help! she's been like this all day

[newtochams]

She has been sitting like this all day when she is usually very active. This morning she passed something the size of two Advil tablets could that just have taken it out of her. Also what is the white on her nose its hard and crunchy. Any help would be great. I just don't understand why she's been like this today she wasn't before. Sorry for bad quality of pics.

 

[windex]

The white crust stuff is just salt, veiled chameleons excrete excess salts through the nostrils. As far as her sitting there you'll need to fill out the "how to ask for help" form so we can see all the variables

 

[newtochams]

Any chance you have a link for that not sure where to find it.

 

[windex]

It's a sticky on the first page of the Health clinic page.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[newtochams]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? female veiled chameleon not sure on age. Have owned her two weeks
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? daily as she likes to come out.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? 5-6 crickets in the morning daily. Gut loaded with cricket water and wet kale
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? flukers and exo terra. Calcium no d3 daily twice a month with d3 and twice a month with vitamins.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Spraying the tank for a couple of minutes. Never see her drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Brown with watery white curates. Never been tested.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. She has been great and active since I got her this just started today.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Exo Terra glass with extra ventilation. 18x18x24h
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? zoo med blue heat bulb, exo Terra uvb 13w. 7:30-7:30
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 75f ambient around 85f basking spot. 68f overnight. Measured with thermometer.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?50-70%. Misting 2 or more times daily. Hygrometer.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Shefflera arrboricola,golden pothos
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? Dining room.no. around 4-5 feet.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Ontario Canada.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. She has been sitting in the same place all day with her tail curled when she is usually active with a straight tail.

 

[windex]

Ok.. first.. You need to supplement more.. Calcium with no D3 should be used EVERY feeding, D3 twice a month, and multivitamins twice a month. Misting the cage is a must every couple of hours to promote drinking, allowing to dry out between mistings. You should get some dry cricket gutload, kale and the cricket water is not sufficient, also try potatoes, carrots, and some fruits. also get some variety of insects to feed her.

Do you have any pictures of her enclosure?

 

[Trace]

It is frightfully cold in Ontario right now and while the basking temperature may not have changed much I bet the ambient temperature of her cage and of your house sure has, particularly over nights. These cooler temperatures will affect the amount of time she will use her basking spot during the day. My guys have been hugging the heat all week and haven't been all that active. Once it warms up, they will go back to their more normal routine. (of being ungrateful)

 

[newtochams]

Ok.. first.. You need to supplement more.. Calcium with no D3 should be used EVERY feeding, D3 twice a month, and multivitamins twice a month. Misting the cage is a must every couple of hours to promote drinking, allowing to dry out between mistings. You should get some dry cricket gutload, kale and the cricket water is not sufficient, also try potatoes, carrots, and some fruits. also get some variety of insects to feed her.

Do you have any pictures of her enclosure?

Sorry yeah I cuts with no d3 daily.here is her cage sorry the picture only shows half of it.

 

[kplatvoet]

Once it warms up, they will go back to their more normal routine. (of being ungrateful)
__________________

lol- how true

 

[newtochams]

It is frightfully cold in Ontario right now and while the basking temperature may not have changed much I bet the ambient temperature of her cage and of your house sure has, particularly over nights. These cooler temperatures will affect the amount of time she will use her basking spot during the day. My guys have been hugging the heat all week and haven't been all that active. Once it warms up, they will go back to their more normal routine. (of being ungrateful)

But she isn't under her basking spot she is at the front of the tank.

 

[newtochams]

Could she be gravid.

 

[kplatvoet]

How's she doing today? I don't think she is gravid- though I am not an expert and shouldn't really even answer as I have no experience with gravid chameleons - but in every other thread that was a laying egg problem that I've read the chameleon would be roaming around on the bottom of the cage - and acting more restless before hand. I'm really hoping it's just the weather - I lowered the basking lights on mine as it's been real cold here but they still aren't as active as they normally are.

 

[ridgebax1]

they will go back to their more normal routine. (of being ungrateful)

I am in the middle of redoing Omar's cage to try to get rid of the fungus gnats, add more plants, vines and climbing branches and was thinking how sore my back is and telling Omar he better appreciate this. He said no.

 

[newtochams]

How's she doing today? I don't think she is gravid- though I am not an expert and shouldn't really even answer as I have no experience with gravid chameleons - but in every other thread that was a laying egg problem that I've read the chameleon would be roaming around on the bottom of the cage - and acting more restless before hand. I'm really hoping it's just the weather - I lowered the basking lights on mine as it's been real cold here but they still aren't as active as they normally are.

She has been good today. She came out and sat on my hand for a while. She looks a bit bigger I'm wondering, could she have shed when I wasn't around. Does shedding even make them tired. Really from what I see and hear though I think(and hope) its just the weather.

 

[kplatvoet]

I don't have a veiled but my Panther used too shed in one big pop when he was younger - but there would be shed all over the cage bottom. She was probably just messing with your head-but she could be getting ready to shed-The thought bubble above my chameleons head would read "I'm ichy and it's cold and I'm going to just stay in bed today - leave me alone while I contemplate your demise"
I'm glad she feeling better - It gets easier as when you get used to their moods (I hope) I find if I change up feeders when my panther is acting sulky it helps - even adding a different fruit or veg to the cricket gut load- (that may be in my head)

 

[Trace]

It's starting to warm up a little here in Ontario. You mentioned you have only had her a week and new chameleons will eagerly explore their new cages until they settle in. The cooler temperatures and feeling more comfortable may have combined to what you are seeing.

I think she looks like a healthy little chameleon and as mentioned they expel salts through their nose and she may have some excess shed there too. However there is now one thing that is standing out to me, you asked if shedding makes them tired, is she sleeping at all during the day?

 

[newtochams]

Thanks everyone. She's doing great today active again I think everyone was right about temperature.

 

[PoshPenny]

Kale according to the approved plant veggie list should be used in moderation because it can counter act calcium absorption like spinach. Mustard greens are just as cheap and higher in calcium. Plus romain is pretty cheap but holds little nutrition but will feed them too. I buy mixed greens once a week for my feeders. They have Swiss chard, collards, ect. Can you put her plants higher? They seem very low in the cage. She will stay in the highest spots which seems to be those vines. You can also make a dripper with a old milk jug, put very very tiny pin pricks, like 4 at the most and it will drip all day, plus the misting. My veiled does this when she is upset usually like after a vet visit. She just stays in one corner and doesn't budge, like pouting.

. I attached a pic of my dripper I made from a old gatoraid bottle.

If you're using the 13watt cfl compact bulb I read that through a screen mesh it doesn't get much UVB to the Cham I can track down the article if you like, but I use the zoomed 10.0 because my mesh blocks a good bit of it. Best wishes.

 

[Deevo]

I live in ontario as well and at Canadian Tire they have a Garrison ceramic heater that does an excellent job of bringing my room temp up. My cham has defienietly been more of himself and active since I bought it. It was 39.99 and totally worth it.

Also it turns on/off automatically depending on the temp you set. Just make sure if you get one that it is not one that is motion dependent.