Help!

A

Amber Leeanne

New Member
My boyfriend and I are relatively new to owning a chameleon. We have had her for about a month, and I am worried about her health. She is currently shedding, but she is also sleeping quite literally all day, eating little to none, and trembling. I"m not sure if this is just how juvenile veiled chameleons act whilst shedding, or if I'm doing something wrong. :(
Please help! Thank you so much
 
Sorry bout your little one. Fill out the form carol mentioned along with some pictures of the enclosure and your baby and we'll be able to assist you better.

Welcome to the forums :D
 
Form

Chameleon Info:
Veiled chameleon, female, I was not given an age but she is about 2.5 inches long (excluding tail), I have had her for about a month.

Handling - I handle her once or twice a week, not for very long, just to see how she is doing.

Feeding - pin head crickets, she gets about 30 and eats them throughout the week.

Supplements - using a water conditioner, was unsure of supplements.

Watering - I was told to use an ice cube on top of her cage, and let it drip into a bowl. I mist about 2-3 times a day, just enough to lightly cover the environment. I have seen her drinking.

Fecal Description - Small, dark brown/black, hard. I have not had her tested for anything.

History - Adopted from Petco, did not receive any health related info, or a care sheet.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - glass 2gallon tank, metal screen top.

Lighting - tropical series 22, 13WATT UVB coil bulb. LIt during the day, from about 6:30am-9:30pm

Temperature - basking, about 75F. Lowest overnight temp was 65F. Measured with an in cage thermometer

Humidity - humidity about 75%. maintaining these levels with a sprayer. Measured with a humidity gauge.

Plants - One live jade plant.

Placement - On an entertainment center, moderate traffic, in the corner of a room, 3.5 feet from the floor.

Location - Western, NY

Current Problem - Sleeping frequently, trembling, shedding, little eating.
 
ok, lots of things to change here. I would get her/him(we can determine sex for you) out of that 2 gallon tank immediately. There is no ventialation in there whatsoever. You need to get yourself a small screen cage for your little one. You say you are using a uvb light. Is it a 5.0? If it is not the right light you could be hurting your chameleons eyes. Are your chams eyes, sunken in? He/she could be dehydrated. I would remove the bowl. Your chameleon can drown in that. We need to know exactly what type of supplements you are using. Post pics of the supplements, or list them, a pic of your chameleon, and the exact light you are using. you should be feeding your chameleon about 20-25 pinheads a DAY. you are starving your chameleon. Also tank is WAY too small!!!
 
Chameleon Info:
Veiled chameleon, female, I was not given an age but she is about 2.5 inches long (excluding tail), I have had her for about a month.

Handling - I handle her once or twice a week, not for very long, just to see how she is doing.

Feeding - pin head crickets, she gets about 30 and eats them throughout the week.
not a good feeding schedule, the crickets could be stress her or eating off of her. A proper feeding schedule would be 10-15 crickets everyday, or as many as she will eat in 5 minutes. If she was the size of a paperclip when you got her, she is probably about 2 months now, just a guesstimate. Which is very young to get a cham.


Supplements - using a water conditioner, was unsure of supplements.
she needs calcium without d3 at every feeding, calcium with d3 2x a month, and a multivitamin 2x per month. We use repcal, which is sold by one of our sponsors, cant remember who atm but someone else could tell u.

Watering - I was told to use an ice cube on top of her cage, and let it drip into a bowl. I mist about 2-3 times a day, just enough to lightly cover the environment. I have seen her drink
there is a drip system called the little dripper, sold at petconthat i would reccomend over an ice cube. Misting 2-3 times a day is okay but you need to do it for anywhere from 3 to 5 minites each time.


Fecal Description - Small, dark brown/black, hard. I have not had her tested for anything.

that is not good. It should be moist, dark brown/black with a white part attached to it. I fit is yellow or orange your girl is dehydrated.

