Got a free baby chameleon but it isn't doing well

[TinyCham]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - I am guessing it is about a week old, not sure if male/female, I think its a veiled but I could be wrong. I have had it since Monday.
• Handling - Daily
• Feeding - Been feeding wingless fruit flies, only been able to feed about 5 total over the past 4 days.
• Supplements - None
• Watering - Been hand watering, spraying every so often
• Fecal Description - Never tested for parasites, hasn't gone to the bathroom so far as I can tell.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - He is in a little plastic container at the moment with a paper towel
• Lighting - No special lighting
• Temperature - Room temperature, nothing special
• Humidity - Nothing special being done
• Plants - None
• Placement - Been keeping him with me at home and work
• Location - California

Current Problem - I was at the reptile store Monday getting crickets for some praying mantis and a lizard I have. An employee was holding something very small and it was a baby chameleon. He said it wasn't doing well and that someone brought them in and the rest had died and this one probably would as well. They asked if I wanted it and I said sure. I already had some wingless fruit flies at home so I have been hand feeding it and giving it water but he doesn't move much, his eyes are not open and he doesn't open a his mouth a lot so it is hard to feed.

Wondering when they eyes would normally open

How much would a typical baby eat per day?

 

[guanagator]

Sounds like a difficult situation and things have already gone downhill. The eyes should have been open from the start, how did it eat since its been with you if they are closed? At that age they typically eat about 10 FF or pinheads a few times a day. Make sure the humidity is up and give an extended misting to see if that helps eyes. Pics may help get some more replies.

 

[TinyCham]

Yeah, I took it with the expectation it wouldn't make it but have been trying. I am basically just waiting for it to open its mouth and trying to get a fly or water in there which is a huge pain.

 

[Decadancin]

Yeah, I took it with the expectation it wouldn't make it but have been trying. I am basically just waiting for it to open its mouth and trying to get a fly or water in there which is a huge pain.

You may want to try a water droplet on the tip of the mouth to see if he'll open up. If so you can try to feed.

 

[alphakenc]

Yeah, I took it with the expectation it wouldn't make it but have been trying. I am basically just waiting for it to open its mouth and trying to get a fly or water in there which is a huge pain.

Dont ever give up ....do ur best to feed him,his will to survive rely on ur first feed
Alphakenc I only had few breastfeeding when I was young n Im still surviving now

 

[Pitcard]

I would get 10% UVB light on it asap. Start supplementing the FF with Repashy Calcium Plus, and get a small medical dropper from the drug mart to hydrate. For my babies, I connect the water droplet from the dropper onto their lips (careful with the nose holes) and eventually they take the water in a big gulp.

Hope he pulls through. If not, at least you tried your best. Good luck.

 

[Haileybug]

chameleons need UVB and uv lighting

 

[Haileybug]

Chameleons need uva and UVB lights UVA basking UVB sunlight basically you can take it outside too in the sun what type of chameleon is it ? Get. A 10 gal aquarium and screen top your local petco petstore they sell them by the gal like 10 gal 10$ 20 gal 20$ and put some things in there for him to climb on or so to get to the lights ALL chameleons need calcium some more than the others theirre fragile have you made an apt with an exotic vet ? Maybe emeroild calcium would help I'm not sure not giving them calcium will give them mbd metallic bone disease that could break its legs or cause potential death etc if not caught in time signs s are shakyness falling etc the younger they are the more crucial it is to do everything you can to make sure everything is on point as far as calcium intake the lights 12 hours of day 12 hours of night food and water humidity is important if they get to dry it'll stress them and cause dehydration and kill them

 

[Haileybug]

You could even go to Walmart to buy an aquarium if you don't have a petco Walmart aquariums are cheaper than petsmart chameleons aren't yard lizards they're high maintenance and can be hard to keep I hope the baby makes it ! Best wishes

 

[Haileybug]

And the males have an extra toe on the back the females do not

 

[Decadancin]

