Falling and Such

[Amber Leeanne]

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've been on. I have some quick questions about chameleons falling in their enclosure.
My chameleon has been healthy and all her needs are being met (to my knowledge, I don't speak chameleon unfortunately) but she has recently stopped eating. She only eats when I put the crickets in a cup and show it to her. She also takes some serious falls in her cage. Her cage is 4feet tall so I can't imagine that's good.
She fell again last night and this morning when I checked her cage, she was still just on a plant pot clinging to it and looking around.
Are there any suggestions as to why this is happening?

 

[camimom]

Has she ever laid eggs?

Do you have a lay bin for her?

How old is her uvb bulb?

What is her basking temp?

How big are the sticks in her cage she climbs on?

What is she falling from, (object) mesh, stick etc.?

What is her supplementation schedule?

 

[Amber Leeanne]

Has she ever laid eggs?
I thought she was ready to about 2 or 3 weeks ago because she was very bright, not eating, and seemed a little bulky.

Do you have a lay bin for her?
I do. It's about a foot deep.

How old is her uvb bulb?
Her UVB bulb is new, I got it early last week because her other one blew.

What is her basking temp?
Her basking temp is about 95°

How big are the sticks in her cage she climbs on?
She has various sized sticks.

What is she falling from, (object) mesh, stick etc.?
She's fallen from just about everything at this point.

What is her supplementation schedule?
She gets a light calcium dusting every other feeding, and a calcium with... Shoot I can't remember what it's called, I think D3 once a month.

 

[ChameleonMom]

Are you certain it was her UVB bulb that 'blew'? I have had a few basking bulbs blow when a drop of water occasionally hits them but I have never had a UVB bulb blow. Are you providing her with two different light sources? She should have a bulb that provides heat and one that provides UVB. If it WAS the UVB that 'blew', I'm going to assume it was from being old - and that indicates to me that your girl is or hasn't been getting enough UVB to metabolize the calcium in her body. Couple that with the fact she could be developing eggs and you have a recipe for disaster.

Falling a lot indicates a weakness therefore if it were me, I would be taking her for an x-ray. With an x-ray you can see if she is indeed developing eggs AND you can check the density of her bones and see if some liqiuid calcium should be given to help her along.

Also, I don't see a mention of a multivitamin in your supplement schedule. This is important for overall health as well and it's absence could also be playing a part in her falling.

Bottom line: she needs to be seen by a vet, ASAP!

 

[camimom]

Well this wont influence her falling, but her basking temp is way too high.

Females should be kept at around 84 to prevent and slow egg production.


WHat calcium brand are you using?

can you post photos of her and her cage?

Does she have all her nails?

How old is she?

 

[Amber Leeanne]

She's about 8 or 9 months old.

She has all of her nails.

I use zoo med supplements.

I tried to get a photo of her and her cage but she hates people haha.

Also, you're right, I misspoke it was her basking bulb that blew not the UVB.

 

[camimom]

Well it looks like part of her problem is that the vines are too big for her feet.

ALso, she looks like she could have eggs, do you have a lay bin in her cage?

What type of supplements, ie calcium, multi etc do you use and how often?

 

[Amber Leeanne]

I already answered that, see above posts.

 

[camimom]

I already answered that, see above posts.

you said zoo med, but that doesn't answer if you use calcium with d3, or without d3, and how often.

or If she has a lay bin.

 

[Amber Leeanne]

Answered that one too. In like, second reply to post.

 

[EKEKO]

Falling in general doesn't mean entirely "weakness" specially when it is off a mesh screen...Now on the other hand if she is falling from relatively thing branches or sticks that could be a sign off problems.

Give her a a nice warm misting o preferably a shower. Not letting the water hit your cham directly but bouncing it off the wall. Keep hydrated and make an appointment with a vet.