Dehydration
- Thread starter Riley710
- Start date
CJ's Exotics
Chameleon Enthusiast
He is very dehydrated. His urates need to be white, and his eyes are extremely sunken in. He needs hydration, give him a shower if you know how to, ask questions if needed.
He isn’t very friendly with me yet because I just got him
I feed him vegetables and he drinks my water
hopps31
Avid Member
He needs more hydration ASAP. To shower him take a branch and place it in the shower, turn the water on warm and let the over spray hit him. You do not want him directly in the spray, just the mist/overspray. Do not leave, watch him carefully and keep him in there for at least 15 mins. What is his daily misting schedule look like?
I gave him a shower and then let him sit in the damp bathroom for a little. I mist him 3-4 times a day direct misting his leaves and sticks. He drinks the water of the stick and real leaves. Feed him vegetables every other day and he likes grasshoppers, crickets, and occasionally super worms
hopps31
Avid Member
Great! I would take a day off and then do another shower, he looks pretty dehydrated, and definitely keep misting. Make sure the enclosure dries out some before misting again. I would also get some hornworms they are great for hydration and are irresistible to most chams!
Chap chams
New Member
Now is that 3-4 times a day a little sprit of is it dripping it should be dripping make sure the are filled with water like little bowls chams will drink of those and give him a shower also I recommend including an umbrella tree the leaves act as a bowl for drinking and I often catch my cham drinking from it
If it doesn’t get better in the next few day then visit a vet
Good luck
If it doesn’t get better in the next few day then visit a vet
Good luck
Thank you so much! I am new to chameleons and I’m trying to get over that learning cure
davthevieled
Avid Member
Well since you're learning, let us take a look at everything and see if there is anywhere else we can help guide you!
Please fill this out to the best of your ability.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Please fill this out to the best of your ability.
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.
I have a male veils chameleon. I don’t know how old he is other than in adulthood.
I don’t handle him because if I get close to touch him he will hiss and puff up.
In his basking spot it 85 and the bottom 75. At night it gets 70 degrees.(Fahrenheit) I use a series of probes and thermometers
Right now I’m feeding him a mix of grasshoppers and crickets. Usually 2 grasshoppers when I do that and 4 crickets. I feed him at 630 every morning. I buy the crickets like a zoo med cricket block or I put real vegetables in.
I use a reptvite powder on his food every other day and the day I’m not using it I provide vegetables.
I use a mix of dripping and misting. When I drop I do it while I’m home because of drainage and I hand must for 4 minutes. He has just started drinking or at least I’ve seen.
He has a nice chocolate color poop and the store that had him tested. He is negative.
They don’t know where he came from or weather he was an owner surrender.
I use a zoo med screen cage. It is 2 feet long x 2 feet wide x 4 feet tall
I use a zoomed 150 watt basking light and a Zilla 18 in uvb. 630 am to 630 pm.
Upper humidity is 50 lower is 60-70 and I have a couple probes hooked up to a reader. I mist and drop
I use ficus and pothos
I have 7 foot tall ceiling and it’s a little less than 5 feet tall. It’s in a room with low traffic and closed air vent. Fan is never used in that room.
I’m in Southern California
In concerned about his hydration
Karma died in the middle of the night I’m a terrible person
I think he was old because the store had him for a while and he took forever to shed
davthevieled
Avid Member
How long did you have him for? Did his eyes look like that while he was in the store?
Don't call yourself a terrible person for something that seems like you had no hand in causing.
I had him for a 2 months and he was fine. The last couple days he was on a down hill slope. Not very hungry And his eyes getting like that. He could never get enough water in his system no matter I had missted him. I am a 12 year old and this is my first. It just hear broken
davthevieled
Avid Member
It's completely understandable to feel that way and I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like you were doing everything you can. In the future, what you will want to do is just extend the mistings. Do about 3 or 4 a day for about 5 minutes each, or more depending on color of their urate (the part that should be white). If they get bad like yours got, make sure to take him into the shower and let him stay there for about 10-15 minutes or longer. You just put a tree in the tub and then him on the tree.
Graves923
Chameleon Enthusiast
Sorry for your loss. Chances are there was something else going on. If he was dehydrated when you got him from the store acouple month ago, there is a chance there was some kidney damage or a possible illness. Chameleons hide illnesses very well. Your husbandry seems pretty good.
If you decide to get another cham in the future, go with a reputable breeder so you know you are getting a healthy chameleon right off the bat.
I would also recommend getting a few supplements besides just reptivite. Plain calcium, Calcium with D3, and a multivitamin will help keep the cham healthy and strong. I also highly suggest investing in a Mist King system or similar mist system.
Again, I am sorry for your loss. Its unfortunate but use it as a learning experience.
If you decide to get another cham in the future, go with a reputable breeder so you know you are getting a healthy chameleon right off the bat.
I would also recommend getting a few supplements besides just reptivite. Plain calcium, Calcium with D3, and a multivitamin will help keep the cham healthy and strong. I also highly suggest investing in a Mist King system or similar mist system.
Again, I am sorry for your loss. Its unfortunate but use it as a learning experience.
Do you have an breeder recommendations
I cleaned his cage after death but I keep flashing back to me finding him dead after I went to feed him
