Chameleon keeps falling.

SlinkyCham

SlinkyCham

New Member
Over the past couple of days our chameleon has been falling from his branches in his cage and also from the sides of the cage. it appears that he is using his front legs more often then his back legs. we have been reading that most chameleons like this die over night but he has been eating and we mist him about twice a day. Also has been letting us handle him more often than usual. Were really scared about him falling so much and we don't know what to do. at the moment our vet is closed and we have no one to help except you. Any information or ideas would really be appreciated Thankyou. -K&H :)
 
Falling is often a symptom of illness and especially MBD. Please fill out the "How to ask for help" and be very specific about supplements and gutloading.
 
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species: Veiled Chameleon, sex: Unsure to young to be determine. , and age of your chameleon: a year and a half. How long has it been in your care? year and a half.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon: Not often. Probably like once a week.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham: Crickets. What amount: 7-10 What is the schedule: wake up at 9 turn on lights, put crickets in bag cover in supplements and put them in cage. How are you gut-loading your feeders: orange cubes from petsmart.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule: Calcium without D3 every other day. Multi vitamins, 2 times a week.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use: We have this waterfall drinker at the bottom of the cage that we leave on all night, we also mist. How often and how long to you mist: once or twice a day, and for about a minute or so.
Do you see your chameleon drinking: Not really.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings: brown and white. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites: No
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Our chameleon has an eye bump, which was from vitamin deficiency. we've gone to the vet for it and got it taken care of, looks alot better then it did.
Cage Info: Black mesh cage. 3 set of hanging fake plants and a giant climbing vine in the middle and a fake log.
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?): Mesh Cage. What are the dimensions? 13 length 30 height 17 width
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using: Brand Reptisun 5.0 UVB 13 watts and Zoomed Daylight blue bulb 60 watts, What is your daily lighting schedule: 9 am- 9pm
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot): 80-84 Lowest overnight temp: 70 How do you measure these temps: thermostat
Humidity - What are your humidity levels: N/A How are you creating and maintaining these levels: Misting twice a day What do you use to measure humidity: N/A
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? : None
Placement - Where is your cage located: on top of a table. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas: Near an air vent kinda. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor: About 5 feet from the floor.
Location - Where are you geographically located: Miami,Fl

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
The current problem is that our chameleon is trying to climb and for some reason we believe that our chameleon is not using their back legs as often and keeps falling to the floor of the cage. We are scared that the falls are going to hurt our chameleon. Our chameleon has been eating properly were just concerned about the falling.

Here are some pictures to look at our chameleon.
 

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You can sex veiled chameleons very very young. Look at the back feet. Is there a little nub on the back of the city? Yes nub - male, no nub - female.

If you have a female, are you aware of the need for a laying bin?
 
Does your multivitamin have D3 in it? If it does not then you need to get some. D3 is what your cham uses to process the calcium you give him, without the D3 all that calcium is worthless. And I suggest giving multivitamin only 2 times a month. I would also get rid of the waterfall they are bacteria farms. Your cage is also to small. It should be 24x24x48 inch minimum.
 
Looks to be a female. She has some gular edema and the starts of MBD if you were to ask me. Her casque looks like it has some misshape. Is if soft? Her legs also look like they've got some curvature to them as well.

When is the last time you changed your UVB bulb? You should be giving her plain calcium every time she eats, except on days when she has Multivitamins and D3. What brand of multivitamin are you using?
 
Could also be related to the ongoing infection in the eye, too.

She(?) does look a little chunky around the backside and may have eggs to lay. Putting a laying bin in her cage is needed.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/

I would suggest another vet visit. If at your past vet visit, the vet was unable to determine the gender of your chameleon, it may be that the vet has very little chameleon experience. I might suggest finding a more experienced vet.
 
@Virgil1972 : My multivitamins do not have D3. I use Rep-Cal Herptivite multivitamins. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?
@Lathis : Would pictures of my chameleons bottom side help ? Also, I have never heard of the whole laying bin thing, thanks for the tips!
@Nicholasdeaan : I have not changed my UVB light bulb yet. I have had it over a year. My chameleons casque is not soft. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?

Just want to say a quick thanks to everyone that has responded. You have opened my eyes to new info!
 
SlinkyCham said:
@Virgil1972 : My multivitamins do not have D3. I use Rep-Cal Herptivite multivitamins. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?
@Lathis : Would pictures of my chameleons bottom side help ? Also, I have never heard of the whole laying bin thing, thanks for the tips!
@Nicholasdeaan : I have not changed my UVB light bulb yet. I have had it over a year. My chameleons casque is not soft. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?

Just want to say a quick thanks to everyone that has responded. You have opened my eyes to new info!
Click to expand...

There is some MV with D3, but that isnt what he means (I dont think). You should be giving Calcium without D3 everyday, and Calcium with D3 a few times a month (2-4, depends on your setup and who you ask).

Also MV 2 times a week is a little much, that should be 1-2 times a month.

That Reptisun needs to be replaced after 6 months, you have had it over a year and no D3 in your supplements, your cham has MBD you need to take it to the vet.

You need to google care sheets, the lights supplements, laying bins all this stuff is covered in pretty much every care sheet. Some care sheets have some bad info, others do not most all cover those things though.

Here is the forums care sheet. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
 
SlinkyCham said:
@Virgil1972 : My multivitamins do not have D3. I use Rep-Cal Herptivite multivitamins. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?
@Lathis : Would pictures of my chameleons bottom side help ? Also, I have never heard of the whole laying bin thing, thanks for the tips!
@Nicholasdeaan : I have not changed my UVB light bulb yet. I have had it over a year. My chameleons casque is not soft. Any recommendations for multivitamin with D3?

Just want to say a quick thanks to everyone that has responded. You have opened my eyes to new info!
Click to expand...
I use Zoo Med D3 twice a month, herptivite multivitamin twice a month that doesn't have D3. And all the other feedings I use plain calcium. You need a lay bin that has 10" of moist play sand. She needs some where to lay eggs. She should only get fed every other day.

The UVB bulbs needs to be changed out asap. She's developing MBD. I would schedule a visit with a vet. Make sure they know how to treat chameleons properly. There's a list on here for well known Chan vets.

I would start reading the care sheets on here. It's not to late for her! But there does need to be changes.
 
Slinky has gotten better over these past weeks. I got slinky the calcium with D3 and switched his lightbulb. Slinky has not fallen since that one day. I also attached a recent picture of Slinky. What do y'all think?
 

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It sounds like he had early sign of MBD, it doesn't quite look like his bones are affected yet.
 
Did you find out if Slinky is a boy or a girl? It's easy. Check the back of the back feet; where the "heel" is. If there is a little somewhat triangular bump sticking out, you have a boy. If it is smooth, without a triangular bump sticking out, you have a girl.
 
Andee said:
It sounds like he had early sign of MBD, it doesn't quite look like his bones are affected yet.
Click to expand...
Can you tell from the pictures if slinky is still developing it though, because we are now giving the calcium with D3 and changed the lightbulb we just don't want for MBD to keep developing.
-K&H :)
 
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