Clumsy?

[Wolfepack]

Hey all! My cham has (on multiple occasions) ended up grabbing his front leg with his back foot. And then he tries to walk and he keeps pulling the front but doesn't let go with the back. So, he ends up wobbling around and nearly falling and scaring me half to death, but he ends up catching himself somehow. Is this normal or is my cham a little special?

 

[Falsetree]

I've only had my Cham two days and he's done this numerous times!But as I said I'm new to this and am in no way an expert.

 

[Zubi]

That is actually a sign of MBD which is muscular bone dystrophy, which is a bone disease in chameleons, if you post a picture of him we can make sure thats what it is

 

[Wolfepack]

I have attached one of the most recent pictures of him.

 

[reptilover]

That is actually a sign of MBD which is muscular bone dystrophy, which is a bone disease in chameleons, if you post a picture of him we can make sure thats what it is

I actual beloved MBD is metabolic bone disease... Which is caused by a calcium deficiancy and makes the bones weak and brittle..

May I ask about your supplementing and lighting situation.. in detail please. Brand names, schedule, ect.

 

[Zubi]

It doesnt really look like it from the pictures, but maybe hes starting to get it.
Could you fill out this form it would help alot


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.

 

[reptilover]

It's good its not evident in his pictures, if it is MBD then its very early stages, and grabbing limbs is an early sign. This can be fairly easily corrected if caught in time.
Yes do fill out form please.

 

[camaleonte82]

I have attached one of the most recent pictures of him.

he looks healthy. my chams do this all the time. well did. the older they get the less they do it. (they still grab their own leg but are now intelligent enough to let go lol) i wouldnt worry. hes still young. like a puppy who starts running and runs into things because it cant stop

 

[camaleonte82]

Hey all! My cham has (on multiple occasions) ended up grabbing his front leg with his back foot. And then he tries to walk and he keeps pulling the front but doesn't let go with the back. So, he ends up wobbling around and nearly falling and scaring me half to death, but he ends up catching himself somehow. Is this normal or is my cham a little special?

nearly. which means he is strong enough and agile enough to catch himself. my cham zip is healthy and he used to fall all the time lol

 

[reptilover]

he looks healthy. my chams do this all the time. well did. the older they get the less they do it. (they still grab their own leg but are now intelligent enough to let go lol) i wouldnt worry. hes still young. like a puppy who starts running and runs into things because it cant stop

I agree with this my cham at almost 6 months old still does it occasionally. But id like to check your form info to be safe.

 

[HolyToledo]

Better to be safe than sorry!

Even if you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing, including proper gutloading of bugs, good nutrition, supplements, lights, etc. some chams can still have MBD issues. My Trooper Twister was a prime example of that!

So, best bet is to fill out the form and make sure your doing right by your cham and if it turns out that you are doing 100% right, just keep an eye out for any other signs of MBD so you can catch it early and stop it if possible.

Hopefully, this is just a case of the clumsies and they will outgrow it!
If not, then you are on top of it early and things should be easily fixable.
Good luck!

 

[camaleonte82]

Better to be safe than sorry!

Even if you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing, including proper gutloading of bugs, good nutrition, supplements, lights, etc. some chams can still have MBD issues. My Trooper Twister was a prime example of that!

So, best bet is to fill out the form and make sure your doing right by your cham and if it turns out that you are doing 100% right, just keep an eye out for any other signs of MBD so you can catch it early and stop it if possible.

Hopefully, this is just a case of the clumsies and they will outgrow it!
If not, then you are on top of it early and things should be easily fixable.
Good luck!

is it possible to stop it? i have only heard of people fighting it and slowing it down, perhaps nursing the cham a little better. can it be 100% fixed/ stopped?

 

[reptilover]

is it possible to stop it? i have only heard of people fighting it and slowing it down, perhaps nursing the cham a little better. can it be 100% fixed/ stopped?

It can be stopped yes. any disfigurement can't be reversed but yes it can be cured.

 

[camaleonte82]

It can be stopped yes. any disfigurement can't be reversed but yes it can be cured.

HA! im rubbing it in my fiances face when i get home! i knew it could. and yet again i prove to be the stronger of the two in the way of the Chams!

 

[Wolfepack]

Info Form

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Designer Cross Panther Chameleon. Male. Almost 6 months old. Arrived on April 20, 2012.


Handling - 1-2 times a week. Trying to not pressure him and letting him come out on his own.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Feeding 6-8 pinhead crickets daily. Dusted with Rep-Cal Calcium with VitD every other day. And dusted with Rep-Cal Herptivite multivitamin once a week. Gut load with assorted fruits and veggies.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
See above

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Automatic misting system goes for 30 seconds every 3 hours. Plus occasional manual mistings.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Feces are mostly brown with a bit of white. Solid. Never been tested in my care.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
He has done this a few times both in the cage and while being handled.

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Cage is Zilla screen. 18x12x20.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Fluker's basking lamp with 60 watt daylight bulb, Reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb. Schedule is from 6 am-6 pm.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Digital thermometer located about 2-3 inches from top corner. Temperature basking is about 85 degrees. He usually stays around the middle branch. Temperture in area is never below 72 degrees (a bit cold blooded myself!)


Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Humidity guage for ambient humidity. Usually stays around 65%.



Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
There are 2 different size Jade Trees, both rather small.

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?
Cage is located in a corner, not really a high traffic area. Closest vent is about 6 feet away. (Best location in relation to vents,doors,traffic area). Cabinet is from Exoterra. Top is about 3 feet from the ground.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
Located in Jacksonville, NC

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
My cham has been grabbing his front leg with his back foot. He tries to walk and won't let go of his leg.

 

[carol5208]

so you are saying you are feeding a 6 month old chameleon pinhead crickets and only 6 or 8 of them. You are starving him!! He should be eating full size crickets at this point I would say atleast a dozen a day or so. Also you are using one of the highest concentrated doses of vit d3 with the repcal. You should not be dusting your feeders with this so often. A couple of times a month with that. You need a plain calcium WITHOUT d3. Overdosing with d3 can cause alot of problems down the road for your chameleon. you need to stop that immediately. Is your mister going off at night? If so shut it off.

 

[Zubi]

Ya you need to feed him 10-14 medium or 1/2 sized crickets, you should also be feeding him other feeders. If you dont want to mess with all the supplementing just dust with a small (tip of the spoon small)amount of repashy calcium plus at every feeding. Its really easy with this stuff

 

[Wolfepack]

Pinhead may be an understatement. They are about 1/2 inch or larger. I read that if I give him adult crickets it could hurt his mouth and cause wounds. So I have not been getting them. I will up the quantity and change the dusting routine.
The mister is on the same timer as the lights. On for 12 hours, off for 12 hours.
Also, I was told to hold off on other feeders until he was older, but it wasn't specified on how old.
Thank you for all for the quick replies! I really appreciate it. I welcome any and all advice and recommendations. I want the best for my little guy.

 

[carol5208]

ok, that is a BIG difference between pinhead and 1/2 inch. 1/2 inch are fine but just feed him a bit more and you can change up the feeders too now. The reason you were probably told that is because some of the popular feeder options are worms and alot of times they will not eat crickets then. It happened to me. I was looking at your picture and I thought well he sure doesn't look too skinny for being fed pinheads! Definitely cut back on the d3 though.

 

[Wolfepack]

How often should I be using other feeders?