Chameleon won't open his eyes

[sjacks567]

My panther chameleon was sitting in the back of his cage all day. I went to check on him and his eyes were shut. Throughout the whole day I kept checking on him and eyes were still shut. I would shake the branch to make sure he was still alive and well. He hasn't moved very much, but when I left for a little while he moved. His eyes still didn't open when I tried to awake him. His eyes move once and awhile when they are shut. I need help. I have no idea what is wrong with him. He is 2 years old and has never had problems. He could be in a deep sleep, but it just doesn't seem like it.

 

[Peachypink]

Eye problems can be many things but it is for sure not a good sign. The info you have given so far is not enough for us to even guess. Please fill out this form so we can get the big picture and know better how to offer help....
the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[sjacks567]

Male Ambilobe Panther Chameleon. He is 2 years old. I have owned him since he was 5 months old.
I do not handle him at all. I respect his space and if he doesn't want to be held I leave him alone.
I am feeding my chameleon crickets. The crickets are fed flunkers orange cubes. I feed him 5 crickets a day.
I dust the crickets with Zoo Med Repti Calcium once a week about 3 crickets.
I have a monsoon mister and I have seen him drinking the water. He hasn't been lately because he doesn't move.
I have noticed weird looking feces or maybe it was something gagged up.
I have him in a screen cage. 24x24x48.
Lighting is on for 12 hours and off for the other 12 hours.
85-90 Degrees his cage is kept at. During night 70-75. Measure the temps with a digital thermometer.
Ficus and Pothos plants cover the cage. Cage location is in the corner of my bedroom and room is never cold.
I am located in Michigan.

 

[sjacks567]

Eye problems can be many things but it is for sure not a good sign. The info you have given so far is not enough for us to even guess. Please fill out this form so we can get the big picture and know better how to offer help....
the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Peachypink]

Male Ambilobe Panther Chameleon. He is 2 years old. I have owned him since he was 5 months old.
I do not handle him at all. I respect his space and if he doesn't want to be held I leave him alone.
I am feeding my chameleon crickets. The crickets are fed flunkers orange cubes. I feed him 5 crickets a day.
I dust the crickets with Zoo Med Repti Calcium once a week about 3 crickets.
I have a monsoon mister and I have seen him drinking the water. He hasn't been lately because he doesn't move.
I have noticed weird looking feces or maybe it was something gagged up.
I have him in a screen cage. 24x24x48.
Lighting is on for 12 hours and off for the other 12 hours.
85-90 Degrees his cage is kept at. During night 70-75. Measure the temps with a digital thermometer.
Ficus and Pothos plants cover the cage. Cage location is in the corner of my bedroom and room is never cold.
I am located in Michigan.

So, eyes being closed can be many things. One of which could be debris in the eye. I would up the misting for a time, add in some 5 minute mistings 2 times a day, the longer the session, the more time he has to clean his eyes out. Also, he looks like he's going out of a shed and this will also help him finish that.

Another could be nutrition related. Orange cubes are not a good gut load, they basically feed the crickets but add no nutritional value for your cham. You can get kale, mustard greens, collard greens, carrot, apple, potato....look at the care sheets for more, but having a good gut load really makes a difference. Also giving a better variety of feeders, like silk worms, hornworms, Black Soldier Flies, all those help.

Is your calcium with or without D3? Supplements should be done as follows....Calcium with out D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 twice a month and a multi vitamin 2x a month. A lack of proper supplements can also cause eye issues.

Also, what kind of UVB light do you have? How old is it?

 

[sjacks567]

So, eyes being closed can be many things. One of which could be debris in the eye. I would up the misting for a time, add in some 5 minute mistings 2 times a day, the longer the session, the more time he has to clean his eyes out. Also, he looks like he's going out of a shed and this will also help him finish that.

Another could be nutrition related. Orange cubes are not a good gut load, they basically feed the crickets but add no nutritional value for your cham. You can get kale, mustard greens, collard greens, carrot, apple, potato....look at the care sheets for more, but having a good gut load really makes a difference. Also giving a better variety of feeders, like silk worms, hornworms, Black Soldier Flies, all those help.

Is your calcium with or without D3? Supplements should be done as follows....Calcium with out D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 twice a month and a multi vitamin 2x a month. A lack of proper supplements can also cause eye issues.

Also, what kind of UVB light do you have? How old is it?

So, eyes being closed can be many things. One of which could be debris in the eye. I would up the misting for a time, add in some 5 minute mistings 2 times a day, the longer the session, the more time he has to clean his eyes out. Also, he looks like he's going out of a shed and this will also help him finish that.

Another could be nutrition related. Orange cubes are not a good gut load, they basically feed the crickets but add no nutritional value for your cham. You can get kale, mustard greens, collard greens, carrot, apple, potato....look at the care sheets for more, but having a good gut load really makes a difference. Also giving a better variety of feeders, like silk worms, hornworms, Black Soldier Flies, all those help.

Is your calcium with or without D3? Supplements should be done as follows....Calcium with out D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 twice a month and a multi vitamin 2x a month. A lack of proper supplements can also cause eye issues.

