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So, a while ago I posted a topic about a Chameleon I rescued from a local pet shop. I figured it might be wise to make an official help thread now that I've had her a bit, and because she isn't improving at a very fast rate.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - Her eyes is infected, but that's improving through the use of antibiotics. It's still swollen, but it has improved greatly. When I got her she was unable to open her eye, she no has it open almost constantly. She can not hunt due to her eye, and there for is being hand fed a liquid diet (see above). I'm concerned about her inability to eat. She shows no interest at all in live food (some crickets have been living with her). Just recently she's developed some very small bruising around her cheeks and under her jaw. It's dark black and very raw and fleshy around her cheeks, while the part under her jaw is dark black but crusty and hard. I'm concerned this comes from the medicine / feeding requirements. The cheek bruising is very close to where I have to hold her head to stabilize it, and I generally have to tug ever so slightly on her jaw to get her to open her mouth when feeding. Occasionally she'll open her mouth if I just agitate her gum line with the syringe, however I normally have to manually get her to open it. The attached pictures are of the bruising that I mention. I can provide pictures of her eyes as well if needed; however, I don't think that's a concern since it's been addressed by the vet and is improving. She's very lethargic and spends most of the day sleeping. I attribute this to the fact that she just doesn't feel good, and potentially because of how she is being fed. she rarely basks and instead chooses to sleep on slightly lower, shaded branches.
She's got a lot going on, but I'm determined to get her healthy again.
Chameleon Info:
- Your Chameleon - Female, Jackson's Chameleon, Adolescent, I've had her for about three weeks now.
- Handling - Twice a day for medication and feeding.
- Feeding - A combination of crickets, superworms, and homemade cricket gutload - Mustard Greens, Romaine Lettuce, Yams, Carrots, Apple, Orange, Cilantro, Oat Bran, Flax Seed - and a little bit of water blended together.
- Supplements - Zoo Med Repticalcium without D3, Tetra Fauna ReptoCal with D3, Herptivite. The last two she has not had while in my care because she's on a liquid diet.
- Watering - Mist King set to mist for 1 minute every hour and a half with hand misting throughout the day if needed. I have seen her drinking.
- Fecal Description - Very small amounts of stool have been found, but it's dark. She has not been tested for parasites yet. The vet recommended we hold off on it.
- History - The store I got her from was keeping her in a glass tank that was about 60 degrees and 30% humidity. She had no basking light or UVB bulb. She was eating only worms to my knowledge, and had only a single branch to climb on.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Screen, 18 x 18 x 36. In the pictures the vivarium on the right is hers.
- Lighting - Standard 60 Watt Bulb for basking, UVB 5.0. Lights are on from 8am until around 10pm.
- Temperature - 85 at basking point, 70 mid cage, not sure about the floor.
- Humidity - Anywhere from 60% - 90%, but 70% seems to be the usual. I have a mist king system that runs throughout the lighted part of the day, and use a Hydrometer to measure the humidity.
- Plants - Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica), small Pothos.
- Placement - In my office that only I use, the other pets are never allowed in here and no one comes in here other than my girlfriend from time to time.
- Location - North Carolina, USA
Current Problem - Her eyes is infected, but that's improving through the use of antibiotics. It's still swollen, but it has improved greatly. When I got her she was unable to open her eye, she no has it open almost constantly. She can not hunt due to her eye, and there for is being hand fed a liquid diet (see above). I'm concerned about her inability to eat. She shows no interest at all in live food (some crickets have been living with her). Just recently she's developed some very small bruising around her cheeks and under her jaw. It's dark black and very raw and fleshy around her cheeks, while the part under her jaw is dark black but crusty and hard. I'm concerned this comes from the medicine / feeding requirements. The cheek bruising is very close to where I have to hold her head to stabilize it, and I generally have to tug ever so slightly on her jaw to get her to open her mouth when feeding. Occasionally she'll open her mouth if I just agitate her gum line with the syringe, however I normally have to manually get her to open it. The attached pictures are of the bruising that I mention. I can provide pictures of her eyes as well if needed; however, I don't think that's a concern since it's been addressed by the vet and is improving. She's very lethargic and spends most of the day sleeping. I attribute this to the fact that she just doesn't feel good, and potentially because of how she is being fed. she rarely basks and instead chooses to sleep on slightly lower, shaded branches.
She's got a lot going on, but I'm determined to get her healthy again.
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