Chameleon waving hands at night

[George Greig]

I was turning off my 4 month old Veiled chameleon’s lights tonight and I noticed she kept waving her hands around in front of her as if to try and grab a branch, is this normal and just because her eyes haven’t adjusted to the dark? I use a 10.0 uv lamp, could that be causing eye damage? I’ve only had her for about 5 days, so eye damage couldn’t have been caused in that time??

 

[Beman]

Are you using a T5HO fixture or compact bulb? Can you take a picture of your enclosure lights down as well?

 

[George Greig]

Are you using a T5HO fixture or compact bulb? Can you take a picture of your enclosure lights down as well?

It’s a linear bulb and the domes and everything are all correct too, she only does it for a few seconds, is that normal?

 

[Beman]

It’s a linear bulb and the domes and everything are all correct too, she only does it for a few seconds, is that normal?

Ok linear T5HO fixture with 10.0 UVB bulb correct? I need details because if your lighting is incorrect then it can cause eye issues in a short period of time. Picture of the enclosure would help so I can see what the layout is like.

 

[George Greig]

Ok linear T5HO fixture with 10.0 UVB bulb correct? I need details because if your lighting is incorrect then it can cause eye issues in a short period of time. Picture of the enclosure would help so I can see what the layout is like.

Yes that is correct, I am not at home at the moment but the light is about 7inches above where she likes to sit and is next to her heat bulb.

 

[Beman]

Yes that is correct, I am not at home at the moment but the light is about 7inches above where she likes to sit and is next to her heat bulb.

Ok and it is a single bulb fixture T5ho right? If this is the case you need to drop back to a 5.0 bulb. 10.0 in a single bulb fixture will produce much too high UVI at 7 inches down.

 

[George Greig]

Ok and it is a single bulb fixture T5ho right? If this is the case you need to drop back to a 5.0 bulb. 10.0 in a single bulb fixture will produce much too high UVI at 7 inches down.

Ok will do, is it likely to have caused eye damage already? And do your chameleons ever do this?
Thanks for the fast replies!

 

[George Greig]

Ok and it is a single bulb fixture T5ho right? If this is the case you need to drop back to a 5.0 bulb. 10.0 in a single bulb fixture will produce much too high UVI at 7 inches down.

Also would it work temporarily to raise the bulb a few inches in height?

 

[Beman]

Also would it work temporarily to raise the bulb a few inches in height?

You can but I would drop that bulb strength back asap....
For a 5.0 bulb your needing a distance to basking of approx 8-9 inches to achieve correct uvb levels. Your looking at approximately 12 inches away minimum from basking for a 10.0 bulb. Right now at 7 inches with a 10.0 she is being blasted with an extremely high UVI level. This can cause issues with eyes among other things.

 

[George Greig]

You can but I would drop that bulb strength back asap....
For a 5.0 bulb your needing a distance to basking of approx 8-9 inches to achieve correct uvb levels. Your looking at approximately 12 inches away minimum from basking for a 10.0 bulb. Right now at 7 inches with a 10.0 she is being blasted with an extremely high UVI level. This can cause issues with eyes among other things.

Does this cause immediate damage? Is she likely to have permanent damage now? She does get quite close to the bulb

 

[kinyonga]

Please post some photos of your chameleon so I can see all of her.
What specific supplements (be specific, brands, do they contain calcium, D3 or vitamin A) do you use and how often for each? What do you feed/gutload the insects with...be specific please?

 

[Beman]

Does this cause immediate damage? Is she likely to have permanent damage now? She does get quite close to the bulb

Most do fine when the bulb strength is dropped back. They are fragile when they are young. So yes it is not good on her eyes. She could start eating less or even going down and sleeping during the day. Prolonged over exposure to high UVI levels can cause issues with cancers as well. It is like you baking in the sun day after day when your already burnt to a crisp.

Here is a great link explaining uvb... https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-cage-set-up-replicating-the-sun/

 

[George Greig]

Please post some photos of your chameleon so I can see all of her.
What specific supplements (be specific, brands, do they contain calcium, D3 or vitamin A) do you use and how often for each? What do you feed/gutload the insects with...be specific please?

I use reptivite reptile vitamins with D3 (I’ve had her for 5 days and have used it once) and the calcium is in the post and is arriving tomorrow as the pet shop forgot to put it in the order. I’ve hit loaded the insects with apples and also salad leaves. Here is a picture of her:

 

[George Greig]

I use reptivite reptile vitamins with D3 (I’ve had her for 5 days and have used it once) and the calcium is in the post and is arriving tomorrow as the pet shop forgot to put it in the order. I’ve hit loaded the insects with apples and also salad leaves. Here is a picture of her:

*gut loaded

 

[kinyonga]

Didn't realize you only had her for 5 days.

Since you mentioned the supplements though....I recommend using a phis free calcium on the insects lightly at all feedings but 4 a month. On two of the 4 days, two weeks apart, I recommend using a vitamin powder lightly with a beta carotene source of vitamin A and on the other two days, two weeks apart, a phos free calcium/D3 powder lightly.

 

[janjan20]

I have experienced this with all three of my babies. Once the lights would go out especially if they were not settled and still roaming around they would wave their arms in the air and eventually find a spot. Now only one does because he doesn't have a normal sleep spot like the other two (he's the rebel ).

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

I have experienced this with all three of my babies. Once the lights would go out especially if they were not settled and still roaming around they would wave their arms in the air and eventually find a spot. Now only one does because he doesn't have a normal sleep spot like the other two (he's the rebel ).

I have LED night lights that flip on just before the last main light switches off, and remains on for 20 minutes so the animals can find there sleep spots before a complete blackout.

 

[Alexander1]

I wouldn’t panic just yet, I don’t think the uvb is too strong I’ve raised my veiled on a 10.0 t5 hes 6 years old without eye issues. I would give your cham some time to adjust, if you’d rather use a 5.0 that would be fine, provide plenty of coverage on all zones for your cham to hide from the uvb rays when she’s had enough. You can also elevate your fixture to lower the uvb exposure or use another piece of screen to create another barrier between the uvb light and the cham, it will darken the lights tho. Good luck!

 

[George Greig]

I wouldn’t panic just yet, I don’t think the uvb is too strong I’ve raised my veiled on a 10.0 t5 hes 6 years old without eye issues. I would give your cham some time to adjust, if you’d rather use a 5.0 that would be fine, provide plenty of coverage on all zones for your cham to hide from the uvb rays when she’s had enough. You can also elevate your fixture to lower the uvb exposure or use another piece of screen to create another barrier between the uvb light and the cham, it will darken the lights tho. Good luck!

Thanks for the info! How big are your chams enclosures?

 

[Alexander1]

Didn't realize you only had her for 5 days.

Since you mentioned the supplements though....I recommend using a phis free calcium on the insects lightly at all feedings but 4 a month. On two of the 4 days, two weeks apart, I recommend using a vitamin powder lightly with a beta carotene source of vitamin A and on the other two days, two weeks apart, a phos free calcium/D3 powder lightly.

Beta carotene has not been proven to be turned into vitamin A. I have had issues with my panther lacking vitamin A ,

Thanks for the info! How big are your chams enclosures?

I always kept them at least 4 foot tall cage, 2 feet wide and deep , I had one in a 4 foot wide and 4 feet tall cage but he didn’t seem to use most of the cage .