Also, what kind of UVB light do you have? How old is it?

 

[Andee]

He looks either extremely dehydrated or if he's not eating enough. There is a huge dip in his sides that should not be there

 

[sjacks567]

Decided to take him to the vet last night. The vet said he looks good and his weight is great. His eyes were just crusty and needed eye drops. His eyes not opening wouldn't effect him enough to not move ever. The vet said he could have a problem in his body that he cannot feel or see. They drew blood to send into a lab. I brought him home last night with eye drops and antibiotics. I set him on the ground because he was too weak to climb the branches and I didn't want him to fall. I woke up this morning to find him on the ground not breathing. Something must have happened inside of him. The test results will help he see what went wrong.

 

[sjacks567]

So, eyes being closed can be many things. One of which could be debris in the eye. I would up the misting for a time, add in some 5 minute mistings 2 times a day, the longer the session, the more time he has to clean his eyes out. Also, he looks like he's going out of a shed and this will also help him finish that.

Another could be nutrition related. Orange cubes are not a good gut load, they basically feed the crickets but add no nutritional value for your cham. You can get kale, mustard greens, collard greens, carrot, apple, potato....look at the care sheets for more, but having a good gut load really makes a difference. Also giving a better variety of feeders, like silk worms, hornworms, Black Soldier Flies, all those help.

Is your calcium with or without D3? Supplements should be done as follows....Calcium with out D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 twice a month and a multi vitamin 2x a month. A lack of proper supplements can also cause eye issues.

Also, what kind of UVB light do you have? How old is it?

 

[Link]

Decided to take him to the vet last night. The vet said he looks good and his weight is great. His eyes were just crusty and needed eye drops. His eyes not opening wouldn't effect him enough to not move ever. The vet said he could have a problem in his body that he cannot feel or see. They drew blood to send into a lab. I brought him home last night with eye drops and antibiotics. I set him on the ground because he was too weak to climb the branches and I didn't want him to fall. I woke up this morning to find him on the ground not breathing. Something must have happened inside of him. The test results will help he see what went wrong.

I am having the same problem with on my right now. Eyes won't open. Filled with crap. I was also using those orange things get rid of them if you have them. You can see his pics on the thread losing my baby boy pictures of his eyes

 

[Peachypink]

Decided to take him to the vet last night. The vet said he looks good and his weight is great. His eyes were just crusty and needed eye drops. His eyes not opening wouldn't effect him enough to not move ever. The vet said he could have a problem in his body that he cannot feel or see. They drew blood to send into a lab. I brought him home last night with eye drops and antibiotics. I set him on the ground because he was too weak to climb the branches and I didn't want him to fall. I woke up this morning to find him on the ground not breathing. Something must have happened inside of him. The test results will help he see what went wrong.

I'm so sorry, that is so heartbreaking. Please let us know what the test results came back with.

 

[Ronandex317]

Decided to take him to the vet last night. The vet said he looks good and his weight is great. His eyes were just crusty and needed eye drops. His eyes not opening wouldn't effect him enough to not move ever. The vet said he could have a problem in his body that he cannot feel or see. They drew blood to send into a lab. I brought him home last night with eye drops and antibiotics. I set him on the ground because he was too weak to climb the branches and I didn't want him to fall. I woke up this morning to find him on the ground not breathing. Something must have happened inside of him. The test results will help he see what went wrong.

I am so sorry to hear that. It is absolutely heartbreaking. My thoughts and heart is with you

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Also see the thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...nced-keepers-please-share-your-wisdom.152159/

 

[sjacks567]

I'm so sorry, that is so heartbreaking. Please let us know what the test results came back with.

Happend to have kidney disease.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I wish people who had their chameleons survive the eye ordeal and ended up being normal and ok again would speak up and share their success stories and what they did to help their babies heal! Once again, if anyone can add their wisdom regarding this issue, please help the rest of us! Please add your wisdom to the thread that I started for this purpose!

Here it is again:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...nced-keepers-please-share-your-wisdom.152159/

 

[Carnesor]

Thanks a lot for sharing. I had the same thing suddenly happening to some of my chameleons, both Yemen and Panther but never had their blood tested and never knew what caused it, except one time when a panther had mouth rot an got cured using some Baytril antibiotics. It seems that when they are sick for whatever reason they will sit and sleep or have eyes only narrowly open.

 

[Ares05]

Thread is from 2016.. just so ya know.

 

[Yoshi-Tex]

My veiled female chameleon is in the process of recovering from the whole eyes being closed. I noticed it three days ago so I rushed her to the vet and we had some x-rays done and her symptom was Metabolic bone disease. This is the lack of calcium. The vet placed her on calcium shots three times a week for three weeks and I have increased gut feeding her crickets. Day two of the shots and she is already a little more active and opening up her eyes a little more. Hope this helps. The lack of calcium breaks down the bones and this causes pain, which the will close their eyes.

 

[kinyonga]

@Yoshi-Tex I think you should start a separate thread about your chameleon and include photos and answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread near the top of the helath forum.