Georgie 10/13/14

[laurahlove]

Okay, so earlier I posted that my baby veiled died sometime last night, and someone suggested that I do this, so I figured Id give it a shot.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, female, maybe 4 weeks old? not really sure, only a few weeks though. Id only had it maybe 2 weeks
Handling - I wouldnt handle her every day unless I had too because she was so small, but if I just wanted to hold her it was like every 2 days or so.
Feeding - I was feeding her small crickets everyday, there was a little bowl that always had a few in it. I feed the crickets the little green 3 in 1 gut load, I cant remember the name.
Supplements - Im not sure of the names, but I dusted regularly with calcium with D3 and without, and with vitamins. (not everyday with the dust, dont worry.)
Watering - I have a little dripper on constantly and I misted it a couple times a day. Yes, I saw her drinking mostly straight from the dripper.
Fecal Description - She pooped regularly, brown and white, normal fecals. No, she was never tested for parasites.
History - She had started to fall asleep during the day a little bit.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Small reptibreeze.
Lighting - reptisun 5.0 uvb, and 50 watt basking bulb. I turned her lights on at 9 and off at 8.
Temperature - Basking was around 88, and the floor temp around 78. The night temp was around 71. I have the digital probe thing.
Humidity - I never measured the humidity. :/
Plants - No live plants, just some fake vines and leaves and flowers.
Placement - One the top of my shelf, Ill attach a picture. I have a fan on my ceiling, but its not close.
Location - Im in florida.

Current Problem - I just dont really know why she died. She was fine yesterday, eating crickets and when I went to bed she was asleep and fine. And when I woke up this morning at 6am, she was hanging by her tail from the same spot she fell asleep from, dead. Im hoping maybe someone has an answer for me? This was my first chameleon, but Im not new to reptiles, I have 3 leopard geckos, 1 pictus gecko and 1 crestie and I take care of the reptiles at the pet store I work at. So I just really would like to know what I did wrong...? Id hate to go get another one and have the same thing happen again. Anyone?

Pictures:
Her crickets gut loading

Her eating

Her cage on the top

How I found her

 

[carol5208]

I honestly don't think it was anything you did that caused it, atleast not with the information you provided. I know you did not know the humidity, but seeing you live in Florida, I don't think that would be an issue(I live in Fla also) to cause death. The only thing that stands out is you said she was sleeping a little during the day which does indicate she was probably ill, maybe with a parasite or something. Don't beat yourself up and give yourself another chance if you want to get another one.

 

[Lazy Boy]

Baby's can get dehydrated and over heat very easy. The only thing I see that sticks out right away was basking temps are high for such a young cham and that with possible low humidity could have caused the problem. I'm so very sorry for your loss

 

[zlew]

You got him at such a young age, I remember you saying you got it only a week or two old. At my first vet checkup, he told me that I had to be very, very meticulous, because the smallest issues with a baby chameleon can be fatal. two weeks old is very young to buy a chameleon, they should be well started and healthy when you get them, two months old is usually the best time. There are just so many different things that could go wrong with a cham so young, and I don't know who sold it to you, but it wasn't good of them to sell it so young. It almost definitely wasn't your fault.

 

[sharp229]

So sorry for your loss. Based on the info you provided and pictures I don't see anything seriously wrong that would have caused death. You said she started sleeping a little during the day, so it is possible she had an RI or some other issue that combined with the stress of being moved at such a young age she couldn't handle.

I definitely wouldn't give up if chams interest you, you have a better environment than a lot of people that post here do. I would just make sure to never purchase a chameleon that is less than 3 months of age, and be sure to use a reputable breeder. Chameleons from pet stores often come with serious issues. I would also recommend getting a male since you are relatively new to chams, since care is much easier. If you really want a female, you just have to be ready for her to lay eggs at any time and the complications that come with that.

As far as improvements, I would recommend you dust every feeding with plain calcium, twice a month with calcium+d3, and twice a month with multivitamin. Reduce basking temp to 85F if less than 9 months. Measure humidity levels. Although humidity should not be a problem if you are misting multiple times a day since veileds come from a naturally drier area.

 

[nick barta]

Sorry for your loss. Tell us where in Florida you are, and some of the Florida members near you could have an older chameleon to sell you. I think you just got taken from a seller who wasn't responsible, in that they sold you a chameleon that was way too young.

Don't beat yourself up.

Another option is Florida Chameleons (a sponsor in the top right corner of the Chameleon Forums webpage, "view our sponsors").

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[laurahlove]

Thanks for all of the great answers you guys, made me feel a whole lot better. I'm most definitely going to get a male veiled that's at least 3 months old next time. But I'd probably like an older guy
When I got Georgie, I was so new to chameleons and if I knew better I wouldn't have gotten a female.
And I live in Clearwater, in case someone does have one they would like to sell
Thanks again you guys

 

[adrouin]

Just to make sure. You were giving calcium w/o with D3 every feeding. With D3 twice a month and a multivitamin once a month.

 

[laurahlove]

Just to make sure. You were giving calcium w/o with D3 every feeding. With D3 twice a month and a multivitamin once a month.

I barely even had her that long, but yes. I have geckos so its the about the same powdering schedule she was on

 

[cass737]

I'm so sorry for your loss I agree with the others - don't beat yourself up for someone else being irresponsible and selling you a cham that was way too young, and maybe even sick.

 

[little leaf]

I agree with everyone else- nothing really sticks out that is wrong - my guess is she passed suddenly, alot of times, they are found on the bottom of the cage, when the do not feel well, alot will go to the bottom and linger there , then pass - for her to still have her tail hooked on, I think she just slept away - it is good you care enough to search for answers even after the fact, so you can learn more- you are just the type who should try again I dont think this was anything you did - and the fact you got one so young , that was not your fault either - shame on the seller - we are all here to help you please try again

 

[laurahlove]

Thank you I did actually, I just got a 3 month old veiled! I just posted a picture of him c: