Delayed poop; is this normal?!

[Andie]

I'm attempting to upload a picture.
Just got my first Cham, a flapneck, 2 weeks ago.
He's approx 8 months old.

The whole time, I've searched for signs of his droppings, but never found any.
Today I come home to 2 urates, & about a 3-4inch feces. I was shocked to say the least.

Is this normal? Until now, he's had a very healthy appetite, eating a variety of bugs & worms & I keep him well hydrated.

I put rocks over the soil in the planter I have in his cage, so I'm pretty sure he can't get to the soil.

 

[Kath44]

How long has he gone between poops? Some don't go everyday, some do. Are temps good?
Check the poop thread for pics of poops, may ease your mind.
Kath.

 

[Andie]

As I mentioned in the original posting, in the two weeks I've had him, I couldn't locate a single dropping.
So it's been about 2 weeks, unless there's one in there I didn't know about.

 

[kplatvoet]

Since he's wild caught I would be more worried if his poop was runny and smelly -
While an orange urate is a symtom of dehydration it's not always dehydration that causes some "oranging up" I've read threads where both butterworms and constipation caused poop to have orange tints- and new chameleons are likely to have a bit of constipation- since it's his "first" you've found I wouldn't get too worried yet.
More important would be his appetite and energy levels- these are also effected by temps and humidity in his cage - since it's been getting colder here in NJ it's a good idea to check his stats compaired to the care sheets sometimes raising or lowering the temps by just a few degrees will help. If Mugsey is still active and eating - I would continue to make sure your following the care sheets and relax - keeping an eye out for other signs that he might not be feeling well.

 

[Chase]

I think this is normal, besides the orange urates (which does not necessarily mean he is dehydrated right at that moment).

What temperatures do you have for your flapneck? I think it is fairly normal for WC to be a little constipated, but eventually they have normal bowel movements. I think, at this point, I would not worry too much.

Chase

 

[Andie]

His basking spot is between 85-90, depending. At night we started keeping a ceramic heat lamp going, because the room he's in gets below 60 at night.

I didn't see him eat today, which concerns me. But, I've been thinking his journey to get up here from Texas must have been incredibly stressful, and could easily cause constipation.

Thank you, everyone, for your reassuring words. I'm pretty nuts about my little guy already, and don't want anything bad to happen to him.

 

[Andie]

OK. I know that our gecko stops eating right before she sheds.

Mugsy has stopped eating. I put 4 different things in his cage this morning but he hasn't touched anything. Do you think he might be about to shed?

Also, since that huge poop a few days ago, he looks very thin. I see his ribs more than usual.

I'm starting to worry. I gave him extra misting tonight and watched him drink, so I know he's not dehydrated. I mist him 2-5 times everyday, plus put a dripper cup each day.

Here's the weirdest thing of all ; he's normally asleep, curled up on a vine. Tonight he's asleep on the same horizontal vine, with his head stretching upward. How bizarre is that?!
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!

 

[kplatvoet]

He may not be cooling off enough at night with the heat lamp going - It's more likely he's getting ready to shed - they need a cool down at night to help with digestion - below 60 is probably a little cold for a flapneck but you want to make sure it's not heating him up too much.

 

[Trace]

My adult Flapnecks didn’t necessarily eat every day. They aren’t gluttons like some species so missing a day here or there isn’t cause for concern. However she is most likely wild caught and if she is starting to refuse food combined with the raised head there might be something bigger going on. A URI and parasites are the first things that come to mind but I could be way off on that. It may simply be a shed cycle. Just in case, I think a trip to a vet is warranted.

I’m attaching my blog about wild caught animals. A lot of it doesn’t necessarily apply to your situation but you might find some tips helpful. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/trace/776-dealing-wild-caught-chameleon.html

 

[Andie]

Kate, it's very cold in our room at night. The whole cage might be too cold. That concerns me. I always check the lower temp gauge when the heat lamp is on, and it's 60 or below.

Wouldn't he go down lower if he's too warm at night?

 

[Andie]

Have any of you used ReptiAid? They say it's good to get rid of parasites. Wondering how to administer.....

 

[kplatvoet]

I was afraid that the heater was causing the temps to get up in the 70's - it sounds like that's not your problem- I'm not sure what your problem might be at this point -

 

[kplatvoet]

I've never used it - but it gets injected into a bug usually - which if he's still not eating would be a problem- and I'm pretty sure it's more of a maintance thing not an actually cure if he does have parasites - If he does it's always better to treat the actual parasite he has - he may just be shedding. I'd see if you can get a fecal done without bringing him in - you'll have to bring him in if it comes out positive - but it might ease you mind -