Chameleon keeps falling...

[bwentland]

Hi,
This is my first time on the forum, ive been browsing all over this site but there are so many things that could be wrong with him.

Chameleon Info:
Veiled Chameleon, male, 2.5 years. We have had him for 2.5 years.
Handling - I can handle him once in a while.
Feeding - We feed him crickets, superworms, rarely wax worms and horn worms. We put in approx. 15-20 crickets a day. We feed them little orange cubes that we bought at pet smart.
Supplements - we are using flukers calcium powder about every 2-3 days.
Watering - We use a spray bottle, use about half the bottle to mist the cage about 5 times a day. And my chameleon drinks almost everyday.
Fecal Description - He hasnt pooped in a few days, but mostly white and brown.He has never been tested for parasites.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - We have a 5 foot mesh cage that is covered with leaves, plants, vines and has a carpet that we bought at a pet store.
Lighting - We have been using eco terra sun glow, and basking lights. We turn them on at 8 am and turn them off at 8 pm.
Humidity - Our humidity might be a little off, we do have a humidifier but its hard to keep it humid in an open cage.
Plants - Sugarvine is the plant we are using.
Location - We live in BC

Recently we have noticed that he hasnt been eating recently, we thought it was a food strike but we bought superworms and wax worms to no avail, and hes still not eating.
In the last two days hes fallen, twice when sleeping and once when awake under the basking lamp. I dont know whats wrong, usually he get puffy and mad when i put my hand in, but he just lets us touch him and pick him up. We put him in the shower (not directly on him to get the humidity up because we thought he was dehydrated).
He hasnt really moved that much, and tends to stay in the same spot, and he isnt using his back legs as well as his front ones. i think something is really wrong but we cant tell if its dehydration, stress, MBD, worms or what. I was hoping someone could help me a little, while we make appointments with the vet.

 

[bwentland]

Hes also a veiled chameleon,i forgot to write that.

 

[ScalesTailsandClaws]

Please take the time to fill this out and schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible.


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
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?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[Goldenarcher1328]

Hi,
This is my first time on the forum, ive been browsing all over this site but there are so many things that could be wrong with him.

Chameleon Info:
Veiled Chameleon, male, 2.5 years. We have had him for 2.5 years.
Handling - I can handle him once in a while.
Feeding - We feed him crickets, superworms, rarely wax worms and horn worms. We put in approx. 15-20 crickets a day. We feed them little orange cubes that we bought at pet smart.
Supplements - we are using flukers calcium powder about every 2-3 days.
Watering - We use a spray bottle, use about half the bottle to mist the cage about 5 times a day. And my chameleon drinks almost everyday.
Fecal Description - He hasnt pooped in a few days, but mostly white and brown.He has never been tested for parasites.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - We have a 5 foot mesh cage that is covered with leaves, plants, vines and has a carpet that we bought at a pet store.
Lighting - We have been using eco terra sun glow, and basking lights. We turn them on at 8 am and turn them off at 8 pm.
Humidity - Our humidity might be a little off, we do have a humidifier but its hard to keep it humid in an open cage.
Plants - Sugarvine is the plant we are using.
Location - We live in BC

Recently we have noticed that he hasnt been eating recently, we thought it was a food strike but we bought superworms and wax worms to no avail, and hes still not eating.
In the last two days hes fallen, twice when sleeping and once when awake under the basking lamp. I dont know whats wrong, usually he get puffy and mad when i put my hand in, but he just lets us touch him and pick him up. We put him in the shower (not directly on him to get the humidity up because we thought he was dehydrated).
He hasnt really moved that much, and tends to stay in the same spot, and he isnt using his back legs as well as his front ones. i think something is really wrong but we cant tell if its dehydration, stress, MBD, worms or what. I was hoping someone could help me a little, while we make appointments with the vet.

I am not sure on the falling over but i can give some insight on other things.
One thing is, for an adult veil, you certainly don't need to be feeding 15-20 crickets every day! I would back things down to 10-13 crickets every otherday. Also don't forget about phoenix worms,dubia roaches and veggies. I give my veils veggies every day, Crickets for the adults every other day, on the off days they get a few phoenix worms, or maybe a dubia roach.

You cham may be full. haha I'll let someone more experienced on all this make a better call. But i had to say 20 crickets a day seems very very high.

Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forums! Always great having a new member! this is a wonderful place to gather and exchange knowledge, as well as ask for help and give it.

 

[mcleodschams]

sounds like he needs a vet first but there are some changes that need to be addressed in the keeping the calcium with outd3 everyday and calcium with d3 once everyother week and a multi vitamin (rep-cal herpavite) is what i use every other week or buy repashy calcium plus use it everyday and that is all you need.
also your cricket gut load the cubes are ok for a water source and there calcium and vit kinda but you need veggies (collard greens mustard greens, red peppers carrots somtimes oranges and apples too sandra chameleon has a great blogg for gut load)

 

[carol5208]

please post some pics so we can check out your chameleons limbs. How often do you change out your uvb light???

 

[mcleodschams]

I am not sure on the falling over but i can give some insight on other things.
One thing is, for an adult veil, you certainly don't need to be feeding 15-20 crickets every day! I would back things down to 10-13 crickets every otherday. Also don't forget about phoenix worms,dubia roaches and veggies. I give my veils veggies every day, Crickets for the adults every other day, on the off days they get a few phoenix worms, or maybe a dubia roach.

You cham may be full. haha I'll let someone more experienced on all this make a better call. But i had to say 20 crickets a day seems very very high.

Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forums! Always great having a new member! this is a wonderful place to gather and exchange knowledge, as well as ask for help and give it.

^^^^this covers the rest of the changes you should make and everything should work out fine hope everything goes ok at the vet best of luck keep us posted

 

[bwentland]

We change the uvb lights every 3-4 months.
--The pics of his legs were hard to get as i didnt want to move him too much.

 

[Elizadolots]

I think a vet visit is the best advice. I'm not an expert, but it looks like he's got some swelling in his "knee" and his ankles. My first thought was gout, but I don't see anything in your care that suggests he's getting too much protein.

 

[bwentland]

He did not make it through the night, thanks for the support though.

 

[hayleycole]

im terribly sorry to hear about your loss.

i had a similar experience with my veiled almost a year ago. it started with an eye infection due to a piece of shed being stuck in his eye. then 2 days after i was using the eye drops the vet gave me, he started climbing to the top of his tree and nose diving to the bottom. i took him back to the vet. she ran tests on him and nothing showed abnormal except slightly dehydrated. by this time he had stopped eating and drinking. she gave me canned dog food to feed him with a syringe. and she gave him some injections. a few days later, he died in my hands while i was feeding him. she had no idea what happened to him. through the info i have gathered an idea that he had parasites in his brain and the steriods from the eye drops had caused the protazoas to develop in life stages. but then again thats only a theory.
i know the loss of a beloved pet is difficult to deal with, but he isnt in pain any more!

 

[mcleodschams]

im soo.. sorry to here that he didnt make it alot of the time by the time we notice there is a problem its too late. my condolences

 

[carol5208]

sorry to hear your cham passed away.

 

[Chameleonmaster]

oh darn im sorry for your lose