HELP!! my nosy be panther chameleon has his eyes shut!

C

CAMRAM124

New Member
Hi! Im new to joining this website all though i come on it often haha. I do have quite a problem though. Like ive said, i have a nosey be panther chameleon about 8 months old, i have him in a screened cage, not sure what the measurements are anymore but i believe 18Lx36hx18w? i have fake ficus trees all over it with several large branches/vines for him to climb. His basking spot is 90 and the liwest level is usually between 70 to 75 i always put his water dripper on in the morning before i leave for work and again around super time, 5/6 ish? I also mist his cage manually about 2 to 3 times daily. Ive had him about 4 months, he eats crickets, super worms and horn worms. I dust his food with a couple different ones, calcium, multivitamin with and without d3. Hes not friendly, well to me anyways but hes seemed to taking a liking to my fiance haha. This problem happened a couple days ago he started off shutting one eye after he went through shedding. I figured maybe he was hot or still sheddding. Today ive noticed its still obe eye closed but hesstarting to close both. i have two chameleons, my other is also a panther but hes in a huge glass terrierium( sorry for my spelling!) and hes about 2 and a half years old. hes fine, friendly and active. Whats wrong with my poor cham?:(
 
Maybe the lights are bothering him?

Where is he at when he is closing his eyes? Is he in the same location?

What lighting are you using? Bulbs...watts...etc.
 
Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear about the eye problem with your little guy.

A chameleon will close their eyes for many different reasons. It's one of the first signs of sickness. Do you have a good chameleon vet? If not you can tell us where you are located and some one here may be able to recommend a good vet for you. It's possible that he has an infection in his eyes of his mouth.

I would also lower his basking spot to 85. That cage sounds too small for an adult panther and I would get live plants to help with the humidity.
 
Welcome to the forum, can you fill out this form? It'll help see if there is anything problematic going on (particular attention to the lights question I think........)



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.

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?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful
 
oh i found this...

Figured id post this incase someone asks lol
Chameleon Info: Your Chameleon - nosey be panther, male about 8 months old. How long has it been in your care? 4 months Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I usually go in his cage about 15 minutes a day but he usually dont like me so i try not to bother with him Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? crickets, super worms, horn worms, i believe hes ate roaches but he dontblike them too much. What amount? Ill put as much in as hell eat. How are you gut-loading your feeders? I have my crickets in a bin, they usually eat the orange cubes or the yellow cricket diet powder and the gelly waater Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Usually reptical and other bottles that are pink and ones blue Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? i use a water dripper and i manually mist 2 or 3 times daily How often and how long to you mist? Usually i mist until everythingscwet? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Fecal lately ive been giving him water with a dropper to make sure hes drinking but i have been seeing it. Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. The droppings are usually brown with some white in it. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? yes 3 or 4 months ago he was seen by a vet they said he was fine History - hes usually very active, beautiful colors. Hes still bright colored but he hasnt been as active, but he still moves around.

Cage Info: Cage Type - Describe your ccage- screen What are the dimensions? I believe 18x36x18 Lighting - uvb is a zilla strip light with a 5.0 bulb, heat lamp is 100w? What is your daily lighting schedule?lights come on at 8 or 830 lights out at 9 Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? basking spot is about 90 the lowest spot is usually around 75 Lowest overnight temp? Never goes below 68 How do you measure these temps? I have both hunidity and temp gauges on top and bottom Humidity - What are your humidity levels? I believe 60% How are you creating and maintaining these levels? by misting What do you use to measure humidity? a gauge Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? All fake ficus Placement - Where is your cage located? I have my reptiles in theyre own bedroom, his cage is by a window. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? No, the window hes infront of faces out backyard. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? Im not sure what this means, but i have him on a stand .location - Where are you geographically located? In the north east united states

Current Problem - usually its one eye closed.
 
85 is hot enough for his basking spot, 70 is better for the coolest corner......
I also think it would be good to get him a bigger (esp. taller) cage. I have no idea if the zilla uv bulb is good, but nobody ever has problems with a reptisun or reptiglo tube..........
 
So should i lower the wattage of the heat bulb i got? Im definitely ordering a cage tonight, how big should i get? And since i live in a cold area should it not be screened?
 
CAMRAM124 said:
So should i lower the wattage of the heat bulb i got? Im definitely ordering a cage tonight, how big should i get? And since i live in a cold area should it not be screened?
Click to expand...
Bigger is always better, but I'm not going to tell you to spend all your money - personally when it was time to move my boy into his adult Viv I just gave him my wardrobe :D. Lowering the wattage is the easiest way, and some screen is always a good idea. Just don't let it get below 65 at night and you'll be ok.
 
CAMRAM124 said:
So should i lower the wattage of the heat bulb i got? Im definitely ordering a cage tonight, how big should i get? And since i live in a cold area should it not be screened?
Click to expand...

I use a 40 watt for my veileds. I would recommend a 48 inch high screen cage with live plants. The Zilla lights use to cause eye problems. I'm not sure if the newer bulbs have been corrected or not. Most keepers here use the Reptisun 5.0 tube bulb.
 
Ill definitely switcg to reptisun tomoorow once the stores open back up bc we had the hurricane. Are you sure about a 48 watt bulb since i live in a cold region and i currently use a 100 watt and it gets 90 wouldnt a 75 watt be good?
 
Often used and recommended plants include pothos, scleffera, ficus and dracaena.....there are plenty of others though.
 
75W bulb might be ok, just check your temps with a temp gauge to see what gets about 85 degree basking spot. Good to hear you care for your chams like children, so do most of us on here :)
Get yourself a good heating bulb, 40-60W should probably be fine. A 48"tall (roughly) screen cage.
Live plants are essential, well I believe atleast.
With all this you should be set, and hopefully this fixes his eye problems. Again, get the TUBE light, not the coil one.
If the problem persists, get him to the Vet ASAP. Keep us updated!
 
Im trying to care for him the best i can.ill definitely be ordering what you guys told me and switchin it all up. when i got him 4 months ago he was alot smalller than he is now lol the bigger cage might be good for him. thank you for all your help!
 
Figured id keep you guys updated!

After changing the lights and cage he still didnt open his eyes. I took him to the wildlife center and he was diagnosed with a upper respirtory infection, due to stress of probably seeing my other chameleon. He been on antibiotics and is doing much better. Thank you guys for all your help and suggestions, me and camren :)appreciate it!:)
 
How is that awkward? I come on to read about any questions i may have, i joined bc i had a question of my own. didnt know that was awkward, but okay.
 
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