Chameleon Smells Skunky

This is a great thread. I really admire your level of dedication DM and it's also great seeing everyone else's input, even if it is a bit hard to hear. You should TOTALLY get Blue a little buddy so he can pass down some ancient chameleon lore and show it the ropes before his time is up: "Dude, just sit here all day, don't move an inch, and shell come and stuff a bee-pollen-wheat-germ filled crunchy roach in your mouth!" I also can't imagine your chameleon room being empty.
 
Jann,

Good links, thanks! It looks like Coastal is out of Hornworms at this time.

When I CAN buy them, am I supposed to remove the sharp spike? I've never fed them to my chameleon before.

Thanks
 
Seeco,

You just made me laugh hysterically. :D Thank you.

On another level though, I tried to raise a second and then a third baby chameleon and failed miserably with both. :(

Yes, I love chameleons but because of the losses (and guilt) I swore I wouldn't get another one after 'Blue'.

I pamper him in his old age, it's hard work, believe me, and I am devoted.

It will certainly be hard to say good bye to him. No matter, I will continue to keep him as comfy as I can. And if he's got a treatable condition, then I will treat it. :)

thanks!
 
nateboston,

Wow, thanks for the vet recommendation. It is quite a distance from me, as I'm close to Hartford, CT, but I would at least give a call and see what they say.

The vet I go to at Kensington Bird and Animal Hospital specializes in birds and exotics too- but they don't see many, chameleons. There's another herp. vet in the state, in Branford, but he's more of a specialist for turtles and such.

you guys and gals are great! Thanks for being so supportive. :)
 
So, I took Blue to the vet in Kensington, CT today. She suspects it's not parasites, especially since the fecal test came back negative add that to the other symptoms I described.

The bad news ... She thinks it's his kidneys.

She drew blood and could only get a small amount. I'm awaiting the test results. Let's hope they got enough blood to test.

Silkworms are on order. The other vendor is out of hornworms at the moment.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if the his kidney's are going. At his age you should be thankful for the wonderful you've had with him and focus on the good. :)

The blood work should be able to identify increased levels of uric acid to confirm the vet's suspicion. One complication that can arise with kidney failure is gout. If his joints begin to swell and moving becomes increasingly labored, I would seriously consider euthanasia. It's pretty devastating...

Good luck,

Luis
 
thx for the update
Glad he's not got parasites! Can't do too much about kidneys, at his age its not unexpected. Less supplements, lots of water, juicy larva (hornworms, cabbage loppers, silkworms) when you can get em, lots of wet gutload for the other bugs.
 
Hornworms can be ordered from Greatlakeshornworm.com, Rob is NEVER out.:D

He is in Chicago area.

Nick
 
Thanks for your support!

The vet reported results of bloodwork:
Uric acid: normal (good news that kidneys are doing there job here)
Liver (AST): normal
Phosphorous: elevated (kidneys are having trouble removing this from body)

She said there is a potential for kidney compromise. She is going to do more research. And said I be sure he is well hydrated. Give him lots to drink, however he most prefers to drink.

I got the silkworms, but many died thru the mail, so I've got order more. He seems to enjoy them-whew [last time I got them, he ignored them! I think I will try keeping them, rather than just ordering them- the $$ adds up!

I've never had hornworms and need to know more about keeping them. Any links you can send me?

As for the wet food for gutloading, can you recommend a good, relatively easy one to make? I made one in the past and for some reason the feeders didn't eat it.

Thanks a ton,
Dena
 
DMPanther said:
Thanks for your support!

The vet reported results of bloodwork:
Uric acid: normal (good news that kidneys are doing there job here)
Liver (AST): normal
Phosphorous: elevated (kidneys are having trouble removing this from body)

She said there is a potential for kidney compromise. She is going to do more research. And said I be sure he is well hydrated. Give him lots to drink, however he most prefers to drink.

I got the silkworms, but many died thru the mail, so I've got order more. He seems to enjoy them-whew [last time I got them, he ignored them! I think I will try keeping them, rather than just ordering them- the $$ adds up!

I've never had hornworms and need to know more about keeping them. Any links you can send me?

As for the wet food for gutloading, can you recommend a good, relatively easy one to make? I made one in the past and for some reason the feeders didn't eat it.

Thanks a ton,
Dena
Click to expand...

Glad to here the news was not bad. Keep up the good work. I sometimes use oranges to gutload....they have lots of juice. You keep hornworms the same way you do silkworms. I find them easier to keep because there is no web. Where did you order from? Brian here on the froums is reasdonable and lives in NJ......not to far from you and usually has silkworms for sale. https://www.chameleonforums.com/medium-large-hornworms-36719/ https://www.chameleonforums.com/another-batch-zebra-silkworms-36274/
 
Blue's condition is looking up, poop wasn't skunky today!

So, here's the latest:

I came home to a nearly normal poop- and it didn't smell. Also, his colors are returning. Isn't that wonderful?! :D

Here are the changes I've made:
I've
  • increased the temps a bit during the day to a min of 85 deg
  • Changed to almost entirely a silkworm diet- little bit of superworms and crickets mixed in.
  • Added a single drop of Vit. A every two weeks
  • Dusted with Repcal w/Vit. D3 once a week (before, I did this much less often)
  • moved his UVB lights closer together, so he gets more coverage where he hangs out
  • scrubbed the cage thoroughly

I had a stroke of bad luck with the order of hornworms. UPS got stuck due to adverse weather and I'm praying that my order arrives soon because I'm almost out of juicy, nutritious, soft-bodied feeders.

Here's how he looked tonight after I went to check on him and found the poop. I woke him from his slumber. oops!

His colors may look gray to most of you, but this is much better than it has been, trust me. I know this picture is not the best, but I'm too excited about his progress to really care.
Blue20100301.JPG
 
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