History - Adopted from Petco, did not receive any health related info, or a care sheet
did they give you anything at all on her care? You cant always trust the people at petco/ petsmart. Actually i wouldnt at all.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - glass 2gallon tank, metal screen top.
the cage needs to be all screen. I reccommend a reptibreeze aluminum screen cage. You can buy it either at petsmart or online. If she is in a glass cage, even witha screen top the air is stagnant and she will get a respiratory infection.

Lighting - tropical series 22, 13WATT UVB coil bulb. LIt during the day, from about 6:30am-9:30pm

the UVB bulb should be the reptiglow 5.0 for tropicals. With a 60 lightbulb for basking. Thats a very long day for a baby. Try lowering it to 6:30am to 6:30pm. They should only be on for 12 hours.

Temperature - basking, about 75F. Lowest overnight temp was 65F. Measured with an in cage thermometer

the basking spot shoul dbe 80 for a baby. Lowest overnight temps are fine. Is the thermometer digital? This is important as gauges are not accurate.

Humidity - humidity about 75%. maintaining these levels with a sprayer. Measured with a humidity gauge.
the humidity gauge needs to go. There is a digital thermometer/ hygrometer at petsmart/petco for 20$ i think, give or take a couple bucks.


Plants - One live jade plant.

does she have any other foiliage? Real or fake she needs more. She is arboreal and it will mak eher happier. Not sure about the jade, ill look it up.
Placement - On an entertainment center, moderate traffic, in the corner of a room, 3.5 feet from the floor.

Location - Western, NY

Current Problem - Sleeping frequently, trembling, shedding, little eating.[/QUOTE]
 
Ahh!

Oh my god I'm a terrible owner! D:
http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/tropical-series-uvb-flourescent-bulbs.htm
The 13 WATT in the plastic standing container is what we're using.

And we're using reptisafe instant terrarium conditioner in her water, which I will remove ASAP.

Her eyes do actually appear to be slightly sunken in. Oh my god I feel terrible.

I'm going to PETCO as soon as I can tomorrow, how do I gut load the crickets properly? Also, I purchase her fruit flies, is this still something I should do?

Until I can get a mesh cage, can you recommend somewhere to purchase one, and a good size? Also a way to increase the ventilation in the meantime? I feel like a fan would be the only solution, but I know that would be a terrible decision.

Thank you so much for your timely responses, you could very well be saving a life.
 
lighting should be on for 12 on 12 off or to coincide with the sun up, sun down. I also see you do not have a basking light which under your circumstances is ok as you probably would have cooked your little guy alive. When you get the correct set up you will need to set up a basking area, in addition to the uvb light, which will create an area a little warmer than the enclosure itself. First, lets get your cham in the right set up and out of that 2 gallon tank.
 
Amber Leeanne said:
Oh my god I'm a terrible owner! D:
http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/tropical-series-uvb-flourescent-bulbs.htm
The 13 WATT in the plastic standing container is what we're using.

And we're using reptisafe instant terrarium conditioner in her water, which I will remove ASAP.

Her eyes do actually appear to be slightly sunken in. Oh my god I feel terrible.

I'm going to PETCO as soon as I can tomorrow, how do I gut load the crickets properly? Also, I purchase her fruit flies, is this still something I should do?

Until I can get a mesh cage, can you recommend somewhere to purchase one, and a good size? Also a way to increase the ventilation in the meantime? I feel like a fan would be the only solution, but I know that would be a terrible decision.

Thank you so much for your timely responses, you could very well be saving a life.
Click to expand...

that uvb bulb is ok to use. Most of us use the tube styles 5.0 either reptisun or reptiglo but that bulb is safe but anything is probably just too overwhelming in that tiny of an enclosure. Your chameleon has to be able to get out from under the uvb. She was probably forced to sit in the uvb all day long in that small of a tank. you need to get her supplemented with calcium asap as she could get a horrible condition known as metabolic bone disase. We need to see pics of her to check her limbs. best thing you can do right now is get her out of that tank. I would take her outside and let her get some fresh air and sunshine for a little bit. If she is dehydrated try taking an eye dropper and drip some water slowly on her nose. The reptisafe for the water is fine but not necessary. That is not considered a supplement. They need calcium and vitamins.
 
