Don't know what to do

[Gbetts1986]

I've had my chameleon since May. I made the mistake of buying her from petco. She didn't look overly healthy when I bought her and she still is skinny now. I see her drink often and she eats good off and on. Today she ate 5 crickets and a silkworm but she doesn't appear to be growing much. she occasionally sleeps during the day, some days she doesn't some days she does. I had a fecal done lm her 2 weeks ago and it came back negative fkr parasites. The poo had been in the cage approx 12 hours..should I get another fecal done on her fresh poo? I found a wax worm that looked partially undigested jn her poo a couple days ago. She stays pretty active during the day and other then her not growing as quick as my other veiled and occasionally sleeping during the day I don't see much wrong. I have looked over numerous care sheets and tried to follow them to a T. I feel like it may be a parasite but the test came back negative..what should I do?

 

[Remkon]

I don't see 'not growing quick' as an issue as long as she's eating, drinking and looks healthy and active.

Growing your chameleon isn't a sport, some will have big appetites and others will not, so some will grow quicker than others.... Her past may also have influence on her growth now.

Growing fast isn't always good either.

 

[Gbetts1986]

Well I said that because I don't feel she looks healthy. Skinny to me. And those pics above are my chameleons, my other female is substantially larger

 

[Remkon]

Are they housed separately?

I would probably take her to the vet for a good look over rather than just having a fecal done.

 

[Qwerty]

try to feed them with more and diferent insects. it seems healthy the eye are good so no hydratation issue.
How old is?

 

[jajeanpierre]

Well I said that because I don't feel she looks healthy. Skinny to me. And those pics above are my chameleons, my other female is substantially larger

She's really skinny. Because your other one is doing so well, I think you can rule out your care as the reason, especially since they are housed in separate rooms. She needs to go to a vet with a fresh stool sample. Take pictures of your other one to show your vet the difference between the two. Clean her cage and then check it every hour or two for stool. As soon as you get a fresh stool, wrap it in plastic and immediately put it in the fridge and get it to the vet asap. Some parasites are really difficult to see unless they are from a very fresh sample.

Growth rate is a valid indicator of health and thriftiness. Babies should grow at an incredible rate.

Sometimes an animal will be riddled with intestinal parasites but they won't show up on a fecal examination. Does your vet do the fecal in-house or send it to a lab? I want my vet to do it in their clinic. You want a smear and a float.

Some parasites are notoriously difficult to find in fecal examinations. A negative fecal does not prove she is clear of parasites, only that the vet didn't see any parasites or their eggs in that particular sample.

 

[Gbetts1986]

I saw a fresh sample laying on a leaf this morning before I went to work. I put it in a zip lock and put it in the fridge..will it still be ok to bring to the vet when I'm off work. Like 8 or 9 hours

 

[jajeanpierre]

I saw a fresh sample laying on a leaf this morning before I went to work. I put it in a zip lock and put it in the fridge..will it still be ok to bring to the vet when I'm off work. Like 8 or 9 hours

I would take it in. She is so much skinnier than the other one, I would rather run that fecal than wait. I like to take them in within a couple of hours, but it isn't necessary.

 

[Gbetts1986]

I got the fecal sample and am taking her as we speak