Eye issue

[EC22]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and also a new owner of a baby (ambilobe) panther. He is about 3 months old and active. I got him 2 weeks ago. He is kept in a 24X18x18 screen cage with a small ficus tree in it. I mist him 2-3 times a day and also use a homemade dripper twice. I have a 75W heat lamp with reptisun 5.0. Temps have been very hot these last few days in Montreal and they turn around 28-31C. I feed him gutloaded crickets and use Rep cal w/ D3 twice a week and Reptivite once.

He has been scratching his eyes on branches for a few days and I am afraid they might be infected. They sometimes show red/brownish bars and the base is dark. I know that ficus have a white sap that can irritate eyes but I washed the tree thoroughly before adding it to my setup. I have not seen any sap coming out of the tree either.

Please help.

Also I was told by the seller this was a boy. What do you think?

 

[EC22]

Here's one more pic.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Here's one more pic.

Do you have a pic like the last one showing the tail. A profile shot from the side showing the base of the tail will help sex him.

his eyes look fine to me. The color you are seeing sounds like a natural coloration for them. Has he shed recently or due for a shed? Also what type of reptisun bulb are you using is it a tube or compact (swirly bulb)?

 

[EC22]

He has not shed skin yet. One thing that might not help is low RH that hovers around 40-45% because I can`t get a humidifier. I will add one soon tough.

here`s a few more pics.

Etienne

 

[EC22]

Thanks for the fast reply Ryan!

 

[AndrewH]

from the first pic, im going to guess male, but more base of the tail shots would help to confirm. he looks like a cool little dude

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

yeah thats a Male...

If his eyes appear to be bugging him you can always increase the misting sessions a little. He may have something in one.

Is there a fan or anything that blows on him? Also what type of reptisun bulb are you using is it a tube or compact (swirly bulb)?

The compact florescent can cause eye issues. You want to make sure you are using the tube bulb.

 

[opihiman]

Does your cham sit there and constantly rub his eyes?

If not and it seems like when you mist him he will rub his eye, more than likely he is scratching an itch. His eye doesn't look like there is anything wrong. If you are concerned like ryan said. increased misting could help..

Nice Cham BTW.

Hope that helps.

OPI

 

[EC22]

Thanks guys!

I use the tube type. I also recently turned a fan on to help air flow in the room and reduce temps. Guess I'll turn it off and mist more frequently.

Thanks again!

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Thanks guys!

I use the tube type. I also recently turned a fan on to help air flow in the room and reduce temps. Guess I'll turn it off and mist more frequently.

Thanks again!

The fan is OK just make sure it doesn't blow directly on them. the wind can blow dust and irritate the eyes.

Edit : Also on you supplementation. I would use the D3 only once a week and The Reptivite should be used twice a week and maybe add herpative multivitamins 2x a week. Until he gets older and you start feeding every other day.

 

[Justin Carl]

A lot of the advise so far has been very good, but their could be an underlying problem to the eye rubbing.

Could it be the ficus?
They do have a sap that can cause irritation...
How long has the rubbing been taking place?
Try changing his plant to a Schefflera arboricola.

Your dusting schedule could definitely use some work.
Two times a week of calcium with D3 is way too much.
Drop it down to once a week or even once every two weeks.

Once a week with the Herptivite.

You need to go out and get a phosphorous free calcium without D3.
This is the supplement you need to use the most often.

Also, don't supplement like a mad man.
You don't want your crickets to look like ghost running around the cage.
Don's shake and bake them in a Zip Lock Bag.

http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=96
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=93

One more! Gutloading
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=101

Happy reading

 

[EC22]

Hi Justin and thanks for your input.

My little fellow have been rubbing his eyes for about a week now.

The ficus is certainly a potential cause of the problem. I will see if I can get a schefflera.

These articles are heavy!

 

[EC22]

Hey guys!

I still need your help badly.

Now I switched my little guy to a smaller (10X6X9 in) cage I have because the scratching is getting more intense. There are only small sticks in this cage so he will not be able to scratch as hard. His eyes do not seem swollen even though he seems to have some difficulty to blink. His skin is starting to shed because he has some whitish spots on him. He is also wrinkly like an old man. I saw him drink and eat during the last few days so I don't think dehydration is the problem. Right now he has a very dark color and doesn't look too happy.

