Help... Getting worried.

[petertt]

ok here is my info on my cage and set up

https://www.chameleonforums.com/early-uv-burn-24312/

ok.... recently about in the last 4 days my cham isnt the same. about 5-6 days ago i noticed a big drop in eating, he went from 10 1inch crickets to maybe 4 , he ended up shedding and it was all good. But since then he never started eating again, so far i counted maybe 1 cricket a day , 2 max. Now hes has become really weak, and dehydrated, i have been spraying him down but hes not drinking, he will drink a bit and turn away. now with feeding, i was force feeding him some banana as he needs somthing to eat. and as i was feeding him i noticed his tongue was pretty dark. he ate a bit maybe 2 cricket worth of it but he also puked some up. but he ate. any ideas what could of caused this? he started to sleep alot during the day and started to sleep on the substrate. I have coconut husk as substrate , he has eating a bit of it in the past but it went right though him. I am going to call and find a vet tomorrow morning when i get up, but any ideas?

 

[chambabysitter1]

There is quite a bit of information to pick apart. It would be easier for users to provide an answer if you compiled the information for them by refilling out this form. This will save time for all the parties, while making sure you provide up to date complete info.

I think you have incorrect lighting from what I skimmed. You have no UVB tube bulb?

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Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful
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edit: I see you were helped, but not by very notable members in the community, except for one. I would wait for SENIOR members to respond to this thread before deciding on any kind of finality. Your last thread was too full of people providing opinions well outside of their experience. I hope you find a solution to your problem.

 

[petertt]

age Info:

* Cage Type - metal mesh cage, 12x18x18
* Lighting - hmm sun glow bulb at 15 inches away and a regular 60 watt for basking. light go on around 8 and off at 8
* Temperature - temps range from 72 at bottom of the cage to 88 in the basking light, this jumps around maybe by 4 depanding on the weather.
* Humidity - 50% some times more....spray the cage down about 3 times a day
* Plants - have 3, hmm forget the names but there safe.have rocks on the plants pot so he dosnt eat the soil
* Placement -in my bedroom, no traffic just me in my room
* Location - milton ontario

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - veiled , female 8 months
* Handling - i did at frist, but then she turned into a mean one..
* Feeding - mostly crikets, gut loading them with orange peels, broccoli , lettuce and carrots
* Supplements - cant remember of the top of my head, out of 10 crickets i feed her i dust 2
* Watering - home made dripper, i have seen her drink once, mist 3 times a day for 3 -5 min
* History - no major problems, only had him for a 2 months or so
* Current Problem - is not eating nor drinking.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Is your sunglo lamp a compact flourescent bulb? That may be your problem. There are serious health issues related to the use of compact flourescents. A long tube shaped flourescent bulb is what is normally recommended for chams.

Also, supplements may be an issue. When you get a chance, please read the labels on your supplements and let us know what they are. And I would avoid bananas because of the high potassium content.

 

[petertt]

hmm, not the bulb is a mercury on. no compact flo.s


hmm is there anything i can be feeding them, ? like veggie wise? i dont think she will eat a cricket any time soon.

ok the supplement is zoo meds, calcium with vit D3, phosphorus free.

 

[kinyonga]

Has your chameleon been digging at all?
Has she ever laid eggs?
Is she pooping?

You said you are only dusting 2 out of 10 crickets that you feed her and the powder has D3 in it...I dust all the insects at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder and I only use one with D3 in it twice a month.

For gutloading crickets, I use a wide assortment of greens (dandelions, collards, endive, kale, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, celery leaves, zucchini, etc.).

 

[petertt]

no she hasn't laided eggs, i thought she was going to too, so i put a bin and made a area in the cage where she could. but no dice. i havent seen any recent poo, last one i saw was maybe 2 days ago.

 

[Dave Weldon]

* Lighting - hmm sun glow bulb at 15 inches away...

Howdy,

Before we move-on with other topics, we'd better clear-up the lighting situation . Is that a Exo Terra Sun-Glo or an Exo Terra Solar-Glo?

Sun-Glo is essentially an ordinary halogen incandescent bulb for thermal basking and does not produce any UVB:
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/sun_glo_halogen.php

Solar-Glo is the MV type and produces UVB:
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/solar_glo.php

We need to be absolutely certain about which one you have .

 

[petertt]

solar glow , i think its too late guys cant find a vet till money afternoon , and he is too weak to even keep his head up

 

[petertt]

well iam sad to report , he did pass away today. iam reallt upset as it was my first cham. iam normally really good with pets, but unfortunately this one hit me the hardest. I only has time for 2 months. I seemed healthy but i must of gone wrong somewhere. now i few questions. when he died he did try eating, and then pretty much when he ate he shit and then just gave up. I noticed that his tongue is black. not dark, but black ... any ideas?



sadly this is the first time i had a pet die on me and its enough to keep me away from chams. at least for a while.

Rip Lyla.