Female ambilobe acting strange.

[Clint526]

I have a sub adult female ambilobe panther and yesterday and today she seems to be acting strange. I recently put her in a new set up with new lights and everything. I'm pretty new to this so I'm not sure if I'm doing anything wrong. I have a live plant, a waterfall and a combo lamp with the reptisun 5.0 and a 60w daylight bulb. It was the zoomed Panther chameleon specific combo deal at my local shop. She recently has been sleeping during the day, or at least keeping her eyes closed. When I mist her cage she reacts but keeps her eyes closed. If I pick her up she keeps them closed at first till I have her out of the cage also. They seem a little sunken but after she's "awake" she looks perfectly normal again. She is always pretty calm and rarely darkens and gets angered. I don't ever see her eat but she is plenty plump so I assume she's a shy eater. I have crickets free roaming in her set up. After I put her in her new set up I was told to leave the daylight 60w on all the time and turn the 5.0 off at night. But I'm wondering if she's having a problem with too much light. Last night I left both off over night. Does anyone have any ideal of what lights at what times I should have on? I have timers I can use. Also I have a zoomed waterfall with the mister addition so my humidity with the plant stays around 60-70%. I know it seems like I'm asking a lot all at once and think I may be worrying about nothing but I don't want to miss anything wrong if it arises. Thanks

 

[carol5208]

Sometimes when they get into a new set up they may act strangely and not eat for a few days or so. However, the closing of the eyes during the day is not normal and concerning. It usually indicates a sign of illness, but if lights are too strong that could be a possibility also. Whoever gave you the info about leaving the light on all night was wrong! Maybe she did not get any sleep because of this and is sleeping now. You do not want any lights on at night.

 

[Clint526]

It's mostly her left eye she keeps closed. When I have her out for a few mins she seems pretty normal though. I think I may be worrying to much and maybe the few days of the 60w being on 24hr just has her eye erritated.

 

[jpowell86]

it may be that she has an irritant in her eye. Chams can go through some pretty strange eye cleaning routines. I would help her out by showering her for about 45 minutes. If there is something foreign in her eye, this can aid her in removing it.

 

[Clint526]

Like in the actual shower?

 

[jpowell86]

Yes, you will want to set something up for her to perch on. Make sure the water is luke warm. They can burn easily if the water is too hot. Also make sure the water isn't hitting her directly. The indirect splashing and increased humidity is what you are looking for.

 

[Clint526]

Here she is minutes ago and she looks fine then after holding her for 5 mins or so she closes her eyes like she's sleeping and acts like she doesn't wanna open em. Do they're eyes normally look sunk in while closed?

 

[Clint526]

Is it possible her sleep schedule was just messed up and she's just tired? This was 5 mins ago, she looks and is acting perfectly normal now. Even watched her drinking after her misting.

 

[jpowell86]

The waterfall can be a bacterial playground, so I would rethink that. Is she in an aquarium? She looks lumpy in that last pic you posted. Do you have a laying bin in place for her? This part of their husbandry is a crucial aspect. How long has she been in your care?

 

[brownie64]

I would also get rid of the waterfall too unless you want to be constantly cleaning it out. They are a magnet for bacteria, and could make your cham very ill. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[jajeanpierre]

If something is irritating her eye, be it an infection, a scratch to the cornea or debris in the eye, they will pull the eyeball back into their heads (to relieve pressure from the irritant).

No, that does not appear normal. If a shower--not a direct hit of a shower, but basically a misting for 20 minutes inside a shower, does not clear it up, I think a trip to the vet is in order.

Closing eyes is also a sign of illness.

 

[Clint526]

She's only like 8 months, in a 24x12x37 high encloser that was a china cabinet that I replaced the side glad with screen.

The whole set up is about a week old and that's about how long I've had her. She doesn't feel like there's any eggs, is it possible that the few days I had 24 hour light confused her sleep schedule? I was told she is a great eater so I let her free range eat but she's gotten fatter in the last week.

 

[Clint526]

She's pretty active now, it's just on and off where she goes from perfectly fine to sluggish and tired. Also the reason I have the waterfall is because I have the mister in it. It's that exoterra large waterfall with the extra mister addition I put in.

 

[jpowell86]

Have you had a fecal done yet?

 

[Clint526]

No, had her about a week. Haven't had time to do anything with the holidays. She's completely fine now. Is it possibly the few days of 24hr light just screwed up her schedule?