Help!! Not sure what to do

[Truth123]

Hi, I'm new to owning a chameleon, always wanted one and finally found a cheaper one online.
I've been told she came from a pet store, which I went to and they were living in a very dry glass tank no water or misting. She is the smallest out of all of them I saw..about half they're size. She looked very dehydrated when I first saw her and was only fed wax worms and kept in a small critter keeper with a mouldy paper towel and a piece of fake plant. She's around 16 weeks or a bit more now. But still very tiny.
I've been feeding meal worms and some wax worms, I tried crickets but she wouldn't go near them. At this point I'm happy she even eats. I've been misting a few times a day I'm fairly certain I have the correct light bulb for uv. She's in a small tank atm cuz otherwise she won't go to her food or drink.

I've had her now for a couple weeks and she was getting stronger, looked happier was good to be handled a couple times a week, just sits or crawls up your arm. But now she won't open one eye and is uninterested in food and doesn't seem to be drinking.
I haven't given supplements and am not sure what to do now.

As I said I'm new to this so please any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Also what should I give for supplements? Proper amount to feed each day?

 

[Kate]

Hi welcome to forum. Can you fill in the how to ask for help form. Link below and that way we can help you . In the meantime can you get her to drink? Try dripping water on her nose for a good few mins, this may stimulate drinking. You could also put her on a plant in the shower and bounce warm water off the wall so that droplets land on her plant. Please be careful because she sounds quite sick. A vets visit is probably needed to help her.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Truth123]

Your chameleon- female veiled chameleon 2-4 months
Handling- 2-3 times a week if that.
Feeding- 2x a day. Usually about 10-15 worms total. It's as much as it'll eat, I read they should have 10 a day. This is in the morning and in the evening.
Supplements- none atm. Am wondering which is best for her?
Watering- morning and night. Spray A few mins at a time. Have seen drink almost every time except recently.
Fecal- looks normal from pics I've looked at, also seems to go regularly.
History- originally from a pet store, was the smallest out of all of them. Was kept in a dry tank. When sold she kept her in a small critter keeper with a paper towel and piece of fake plant. Once I got her I noticed she was dehydrated right away also didn't eat right away. The paper towel that was with her was mouldy as well.
Cage- glass, small as anything bigger she won't eat, go look for food or water. I plan to get a screen one when she's bigger
Lighting- one uv bulb atm I believe it's a basking bulb, will check when I'm home. It stays warm, I know it's not too hot.
Temperature- unsure but it's fairly warm
Humidity- the tank dries out fast so I have a bowl of water and mist more often now.
Plants- all fake, has lots of hiding places
Placement- my room, very quiet up high on a dresser not near window or fan.
Location- Hamilton Ontario.
Current problem- looks dehydrated, not overly interested in food, doesn't want to drink. One eye shut, was open on the weekend but so far not today.

 

[Kate]

Your chameleon- female veiled chameleon 2-4 months
Handling- 2-3 times a week if that.
Feeding- 2x a day. Usually about 10-15 worms total. It's as much as it'll eat, I read they should have 10 a day. This is in the morning and in the evening.
Supplements- none atm. Am wondering which is best for her?
Watering- morning and night. Spray A few mins at a time. Have seen drink almost every time except recently.
Fecal- looks normal from pics I've looked at, also seems to go regularly.
History- originally from a pet store, was the smallest out of all of them. Was kept in a dry tank. When sold she kept her in a small critter keeper with a paper towel and piece of fake plant. Once I got her I noticed she was dehydrated right away also didn't eat right away. The paper towel that was with her was mouldy as well.
Cage- glass, small as anything bigger she won't eat, go look for food or water. I plan to get a screen one when she's bigger
Lighting- one uv bulb atm I believe it's a basking bulb, will check when I'm home. It stays warm, I know it's not too hot.
Temperature- unsure but it's fairly warm
Humidity- the tank dries out fast so I have a bowl of water and mist more often now.
Plants- all fake, has lots of hiding places
Placement- my room, very quiet up high on a dresser not near window or fan.
Location- Hamilton Ontario.
Current problem- looks dehydrated, not overly interested in food, doesn't want to drink. One eye shut, was open on the weekend but so far not today.

