (Some ideas would be gratefully appreciated.)
History: I was given this chameleon during an animal show and was told she was having some issues growing and eating, I was given her for free and after a few days of not eating and barely drinking, she started to have issues with walking (Though I am almost sure she has some form of gout on her back legs) she also spends a lot of her time with her eyes closed, and doesn't seem to flinch or move no matter what I do. Sometimes I wonder if she is dead. I understand, especially without access or money for a vet, she will probably die, but I want to do the best I can to try to save her . (I have had chameleons before and they lived to be happy, and healthy)
Cage Info:
Cage: Glass and about 8 inches by 18 inches by 11. I understand that this is not suitable for a chameleon, and I have a much bigger screen cage, but due to what i expect is dehydration, along with her inability to climb trees, it is the best option i have as it is shallow (in case of a fall) and it is glass so water is trapped much better.
Lighting: I have a UV bulb that is very close to her, I turn of the light at 8 and turn it on at 8 so I doubt it is an issue.
Temperature: currently I have a heat mat that, again, won't be used if I get her back to health. A heat lamp heats up the glass enclosure to much, and a heat mat is a lot easier to control and harder for her to burn herself on, the area she sits in is around 85 degrees, but since she can't move much at all, I don't think a higher temperature would be very safe for her.
Humidity: I spray her so often, and I see so much water, that humidity couldn't possibly be an issue, though before I received her I'm not sure what the conditions were.
Plants: No live plants because if she did climb I wouldn't want the risk of it breaking, though I do have live plants in her permanent cage I will put her in if she survives.
Placement: I place her about 3 feet off of the ground in my room in a very low traffic area, i do my best to maintain airflow using a slow fan since she is in a glass tank.
Current Problem:
1. I need to know how to deal with a few issues, she won't eat anything so I plan on syringe feeding her a mix of the calcium, vitamins, and crushed crickets. (If you have a better idea please tell me) I also need to know how to syringe feed.
2. How can I give her the ability to cleanly poop.
3. What might be causing her back legs to not work. (And if it is gout how to deal with it).
4. If being egg bound or pregnant could be causing the issues. (I have supplied her with a laying bin that was appropriately sized and I never saw her digging or showing any signs of pregnancy)
5. Does she look over/under weight. (i'm currently trying to get access to a scale and if I get one I will definitely post results.)
6. Does she possibly have MBD.
Something to consider: she can't walk or stand, so a hammock was the only way I could think of keeping her off the ground. When I hold her she always seems to play dead so that will explain the closed eyes while I hold her, you will notice when she is just sitting there she has her eyes opened. I will also do my best to update everyone on her status over the next few weeks.
Type: Female Veiled chameleon, about a year to a year and a half old.
Handling: Haven't had her long enough to handle very much, but doesn't seem to mind or even move while I handle her . To me this is a bad sign since she should be somewhat alerted when i touch her . (he does change color with no noticeable movement.
Feeding: I am planning on feeding her through a syringe, I have given her food including crickets, horn worms, meal worms, and super worms. I have tried a few feeding techniques including force feeding, but to no avail. I plan on using crickets and mixing with the specified supplements after I figure out a plan. I am gut loading with carrots and some fluker's calcium.
Supplements: I am planning on putting calcium without D3 and vitamins when I syringe feed her . I don't know the ratio or if this is a good idea, so please, if you can, tell me how much of each i should have in the syringe when I feed her .
Watering: I mist her cage about every hour, there is always water on the leaves, but i do not know her previous situation.
Fecal description: Have not seen her poop yet. I am also not sure, since she can't move, how i will deal with her poop, since i don't want her to smear it on her self. (Some ideas would be gratefully appreciated.)
History: I was given this chameleon during an animal show and was told she was having some issues growing and eating, I was given her for free and after a few days of not eating and barely drinking, she started to have issues with walking (Though I am almost sure she has some form of gout on her back legs) she also spends a lot of her time with her eyes closed, and doesn't seem to flinch or move no matter what I do. Sometimes I wonder if she is dead. I understand, especially without access or money for a vet, she will probably die, but I want to do the best I can to try to save her . (I have had chameleons before and they lived to be happy, and healthy)
Cage Info:
Cage: Glass and about 8 inches by 18 inches by 11. I understand that this is not suitable for a chameleon, and I have a much bigger screen cage, but due to what i expect is dehydration, along with her inability to climb trees, it is the best option i have as it is shallow (in case of a fall) and it is glass so water is trapped much better.
Lighting: I have a UV bulb that is very close to her, I turn of the light at 8 and turn it on at 8 so I doubt it is an issue.
Temperature: currently I have a heat mat that, again, won't be used if I get her back to health. A heat lamp heats up the glass enclosure to much, and a heat mat is a lot easier to control and harder for her to burn herself on, the area she sits in is around 85 degrees, but since she can't move much at all, I don't think a higher temperature would be very safe for her.
Humidity: I spray her so often, and I see so much water, that humidity couldn't possibly be an issue, though before I received her I'm not sure what the conditions were.
Plants: No live plants because if she did climb I wouldn't want the risk of it breaking, though I do have live plants in her permanent cage I will put her in if she survives.
Placement: I place her about 3 feet off of the ground in my room in a very low traffic area, i do my best to maintain airflow using a slow fan since she is in a glass tank.
Current Problem:
1. I need to know how to deal with a few issues, she won't eat anything so I plan on syringe feeding her a mix of the calcium, vitamins, and crushed crickets. (If you have a better idea please tell me) I also need to know how to syringe feed.
2. How can I give her the ability to cleanly poop.
3. What might be causing her back legs to not work. (And if it is gout how to deal with it).
4. If being egg bound or pregnant could be causing the issues. (I have supplied her with a laying bin that was appropriately sized and I never saw her digging or showing any signs of pregnancy)
5. Does she look over/under weight. (i'm currently trying to get access to a scale and if I get one I will definitely post results.)
6. Does she possibly have MBD.
Something to consider: she can't walk or stand, so a hammock was the only way I could think of keeping her off the ground. When I hold her she always seems to play dead so that will explain the closed eyes while I hold her, you will notice when she is just sitting there she has her eyes opened. I will also do my best to update everyone on her status over the next few weeks.
I'm sorry, and I know you're trying to help her, but I personally believe it'd be cruel to prolong her suffering.
