I'm a snake keeper, and I found this guy, about 12 inches end to end, really thin, but not completely emaciated, seems dehydrated. I've persuaded him to take some water so far, and warmed him up, cleaned some impacted feces from the cloaca. He won't open his eyes, very lethargic, thin, color has improved since warming him up, but eyes still closed. His grip is still strong, but his legs seem weak and off balance. I have no experience with chameleons, nor the resources to properly care for him in the long term, but I'm open to any suggestions to help him recover somewhat while I look for somewhere to take him to.
Found on road - SW FL - veiled i think
- Thread starter rickfl239
- Start date
cLoNe
New Member
pm
if u you want i can take care of him if you can't keep him i live by coral gables n 67. I got a small velied, mitso 6 months, n a ankarmi. . so he will be in good hands. . just let me know. . just try 2 had feed him have the crickets close 2 his mouth n grab him softly by his neck see if he opens his mouth n slide the live criket see if you can feed him till he can eat on his own. .
if u you want i can take care of him if you can't keep him i live by coral gables n 67. I got a small velied, mitso 6 months, n a ankarmi. . so he will be in good hands. . just let me know. . just try 2 had feed him have the crickets close 2 his mouth n grab him softly by his neck see if he opens his mouth n slide the live criket see if you can feed him till he can eat on his own. .
Champhibians
New Member
Do you mean an Ankaramy?
how far is it from Naples to where you are? Anyone within 120 or so miles(closer the better) to my area is welcome to have him, even if my limited lizard experience tells me he's most likely a goner. I'd rather have him with someone who knows chameleons and might be able to save him.
Vibrant Chameleons
Avid Member
I'm sure he means Ankaramy, but that's not what this thread is about. It's about a sick Veiled...
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Until you get him a home, mist him with some very warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes. That might help his eyes. Try to get him under a light where he can warm up to about 89 but also have a spot where he can cool off to in the high 70's. I hope you can find him a home. There's allot of members here from the west coast of FL. I'm on the east coast but you can let me know if there's anything that I can do to help from here. Jann
update: After a nice long shower with warm water, his eyes are starting to open, and he's expelled some phlegm from his nostrils. I've noticed a slight curvature of his spine, and suspect his nutrition, specifically calcium, has been deficient for some time. His rear legs seem weaker than his front, but the feet still grip well enough that he can hang onto a perch. Right now I've got him outside soaking up some sunshine on a perch. I figure sun and fresh air will help him, and he might even snatch a fly. I don't know how long he's been on his own, but he's probably an escaped pet. I can borrow a digicam maybe tomorrow or something to get a pic online, but I'd like to have a better idea of what to do today, as his life is clearly on the line.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
This site will tell you everything you need to know about raising a Veiled. After you look it over ask any questions and the members here will be glad to help. Jann
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
cacoonkitty
New Member
try this
make suer you have lots of water availabe to him as it sounds like he was dehydrated as his eyes were closed and probably other things aswell,so shower him twice/three times a day to start with to get him a bit better off then mist heavily his enclosure and him gently but not directly on him (more like rain fall) twice a day intil he seems better as veileds wont drink sometimes for up to 5 minutes of being gently showerd with warm water and it takes them this long to get them to drink, put him on a plant like a potted ficus tree and do this also as you say put him in the sun to help with vit d3 and heat but with shade available as these species are sun loving chameleons but still need shade, he also will need some food like crickets or silk worms or wax worms and dust these with the calcium /vit supplement that they have in reptile shops he may not eat to start due to stress but try and if he doent take the food out after a while and try again later, i would also offer him some water in a dripper in his enclosure so he can drink when he wants, just get a plastick cup put some small holes in the bottom and place over a plant he is on in his enclosure so water drips down onto the leaves and he can lick the dropplets off this i how chams drink not frm a water bowl. hope he gets better soon. katt.
make suer you have lots of water availabe to him as it sounds like he was dehydrated as his eyes were closed and probably other things aswell,so shower him twice/three times a day to start with to get him a bit better off then mist heavily his enclosure and him gently but not directly on him (more like rain fall) twice a day intil he seems better as veileds wont drink sometimes for up to 5 minutes of being gently showerd with warm water and it takes them this long to get them to drink, put him on a plant like a potted ficus tree and do this also as you say put him in the sun to help with vit d3 and heat but with shade available as these species are sun loving chameleons but still need shade, he also will need some food like crickets or silk worms or wax worms and dust these with the calcium /vit supplement that they have in reptile shops he may not eat to start due to stress but try and if he doent take the food out after a while and try again later, i would also offer him some water in a dripper in his enclosure so he can drink when he wants, just get a plastick cup put some small holes in the bottom and place over a plant he is on in his enclosure so water drips down onto the leaves and he can lick the dropplets off this i how chams drink not frm a water bowl. hope he gets better soon. katt.
Whoever here is closest to the Naples/Ft. Myers area, and able to take him in, I'd like to hear from you. I do lack the proper enclosure, lights, feeders, and supplements for chameleons at this time. My experience is mostly limited to snakes, with a few monitors, I fear I can't do as much to help this animal as someone experienced with chameleons could.
cLoNe
New Member
I can meet u up where i-75 meet up with 595 around there just hit 75 south n first exit n i'll meet u there. tom. or anytime after like 5. . i get out of work @ 430. . just let me know or i can have my friend do me a favor he doesn't working in the mornings n pick him up if u have time in the mornings. .let me know. .
I can meet you at the east end of the Alley tomorrow after 5 or even today around that time. Want to do that? I think time is of the essence for this guy, and he'd be a beautiful lizard if he recovered. I'll continue to keep him hydrated and warm, but thats the best I can do, can't afford to purchase much of a setup at this time that would accomplish any better, nor the costs of a visit to the vet. It's not pretty, but that's life. I found him sitting on the road, barely moving, and just trying to do what I can to try and get a mistreated and malnourished animal into better hands.
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