First off the worms are not good feeders but I would continue until she is better.
She needs her food dusted daily with phosphorous free plain calcium, you will also need calcium with d3 twice a month and a multivit twice a month. You do need a uv bulb, please check you have one. A basking light can wait till she gets into her screen cage too much heat in a small glass cage is not good. Please remove water dish as she might fall in. Also standing water breed bacteria. Are you able to offer her food from a cup? What colour are her urates? That's the light part of her poo. I think it very important to get her drinking especially after a poor start in life. Thank you for rescuing her. Please keep posting and let us know how she is doing.

 

[Truth123]

The light bulb does have uv.
Yes I'd like her to eat more crickets but so far no luck with that, I will keep offering them tho.
Does anyone know what I can do for her eye?

And thanks, when I saw her I couldn't turn her away as I figured she'd end up dying. I'd like to give her a good fighting chance.

Is it possible she's a runt? I saw the chameleons she came in with and they are literally double or triple her size, where as she doesn't seem to be growing...?

 

[Kate]

The light bulb does have uv.
Yes I'd like her to eat more crickets but so far no luck with that, I will keep offering them tho.
Does anyone know what I can do for her eye?

And thanks, when I saw her I couldn't turn her away as I figured she'd end up dying. I'd like to give her a good fighting chance.

Is it possible she's a runt? I saw the chameleons she came in with and they are literally double or triple her size, where as she doesn't seem to be growing...?

Can you post pics of her eye? It could be many things? Have you tried irrigating it with weak salty warm water?

 

[Alexl]

If this little chameleon has been feeding worms her whole short life 'til now, this could have damaged organs already (I don't hope so) due to high protein and fat intake. A chameleon who closes its eyes during the day should be taken seriously and I would recommend a reptile vet visit with fecal tests (parasites can almost stop growth in those young chameleons), blood checkup (if possible) and an eye swab. She could even be in a hypovitaminosis or hypocalcinosis if not supplemented at all - should be checked by the vets, too. Unfortunately, it's almost never a good idea to pick up the smallest animal of a group. Probably she isn't a runt, but had no good start in life.

 

[cyenergy3]

not sure

I fed mine plain pedialyte and liquid vitamins from a syrynge and a few drops of fish oil and he pulled out of it same symptoms

 

[Truth123]

It wasn't my choice to feed the worms, as I said the girl I bought her from fed wax worms only. I didn't pick her out tho. I went to the store after I bought her to see the others.
Now all she wants is the worms, as I said I will offer crickets. No I was unsure because she's so tiny what to do with her eye. It's still closed. Warm water with salt is ok?? I don't want to end up hurting her.

 

[Truth123]

My phone won't focus on her, her eye is not puffy or irritated looking. Just dry and closed, I did see her rub it on a plant tho. I'm guessing its itchy?

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Try feeding only once a day. If you feed in the evening before lights, the chameleon does not digest the food as well. Especially if you feeding meal worms which are tough to digest.

 

[Kate]

It wasn't my choice to feed the worms, as I said the girl I bought her from fed wax worms only. I didn't pick her out tho. I went to the store after I bought her to see the others.
Now all she wants is the worms, as I said I will offer crickets. No I was unsure because she's so tiny what to do with her eye. It's still closed. Warm water with salt is ok?? I don't want to end up hurting her.

Just a tiny pinch of salt to keep her comfortable but as said before a vets visit is in order. Wax worms are pure fat and very little nutrition. Chams can go on hunger strike if they can't get them. Could you mix crickets or better still calciworms with wax worms. You may know them as Phoenix worms. It sounds as if she will need to be weaned off them.

 

[Alexl]

If you feed in the evening before lights, the chameleon does not digest the food as well.

Chameleons need days to digest, not hours. A chameleon will always have food in stomach and/or gut at night. There's no need to feed only in the morning.

No I was unsure because she's so tiny what to do with her eye.