Okay, I will get quite a few crickets tomorrow, and give her a few at a time.

How do I use the calcium?

The stool does have a white part attathed, maybe it hard because it has been there a few hours.

Cage I will get as soon as I can, can you recommend a size?

Bulb I will also get tomorrow.

The thermometers are not digital, shall work on that too. It is starting to cool down, it was a lot warmer in her cage, but I think the outside temp and house temp may have been a factor as well.

She does have more foliage than that, a big twisty vine, 2 smaller fake plants, and one medium sized one.

I will try my hardest to get her out of that tank as soon as humanly possible.
 
Also, we had one of the little drippers, but it kept flooding her cage, and it made us nervous which is why we started the ice cube metod.
 
you cannot use a dripper in a 2 gallon tank. Of course it will flood. The uvb light you have is ok as long as it is tropical and not desert series. I think the problem is your enclsosure is so tiny that your chameleon cannot escape the uvb. It would seem impossible. Imagine if someone made you sit in the sun for 14 hours straight. You would probably want to close your eyes too. I am hoping with corrections your chameleon can make it ok. It could just be ill but I got a feeling once you get her out of that little tank you will see changes. you need to dust your feeders with the calicum. Put some in a cup or bag and add the crickets and shake it up. Get the three supplements the other member told you about. It is critical to start dusting with calcium. you could get like an 18 X 18 X 30 to start, When you chameleon gets to adult age you will need a cage like 24 X 24 X 48. I hope you have the room. Do not use a basking bulb until you get her out of that tank. You will fry her. Take her outside tomorrow on a little plant and let her get some fresh air. Just don't leave her unattended.
 
Yes, we do have the room in my house for that size habitat.
I feel terrible.
Thank you guys so much for all of your help. I will try to get a photo of her tomorrow, and post it for you guys.
 
Amber Leeanne said:
Yes, we do have the room in my house for that size habitat.
I feel terrible.
Thank you guys so much for all of your help. I will try to get a photo of her tomorrow, and post it for you guys.
Click to expand...

don't feel too bad, cause you are not the first and will not be the last to fall victim to petsmart advice. It is a good lesson though for the future, to research before you buy an animal no matter how small. Glad you stumbled upon the forum. We are a great group and all love chamleons and will do whatever we can to help you and your little one out. try and post some pics of your chameleon when you can. Male Veilds have little spikes or spurs as they are called on the back of their back heels. Females do not. You may not be able to tell, but we probably can verify for sure so we atleast know what gender you have.
 
Carol has given you excellent advice! Don't worry, your little one will get back on track if you follow her advice. Given her size, she can be eating crickets larger than pinheads. If you're getting them at the petco I assume you're getting the small size crickets? If so those are bigger than pinheads (usually 1/8-1/4") so that's good. To be able to determine if it's a he or she we need to clear picture of the back of the back foot. Males have a little bump there that females don't. Let us know if you have any questions, or if you post a picture of your new cage setup when you get it we can help you make sure it's set up correctly. Welcome to the forums. :)
 
Amber Leeanne said:
http://instagram.com/p/OSRPv2RDBL/

I think this photo link should work. It's the same photo as the link that didn't work. I'm pretty sure Pascal is a girl.
Click to expand...

Amber, your chameleon does not look bad! Her/his eyes(did you check the back feet) do not look sunken in and her/his limbs look ok too! Hopefully, we have caught things before they got too bad. As Ferrit said, by the size of your chameleon, he could upgrade on the size of crickets to 1/8 or 1/4 inch. I would feed about 15-20 a day of those. You can also incorporate other feeders into the diet. Silkworms are a great feeder and you can get those small enough to feed your chameleon. They get big though! Right now lets get your set up on track and get your chameleon to where he is hopefully not sleeping during the day. If we make all the changes, and your little one continues to sleep during the day, then a vet visit might be in order to check for possible parasites. This can be done by taking a fecal sample. Lets, not get too far ahead here though! I am encouraged by the picture! I was expecting to see worse!! so Good news here!
 
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