Critique my enclosure

[sheilahinkley]

I have posted a few times about my Cham that has a RI. I got baytril from my vet and have been trying my best to medicate him though this is really stressing him now whenever I get near his cage he runs and hides. He doesn't take food from me yet even though I try after every medication to give him something positive. Anyway I really don't know what could have caused his RI so I want some criticism if there's any to give based on his look and enclosure. I need to get rocks to cover he potting soil in his plants but I replanted everything with organic soil before putting them in his enclosure.

 

[Cheeky]

You need more branches for him to roam about on and lots more cover / plants for him to hide in, especially mid to top of cage where yours looks quite empty at the moment.

RI is usually a sign that the humidity levels are too high or that the enclosure does not get a chance to dry out overnight or between mistings. It could also be down to a lack of ventilation in the space he is kept in or maybe if you have damp / mold somewhere else within the room.

Is that a bowl of water in the middle of the enclosure? If so you should remove it, chams wont often use it and it can be a source of bacteria.

 

[Virgil1972]

More branches and cover in the mid and top area. What are the temps in the basking spot and the bottom? What is the humidity levels as well?

 

[sheilahinkley]

Would you recommend getting some fake leave to put in the center? My hibiscus and umbrella have grown some since I purchased them but I don't see them filling up the cage too much more. The temp at the top is usually between 80-84 and the bottom is usually around 70. Humidity ranges from 40-70 percent. It's rarely ever lower than 40. He's so stressed right now because we have to get him out daily to medicate him which he hates. He never really hissed and now he hisses and lunges every time I take him out. I know that can't really be helping him heal

 

[jajeanpierre]

You need more branches for him to roam about on and lots more cover / plants for him to hide in, especially mid to top of cage where yours looks quite empty at the moment.

RI is usually a sign that the humidity levels are too high or that the enclosure does not get a chance to dry out overnight or between mistings. It could also be down to a lack of ventilation in the space he is kept in or maybe if you have damp / mold somewhere else within the room.

Is that a bowl of water in the middle of the enclosure? If so you should remove it, chams wont often use it and it can be a source of bacteria.

While I agree that there needs to be more cover/branches higher in the cage, I think it a stretch to say a respiratory infection is caused by too high humidity levels.

Illness is usually caused because the immune system fails to combat a pathogen that the animal is exposed to. Stress suppresses the immune system. Look at stress levels. I doubt it is possible to get that cage too wet by hand misting. It's a screen cage,ventilation isn't an issue. Nature is FULL of mold spores. Look first at why the immune system isn't working well.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I have posted a few times about my Cham that has a RI. I got baytril from my vet and have been trying my best to medicate him though this is really stressing him now whenever I get near his cage he runs and hides. He doesn't take food from me yet even though I try after every medication to give him something positive. Anyway I really don't know what could have caused his RI so I want some criticism if there's any to give based on his look and enclosure. I need to get rocks to cover he potting soil in his plants but I replanted everything with organic soil before putting them in his enclosure.

More cover at the top of the cage would be good. Your UVB light (unless it's an Arcadia light) does not penetrate more than a few inches, maybe 12 or 14 at best when brand new. The further away from the light, the weaker the UV. He is likely hanging out in the plants 18 inches from the UV and basking bulb so getting no UVB and not extra heat. If he does go up to bask, he will be exposing himself and feel stressed, which you especially don't want for him as he is already sick.

You can put the plants up on a stool or overturned bucket of some sort to raise them. Do you have access to fresh clean branches? You can add them--just stick them in the pots you already have, sort of like a dead tree. I use zip ties a lot to make things stable. A natural tree branch (with lots of tiny twiggy branches) will give him a lot of variety of perch sizes, important for foot health.

 

[sheilahinkley]

I will most likely put the plants on something to raise them up some. I don't think I have an way yo get clean branches but I was thinking of buying some bamboo and adding the to his cage, so he has other options to bask. I may add another fake leafy vine as well until my plants grow and fill out the cage a little more.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I will most likely put the plants on something to raise them up some. I don't think I have an way yo get clean branches but I was thinking of buying some bamboo and adding the to his cage, so he has other options to bask. I may add another fake leafy vine as well until my plants grow and fill out the cage a little more.

I hate bamboo. Too slippery.

 

[mvad]

Agreed, way too slippery. Live cut branches of varying diameter will best suit you chameleon. Leave the bark on. Don't worry about baking them. Simple water to bleach with a 10:1 ratio will be more than enough to treat the branches.

 

[Jefe The Chameleon]

A mulberry tree would add some leaves to the upper levels. Plus they grow fast!

 

[Kim55]

Not sure if you are still trying to medicate your cham, but is there a way to inject the medication into whatever you are feeding him. Use a needle and syringe. I work at a zoo and to medicate the animals we usually hide it in their food. I'm new to chams though so this may not be possible.