You need to find out the reasons not only for the eye issue, but for the slow growth, too. As I mentioned there are lots of possibilites why she's that tiny. Your reptile vet should be able to check for parasites, lack of vitamins and minerals, organ issues and the eye problem, too. That's the best you can do for your little girl now. And meanwhile checking her health, you can improve cage setup, feeding etc. as said before.

 

[Truth123]

Thanks for all the info so far, I will have her looked at. She seems quite active since I've come home, looking around and climbing. She does not appear underweight, just dehydrated by the looks of it. I will do what it takes to hopefully get her better!

 

[Kate]

Thanks for all the info so far, I will have her looked at. She seems quite active since I've come home, looking around and climbing. She does not appear underweight, just dehydrated by the looks of it. I will do what it takes to hopefully get her better!

We are here to help you. A good guide to hydration is the colour of her urates. They should be white. If orange or yellow she could be dehydrated. Good luck please let us know how you are getting on.

 

[Truth123]

It looks white and brown coloured. Her eye still looks fine, it's lol she's holding it shut..I tried warm water on it and it'll open but she doesn't seem to want too.

 

[Kate]

It looks white and brown coloured. Her eye still looks fine, it's lol she's holding it shut..I tried warm water on it and it'll open but she doesn't seem to want too.

If its white that's good. She will be holding it shut for a reason and a vet will be able to help with that. Have you managed the shower? It is a good way of letting them clean their eyes. Don't have the water hitting her hard. Just the little splashes off the wall.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum Hopefully the water will help with her eye. I am still unsure as to your bulb. If it's a basking bulb then it probably has uva but not uvb. The uvb is essential, as are the supplement powders.
Here is a great basic caresheet for Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

 

[Olli]

Your chameleon- female veiled chameleon 2-4 months
Handling- 2-3 times a week if that.
Feeding- 2x a day. Usually about 10-15 worms total. It's as much as it'll eat, I read they should have 10 a day. This is in the morning and in the evening.
Supplements- none atm. Am wondering which is best for her?
Watering- morning and night. Spray A few mins at a time. Have seen drink almost every time except recently.
Fecal- looks normal from pics I've looked at, also seems to go regularly.
History- originally from a pet store, was the smallest out of all of them. Was kept in a dry tank. When sold she kept her in a small critter keeper with a paper towel and piece of fake plant. Once I got her I noticed she was dehydrated right away also didn't eat right away. The paper towel that was with her was mouldy as well.
Cage- glass, small as anything bigger she won't eat, go look for food or water. I plan to get a screen one when she's bigger
Lighting- one uv bulb atm I believe it's a basking bulb, will check when I'm home. It stays warm, I know it's not too hot.
Temperature- unsure but it's fairly warm
Humidity- the tank dries out fast so I have a bowl of water and mist more often now.
Plants- all fake, has lots of hiding places
Placement- my room, very quiet up high on a dresser not near window or fan.
Location- Hamilton Ontario.
Current problem- looks dehydrated, not overly interested in food, doesn't want to drink. One eye shut, was open on the weekend but so far not today.

I believe a description of the colour and consistency of the faeces was asked for? Why do you think she was dehydrated? What do you mean by a small cage? Dimensions are required. What UV bulb make is it? Is it a Bright Bulb? Lateral bulb? What strength of UV? A UV lamp is for UV light not heat. What times is it on? Do you have a separate heat lamp? Do you realise you should know the temperature as none should be sold without a thermostat? Without should be illegal as it is really dangerous, many fires have started because a heat lamp was sold without a thermostat. You need a thermometer at the cool end too to make sure there's a good gradient. A bowl of water is an infection risk. What substrate are you using? Kitchen roll helps maintain humidity. You must change it before the lights go off though. Night is cooler and humidity in this environment risks respiratory infections.

 

[Truth123]

Thanks for the reply, I've sorted out her eating and drinking. She is doing just fine with it. The only things I'm wondering about now is why she is small and why her eye won't open. If anyone knows anything about either of these things I'd appreciate the advice. Thanks.