Hi, I have a male panther chameleon and I think he is dehydrated. One day, I was walking past him and I thought his eyes are starting to look sunken in. Later that night I looked at him and they were for sure sunken in. I have read on different sights that their eyes sink in while they are sleeping (dont know if thats true). I have a monsoon misting system and have a dripper. I do not have a real plant in it bc I didnt want to transport bugs in his cage, but today i'm going to get one and make sure it doesn't have any. I have noticed a few times that one eye is more sunken in than the other, but on most occasions they will be the same. He eats everyday, no problem there. He usually poops everday. The color of his urates has orange and white. The temp in his cage is around 83 ambient and 91 basking. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried the pedialyte and water mixture and then soaking their chameleon in it for 20 to 30 minutes, with only enough water covering his vent. I read that they can get hydrated through their vents. If I tried it, I will be sure to monitor him closely and not let him drown.
Dehydrated Panther Chameleon
- Thread starter dazergurl
- Start date
KingJulian
New Member
One of the easiest ways I get mine to drink is by hanging a shower curtain rod in the middle of the shower and hanging a vine in a U shape. Turn the water on warm (not too hot) and set the shower head so the water is running down the vine, but try to get it so it's not directly hitting your cham. The steam from the warm water makes it nice and humid. My boy LOVES the shower. It's really the only time I can get him to drink that much.
GabeCastro
Established Member
hah, never thought of that vine method. I just use a fake plant and my boy HATES it...Colors are always amazing though when they're in there.
As for chams having sunken in eyes while they're sleeping, yes they normally do that. Sometimes, which is kinda scary they bulge their eyes out so they look like bubbles...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/keplers-eye-bulging-while-sleeping-70654/
If you're cham is not drinking then i'd suggest adding a dripper to your enclosure that runs all day. Also up your mistings so he has a chance to get off his basking perch, run around the cage, and drink.
You can also check his fecal...If the fecal is black stool w/ a white part (urate) then he's fully hydrated and drinking good. Also their eye turrets become really plump and solid looking. You can see nice fat pads around them aswell. If the chameleon is dehydrated, their fecal will be black stool with a orange/yellow urate (pee) and possible sunken in eyes.
If your cham is dehydrated, i'd def suggest doing those misting, dripper, and shower techniques. You can do the shower 1-2 times a week for about 15-25 minutes. Like the user mentioned, make sure the water isn't too hot.
Check out these pictures (they're a bit extreme, but you can clearly see that the chameleons are dehydrated fecal & eyes)
http://www.ukchameleons.co.uk/assets/images/oustdehy.jpg
http://www.chameleonden.co.uk/images/dehydrated_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/dave_weldon/Chameleon Misc/SambavaPoop.jpg
http://s6.postimg.org/616m97lrl/IMG_0545.jpg
Hope that helped!
*EDIT also i've never heard of that vent hydration method...I think you'd stress the cham out more than anything if you soaked him in water.
-Gabe
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