I don't have any photos yet.

Please advise!

Etienne

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Hey guys!

I still need your help badly.

Now I switched my little guy to a smaller (10X6X9 in) cage I have because the scratching is getting more intense. There are only small sticks in this cage so he will not be able to scratch as hard. His eyes do not seem swollen even though he seems to have some difficulty to blink. His skin is starting to shed because he has some whitish spots on him. He is also wrinkly like an old man. I saw him drink and eat during the last few days so I don't think dehydration is the problem. Right now he has a very dark color and doesn't look too happy.

I don't have any photos yet.

Please advise!

Etienne

Hey Etienne, Sorry to hear you are still hving some problems.

Would you please fill this out. It looks like we may need more info to get to the bottom of this.


Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
• Location - 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?

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.
• Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful

 

[EC22]

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Screen cage 18x18x24in and 10x6x9in plastic
* Lighting - 75W with dome and reptisun tube 5.0 used from 6h30 to 6h30
* Temperature - Temps go from 33C at top and 26 at bottom. Lowest overnight T is 24C. All measured with digital thermometer.
* Humidity - RH is between 30% and 45% just by misting. Measured using digital hygrometer.
* Plants - Using Ficus benjamina. Will switching for Schefflera arboricola tonight.
* Location - Cage is in bedroom at eye level.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Male Ambilobe panther about 12 weeks old. Had him for 2 weeks.
* Handling - Twice a week.
* Feeding - Feeding 1/4 in crickets dusted once a week with Rep-cal w/ D3 and Reptivite once also. Crickets are fed carrots, lettuce, oatmeal and potato flakes. He eats as many as he wants.
* Supplements - see above.
* Watering - Mist 2-3 times a day for 3min each. Also use home made dripper twice for 20 min. He usually drinks as soon as he is sprayed.
* Fecal Description - Black and white. Not tested for parasites.
* History -
* Current Problem - Itchy eye / often rubs eyes against branches.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Screen cage 18x18x24in and 10x6x9in plastic
* Lighting - 75W with dome and reptisun tube 5.0 used from 6h30 to 6h30
* Temperature - Temps go from 33C at top and 26 at bottom. Lowest overnight T is 24C. All measured with digital thermometer.
* Humidity - RH is between 30% and 45% just by misting. Measured using digital hygrometer.
* Plants - Using Ficus benjamina. Will switching for Schefflera arboricola tonight.
* Location - Cage is in bedroom at eye level.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Male Ambilobe panther about 12 weeks old. Had him for 2 weeks.
* Handling - Twice a week.
* Feeding - Feeding 1/4 in crickets dusted once a week with Rep-cal w/ D3 and Reptivite once also. Crickets are fed carrots, lettuce, oatmeal and potato flakes. He eats as many as he wants.
* Supplements - see above.
* Watering - Mist 2-3 times a day for 3min each. Also use home made dripper twice for 20 min. He usually drinks as soon as he is sprayed.
* Fecal Description - Black and white. Not tested for parasites.
* History -
* Current Problem - Itchy eye / often rubs eyes against branches.

Looks pretty good.

One of my concerns is the 33C at the top. 33C is a little high for a panther. You may want to try to raise the light so it gets to be about 30C.

Another is the humidity is a little low. 30% and 45% after a misting is quite low. it should spike to 70% - 100% after a mist and slowly drop from there as the water dries. 40%-50% should be just about the lowest it drops.

As Justin said above your dusting needs a little fine tuning.

Since you mentioned the white spots and the shedding. It may help the little one if you increased his misting for a few days. Maybe add another session and increase each one to at least 5 min. That aids in the shedding by moistening the skin. Make sure the cage dries out in between mistings.

The plant may help but I think humidity will also help this guy get over his little problem faster.

 

[EC22]

Great!

I did not know about the 30C max.

Thanks for all your help Ryan!

Will try all of this asap.

 

[kinyonga]

I dust at most feedings with a phosphorous-free calcium powder. I dust twice a month with a vitamin powder containing a beta carotene source of vitamin A and twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder.

IMHO, I would have the eyes checked out at the vets if it doesn't clear up i a couple of days.