Chameleons need uva and UVB lights UVA basking UVB sunlight basically you can take it outside too in the sun what type of chameleon is it ? Get. A 10 gal aquarium and screen top your local petco petstore they sell them by the gal like 10 gal 10$ 20 gal 20$ and put some things in there for him to climb on or so to get to the lights ALL chameleons need calcium some more than the others theirre fragile have you made an apt with an exotic vet ? Maybe emeroild calcium would help I'm not sure not giving them calcium will give them mbd metallic bone disease that could break its legs or cause potential death etc if not caught in time signs s are shakyness falling etc the younger they are the more crucial it is to do everything you can to make sure everything is on point as far as calcium intake the lights 12 hours of day 12 hours of night food and water humidity is important if they get to dry it'll stress them and cause dehydration and kill them

I don't want to come across as mean when I say this, but there is a lot of wrong or confusing advice here. Please be very careful when trying to give advice, especially to someone with a sick chameleon.

 

[Haileybug]

I don't want to come across as mean when I say this, but there is a lot of wrong or confusing advice here. Please be very careful when trying to give advice, especially to someone with a sick chameleon.

Noooo you're not rude you correcting me helps me as well!

 

[MeruJack]

First things first. Hydration is most important. That means getting it to drink and keeping the humidity up via frequent misting. Second is getting a UVB light but don't run out and get a new one unless it is a 2.0. If you have an old UVB light that has already been used for 4-8 months, that would be ideal. Or get a new 2.0. A new bulb designed for adult chameleons will be too strong for him and can cause health problems such as problems with its eyes. It needs a light on for 12 hours a day otherwise it may sleep pretty much all day. Lights on means wake up. Lights off means time to close eyes and go to sleep. This response is VERY strong with chameleons. So if you want it to open its eyes (so it can hunt, etc.) work on hydration and lighting. No heat bulb is needed at this age as babies often have trouble regulating their temperature and may sit under a light that is too hot for too long. And you don't want to dry him out anyway. You're trying to get him hydrated and keep him hydrated. Remember, hydration (drinking & humidity) and lighting are first and foremost. The lack of one or both could be the cause of him not opening his eyes. Good luck!!!

 

[MeruJack]

I noticed one of my babies rubbing its eyes on a branch earlier today. I noticed its eyes were closed and I feared that I might lose it as it is the runt of the litter and has been its own enclosure for the past 2 weeks because it is smaller than its siblings and not too feisty. So when I saw it rubbing its eyes and not opening them, I started gently misting it with an ever so fine mist. Usually it runs from the water but this time it didn't (I didn't know if that was because it was too weak or what) so I kept misting it. And then I noticed it starting to gulp the water as it fell on its face - eyes still closed. I misted it for several more minutes and then decided to give it a break and try again in a few minutes. Fifteen minutes later, I went to check on it and its eyes were open and it was looking quite plump (hydrated).

See pics below and keep trying to hydrate that baby!! You never know.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I don't want to come across as mean when I say this, but there is a lot of wrong or confusing advice here. Please be very careful when trying to give advice, especially to someone with a sick chameleon.

You don't recognize Haileybug?

 

[Remkon]

I hope you can get it back to health!
I'm sure it's in way better hands now than it was in the petstore so he has that going for him...

Buying a 10 gallon aquarium is a bad idea/..
Chameleons want proper ventilation, an aquarium has a bad airflow...
You also don't want to approach your cham from above, it causes stress.

First worry about it's health, buying a proper enclosure is of later concern.

 

[Millz&Jukka]

Hope it gets better

 

[Decadancin]

You don't recognize Haileybug?

This post is not just for Haileybug.

 

[jajeanpierre]

This post is not just for Haileybug.

You are right. My bad.

 

[alphakenc]

In certain people's mind,their next president election could be voting for some type of plant,since its pretty confusing to decide who is wrong or right,but I get it,we are the People ,so rock the Vote wisely