Failing Health - Eyes, Not Eating, Not Urinating or Deficating

[mommycurzon]

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon, 1 year old, purchased from Petsmart.
* Handling - Minimal
* Feeding - Crickets & Dubia Roaches, as well as kale & he normally eats the hibiscus' leaves. Crickets are free running, roaches are in a feeding cup. I give him about 6 crickets in the cage, and 3 roaches in the cup.
* Supplements - Calcium w/o D3 daily, multivitamin & calcium w/ d3 once a week alternating between the two.
* Watering - Dripper runs almost all day & sprayed twice a day, I don't see him drink and generally doesn't like the spray so I don't spray him directly.
* Fecal Description - that's part of the problem...none
* History - Has had problems with shedding in the past, irritating his eyes. Healthy otherwise but VERY fussy eater (nothing that squirms such as horn worms, silks, supers, wax, butters, all rejected).


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - LLL aluminum cage (48 x 24 x 24
* Lighting - 8am - 9pm with a 40 watt basking (in basement, so a little too cool with any less) and a florescent uvb strip (Reptiglo 5.0), and a 40 watt grow light for the tree.
* Temperature - floor around 70 and basking site's around 88.
* Humidity - 60-70%

* Plants - Live Hibiscus tree, fills the entire upper half of the cage
* Placement -In the quiet of our finished basement, set on top of a 2 ft table, top of the cage is only about a foot from the ceiling.
* Location - London, ON


Current Problem - I think I'm losing him He's keeping his eyes both shut, hasn't eaten an insect in 2 weeks, doesn't look like he's eaten any of the tree and no kale and hasn't had a bowel movement in a week. He also hasn't shed in over a month. He looks vibrant in colour but is getting skinnier & skinnier. I'm also finding him down on the bottom inside the tupperware that catches the leftover water from the dripper.

I fear because I bought him from Petsmart he's the product of their reputation. Please tell me if it's something I'm doing wrong!!!!

I'm taking him to the vet as soon as they call back, but would appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

How long ago did you purchase him? Humidity should be between 50-60 ideally. Feed him every other day. They don't need to eat as much when they are an adult. Everything else seems okay .. post a picture of your enclosure and the cham please.

 

[mommycurzon]

I purchased him in the summer of last year, pretty sure it was July.

I've kept the humidity slightly higher since he hasn't shed in so long, I thought it might help.

Feeding wise, I tend to feed him when he runs out, so usually it's every two days or so, just now, it hasn't been in 2 weeks (I change the bugs to make sure they're nutrious when if he does eat them and change sizes to try and encourage him.

I'm at work right now, but will post some as soon as I get home.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

I purchased him in the summer of last year, pretty sure it was July.

I've kept the humidity slightly higher since he hasn't shed in so long, I thought it might help.

Feeding wise, I tend to feed him when he runs out, so usually it's every two days or so, just now, it hasn't been in 2 weeks (I change the bugs to make sure they're nutrious when if he does eat them and change sizes to try and encourage him.

I'm at work right now, but will post some as soon as I get home.

Do you gutload feeders? The crix and whatever else you are using to feed should have plenty of greens such as kale and fruits/veggies such as orange slices/carrot, sweet potatoe, etc. I probably would take the left over bugs out overnight.

What is at the bottom of your enclosure? paper towel/soil/substrate?

Instead of putting humidity up high, try giving your cham a shower with indirect water or lightly mist. This can help with hydration and also shedding.

Other than that, perhaps someone might chime in on something I am not seeing. A vet is also an option available to you. Use your descretion.

 

[Elizadolots]

Is it all possible that he's a she?

Refusing to eat, not pooping and hanging about in a container at the bottom of the cage has a "I need to lay eggs" feel to it. There are pictures of the chameleon in her gallery. Maybe someone with more knowledge about veileds can take a look?

https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/mommycurzon-albums-gonzales.html

 

[canzoman]

If its a year old and still looks like that then its a she.

Male Veiled's will have spurs on the back on their hands and females will not and also a large "triangular cask" on his head.

 

[pssh]

It's a male. It has stripes in those pictures and tarsal spurs in the first picture.

 

[canzoman]

It's a male. It has stripes in those pictures and tarsal spurs in the first picture.

Thanks for the confirmation been a while since I had veileds...

 

[Elizadolots]

okay...well, one of you said it was female, one said it was male. I don't think the picture is good enough to determine whether there's a spur (the thing it's standing on is mottled with white spots...it looks like the back foot is on such a spot). Don't some females have stripes?

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html

I think new pictures would be extremely helpful.

 

[pssh]

I doubt it. If he's sitting at the bottom of his enclosure you need to take him to a vet.

EDIT: The new picture confirms that he is male.

 

[mommycurzon]

He's a male, at least from everything I've read. Am I wrong? He's never shown signs of needing to lay eggs.

Here is a new photo of him (just took it).

and this is his home

Note that he's puffed up at me (at least that's the same). He's not a handleable cham. but looks ok colourwise, his tail and legs are showing the refusal to eat. No fat on them.

I always gut load what he eats, and the bottom of the enclosure is just bare with two containers to collect the water.

 

[pssh]

His enclosure could use more plants. He is definitely a male.

If he is sitting at the bottom and is unresponsive at all, take him to a vet. Adults only poop once a week and eat everyother day though. A healthy veiled can go for many weeks without eating and be just fine. But again, if he is on the bottom and seems ill at all take him to a vet as those are not good signs.

 

[PicassothePanther]

yea please dont hesitate.. vet immediately!

 

[canzoman]

I doubt it. If he's sitting at the bottom of his enclosure you need to take him to a vet.

EDIT: The new picture confirms that he is male.

lol yeah that's def a Male. Thanks for the new pic.

 

[Elizadolots]

Yup, you can totally see the spurs on that.

 

[mommycurzon]

When he goes down into the water, he's very responsive, he's wondering around the little bit of water and then climbs back up to the top.

I've put a fake vine in to fill it a bit more, but he seems to prefer the open spaces, and tends to spiderman it around the tree more then go inside. Will try it though, I'm definately open to do whatever he needs.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the vet to when I can bring him in, not sure what's taking them so long.

Thanks so much for the many responses...I'll keep you all posted.

 

[kinyonga]

It wouldn't hurt to take it to a vet to see if they know what's going on...especially since he is sitting low in the cage.

I wonder if you should try removing the UVB light for a few days to see if that makes a difference? I don't know if that Repti-glo has ever caused problems or not. If he's out of the cage does he open his eyes?

Have you tried hand feeding him? I would try to get him opening his mouth by getting him to drink and then place a cricket, head-first into his mouth between his teeth when its open.

 

[Elizadolots]

Has something changed in your home that you didn't think the chameleon would notice? A new dog? You bought a brightly colored new couch? I know you say he's in the quiet of your basement, but could more people be stomping around making noise upstairs because it's cold and everyone is staying home?

I'm just brainstorming.

 

[mommycurzon]

I've tried hand feeding him but to no use. He locks his mouth shut tight and I don't want to risk hurting him prying his mouth open. He flails around when I tried.

As for something changing, the only thing that's happened was he had to be relocated downstairs about 4 months ago. He use to be in the upstairs spare room, but it was noiser there. We needed to move him since I'm expecting baby #2. He seemed to like the change, but unfortunately I have no where else I can put him.

I can try pulling the florescent, he's had this type since I've had him

 

[jessica]

How long has it been since you have changed his uvb bulb? If the bulb is bad may be he is not receiving efficient uvb?

You said he is going to the water he is responsive? Have you tried a shower like mentioned before? It helps with hydration and sometimes can help them have a BM.