hasn't eaten for 4 days...

[kinyonga]

IMHO if your chameleon's problem isn't solved soon it could die because of the way you're saying that it wanders around with its eyes closed.

Eye issues can be caused when certain bulbs are being used. You said he will open his eyes when he's outside...so it makes me wonder if it could be that the UVB light has something to do with it. If you aren't gutloading the insects properly it could be a vitamin issue...especially if you aren't supplementing properly. He could also be keeping his eyes shut because he's not getting enough to eat. A nutrient imbalance could also be playing a part in the problem since you are not dusting the way that is recommended by most keepers. (See below.)

Here is some information about supplementing, etc. and the reasoning behind it and a few websites that I hope you will find useful...
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[Alexl]

Eye issues can be caused when certain bulbs are being used. You said he will open his eyes when he's outside...so it makes me wonder if it could be that the UVB light has something to do with it.

I know a lot of cases with eye problems caused by "ReptiGlo". But they're all from Germany. We got some UV measurements by vets this year again and ReptiGlo were some of the bulbs with potentially dangerous radiation for reptiles' eyes. I don't know if the bulbs are exactly the same in the US. But even Frances Baine warned against compact lamps like these for a long time now and she's a vet from UK, so there might be similar problems with compact lamps. I would try to change the bulbs and see what happens.

Edit: And I wouldn't use such a high humidity for a panther chameleon, more than ever because he already has health problems.

 

[ilovereptar]

I am changing how I feed all the insects. I never realized how much a vital role it serves in there diet- I thought the dusting was the majority of it, along with the bulb.

As for Reptar, he ate 2 crickets today after I fed him his bug juice for the second time. I am trying really really hard to just get him to a stable point- I think that he'll pull through.

 

[pantherlover]

see links in quote and change what needs to change.

judging by your ways of gutload and supplements im going to go with a vit A issue for the eyes.

A lack of vitamin A could be the issue here, given the way your insects have been gutloaded and the way you have been dusting. Some believe that chameleons cannot convert beta carotine into vitamin a, more specifically, Panthers. It is my belief that those who have success using a product containing beta carotine rather than pre formed vitamin a, do so by using an extensive gutload and are using a specific type of feeders that can make the conversion themselves. IMO, crickets cannot make the conversion. Maybe roaches can? I dont know, but I have had success using reptivite with d3, which contains pre formed vit A.