? For those who have owned chams for years

[carol5208]

I wanted to know to all of you who have had a chameleon or chameleons live for many years, if any of you have ever NOT had a health problem???? I don't mean when they got sick and died, but during the course of you owning them. Is there anyone out there who has owned a chameleon, lets say for 3 yrs plus and never had one single issue? I am just wondering if they exist!! Lenny, the chameleon who I got from another forum member had the edema. It still flares up here and there but for the most part it is gone. Romeo has had the foot(which I know began as an injury) and recently his tail is dark on the bottom(been to vet, not necrotic). I take care of these two like kings. I was just wondering if a "issue free" chameleon exists. Love to hear from you guys!!!

 

[nightanole]

Ive had 5 since 1995, of the group, id say ive had 3 vet visits total, and mostly towards the end of their days. From my experience it seems the wetter the animal needs to be, the more "take me to the vet" problems arise. My water dragon was like your boy, having at least a once a year visit. On the other hand the bearded dragons never had a non trama visit.

I think the key to my success(massive speculation) is the size of the room and the cage. All my lizards live in a non direct sun 12x15 room with the door shut all day. The cage tops are all open. The cage walls have a min of 2 screened sided. Half of them are allowed to free range during the day. Humidifier is not ran at night, humidity is kept at 55% during the winter and in the natural 70's during the spring/summer/fall. Temps are 80f +-5f all year, if it gets above 85 the air is on, if its below 75 the space heater is on.

It seems the problems start poping up in the "tanks" and in the screen cages that never dry out. ive had the problem too. During the early bearded dragon years i tried to keep them at 65% humidity during the winter, by using a humidifier going at over a gallon a day. Both got colds with in 45 days...

 

[carol5208]

Ive had 5 since 1995, of the group, id say ive had 3 vet visits total, and mostly towards the end of their days. From my experience it seems the wetter the animal needs to be, the more "take me to the vet" problems arise. My water dragon was like your boy, having at least a once a year visit. On the other hand the bearded dragons never had a non trama visit.

I think the key to my success(massive speculation) is the size of the room and the cage. All my lizards live in a non direct sun 12x15 room with the door shut all day. The cage tops are all open. The cage walls have a min of 2 screened sided. Half of them are allowed to free range during the day. Humidifier is not ran at night, humidity is kept at 55% during the winter and in the natural 70's during the spring/summer/fall.

It seems the problems start poping up in the "tanks" and in the screen cages that never dry out.

my guys live primarily outdoors year round in the florida sunshine. They are caged outside but it is fresh air. They free range on my patio which is huge. They live a good life!! It just seems sometimes no matter how good the care, things happen. It just frustrates me sometimes. Sounds like you are doing good. How long did your chams live for?I am assuming the ones from 1995 are still not around?! lol

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Well, I've had Buster my Jackson for 3 years now and so far so good! Oscar has had edema and a thermal burn, and George probably has a papillomavirus.

 

[BocaJan]

Over the last 6-7 years I have had lots of chams as part of my breeding stock and raised many babies. I have more issues with the girls then the boys, and always take them to the vets. I would say at LEAST 2 times a year for URI, parasites (newly purchased animals only) and egg binding. I have gotten through all the issues with no loss of animals when taking them to the vets as soon as I notice something wrong. They go downhill so fast you can't take a wait-and-see attitude if you want to save your little friend.

 

[nightanole]

my guys live primarily outdoors year round in the florida sunshine. They are caged outside but it is fresh air. They free range on my patio which is huge. They live a good life!! It just seems sometimes no matter how good the care, things happen. It just frustrates me sometimes. Sounds like you are doing good. How long did your chams live for?I am assuming the ones from 1995 are still not around?! lol

Off the top of my head, panther lived 5.5, veiled lived 7, carpet only lasted 4( i had a hard time with his/her humidity and stayed in a tank with a screen top).

Florida sounds like perfect cham weather other than during the summer nuke phase. Guess you just need a nice breeze to make sure everything dries out after the daily supper rain.

 

[Entomotile]

Well

My first male panther was already 2+ according to the previous owner and other than a parasite when I first got him I had no problems with him for the 4+ years I had him. When he died it was very sad, it seemed he just gave up- stopped eating and drinking and was gone in a week with no apparent reason at all other than being around 7. My holdback pair from my last clutch is now 1.5 years and I have had no problems with them what so ever.

 

[jannb]

My veiled Luie never had any health issues other than parasites until after the age of four when we found he had some bone spurs but they weren't very serious. He didn't have any serious problems until after the age of 5. My female veiled Camille never had any problems but maybe parasites once until she was over 3 years old but they both always had regular check ups and fecals.

 

[Miss Lily]

Amy got to a month before her 3rd birthday and then got Pneumonia. She went downhill after that and died a couple of months later. We never had any issues at all before that. I kept her cooler and fed her less and she laid her first and only clutch of infertiles at 20 months old.

 

[Olimpia]

Deadalus is only a little over 2 years but besidesthe tail tip amputationhe has never been sick. Or, well, he did have an eye issue for a week that was cleared up with a combo of an ointment and vit A so I guess that's not true. But Azura is still going strong at over 1.5 years of age.

Even my dog (Mina, not the puppy) is at the vet once a year for something, it's normal for everyone (myself included) to seek a little medical help now and then.

 

[kinyonga]

Over the years I have had lots of chameleons that lived with me the whole time with no apparent health issues.

 

[carol5208]

Over the years I have had lots of chameleons that lived with me the whole time with no apparent health issues.

that is nice to know! It just seems like there is so much that can go wrong and sometimes no matter what you do, things still happen.

 

[kinyonga]

Sometimes things do happen no matter what you do....just like some people can live long healthy lives and others have problems. We just have to do the best we can!

 

[Hoj]

Gizmo has been going strong now for over 2 years not a single issue... "knock on wood"

 

[pssh]

The only one I've had without issues is my male veiled who is still with me. He is over 4 years old right now. Knock on wood, I hope he doesnt ever have any issues. Although he did have a very tiny burn one time but it healed on its own.

 

[okiroo]

Clair only had and RI when i first got her. had her for a year and halfish i think.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

It's probably BECAUSE you take such good care of them that you feel like there are always medical issues. I bet there are more people who own chameleons who never notice the things you do because they are not as observant and/or caring as you.

 

[justjumpit621]

I had Leopold for 3 years until he passed of kidney failure at the age of 4 1/2- 5

 

[diablocham]

my fist cham,i had him about 3 years and 1/2 not a single problem ,for that reason i though they dont get sick,,next chams make me see i was soooooooo wrong

 

[carol5208]

It seems there are more with issues than without. I guess I was just looking for some misery loves company type answer from all of you! lol I am happy for the people who have raised their chameleons until they leave this earth without having any problems! It just does not seem so common though.