How to tell if chameleon is dehydrated?

JW,

Welcome to the site. You pose a very important question that spurs more questions as to your husbandry and other elements concerning your cham. There are a host of tells to indicate dehydration. One is to look at the urate color. Please follow this link to the resources page and read everything you can get your hands on.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

Secondly, please fill out the how to ask for help questionnaire to assist the folks here with helping to figure out what's going on with your cham.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Additionally, our own Bill Strand has a webinar concerning chams and water. Take a listen. Very informative.

http://www.chameleonbreeder.com/

This is a great resource for cham. keepers. Glad you found the site. Hope to hear from you soon.
 
JW,

Welcome to the site. You pose a very important question that spurs more questions as to your husbandry and other elements concerning your cham. There are a host of tells to indicate dehydration. One is to look at the urate color. Please follow this link to the resources page and read everything you can get your hands on.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

Secondly, please fill out the how to ask for help questionnaire to assist the folks here with helping to figure out what's going on with your cham.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Additionally, our own Bill Strand has a webinar concerning chams and water. Take a listen. Very informative.

http://www.chameleonbreeder.com/

This is a great resource for cham. keepers. Glad you found the site. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you.
 
Glad to help. Please fill out the husbandry Q and take a few shots of your cham and your enclosure. It often helps to see the cham and what your housing him in. "A picture is worth........"
 
Why are you asking?

Do you think your chameleon is dehydrated? If so, can you post pictures of it and the last stool it passed?
 
Why are you asking?

Do you think your chameleon is dehydrated? If so, can you post pictures of it and the last stool it passed?
No I don't think he is dehydrated. I was just asking so I can stay on top of things. Make sure he keeps doing well. This is my first chameleon so I worry easily. I don't want anything happening to him.
 
Glad to help. Please fill out the husbandry Q and take a few shots of your cham and your enclosure. It often helps to see the cham and what your housing him in. "A picture is worth........"
What is the husbandry Q? Sorry I'm new to this.
 
Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - Not sure about the species or sex or are. They didn't tell me at the pet store of your chameleon. He/she has been with me for about a month.
  • Handling - Once everyday sometimes more.
  • Feeding - Crickets. 5-10 a day. He eats around 5 pm. I dust them with calcium and d3.
  • Supplements - Repti calcium with d3
  • Watering - Misting, waiting to get a dripper. 3-4 times a day for about 2-3 min each time. Yes he drinks the water that gets on the plants.
  • Fecal Description - Brown formed with white colored urates.
  • History- Bought him/her at a local pet store on Decmber 27th.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type- Small exo terra reptile cage. Has four glass sides and a wire top.
  • Lighting - Not sure about the brand. Its a UV night light. I leave the light on at night for him during the day I'll put a 100w basking heat light which is fixed about 8 1/2-9 in enliven the cage.
  • Temperature - Between 70 and 80. Between 40-50. Themometer
  • Humidity - I have a gauge on the side of the cage. It ranges from 50-70
  • Plants - Fake plants for now.
  • Placement - It's on a stand next to my bed. No fans or any high traffic areas. Its about 3 1/2 foot off the ground.
  • Location- North America- Tennessee
  • Current Problem- Takes him/her a while to eat.
 

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You have a veiled, not sure of the sex need to see the very back of the rear feet to know that. S/he will need a larger cage once it reaches about 8 months old. You need to use supplements a calcium with d3 twice a month, a multivitamin twice a month given separately, and a calcium without d3 every other feeding. S/he will need a UVB bulb I personally would get a 5.0 linier tube for now, and in 6 months change it to a 10.0. You can ditch the night light they don't need it in fact they don't need any heat at night unless the temps drop below 55 degrease they actually benefit from the cool down. You should put more foliage in there for s/he to hide it will make it feel more secure. I don't think s/he looks dehydrated, especially if you say the urates are white that's the best way to tell. If it's not pooping then you look to the eyes if it is dehydrated the eyes will usually sink in, but their eyes sink in when they are sick as well so best to catch it before the eyes sink in.
 
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No I don't think he is dehydrated. I was just asking so I can stay on top of things. Make sure he keeps doing well. This is my first chameleon so I worry easily. I don't want anything happening to him.

First, read the section on Poop 101 written by a vet:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/poop-101.120171/

Next, you need to develop an eye for what is healthy and normal and what starts to be a problem. Urates don't always show dehydration. A dehydrated chameleon will have skin that doesn't return quickly to it's normal state when it is pinched. They will have a dry look to their skin. Their eyes might--might--be sunk in but that is in really severe cases I think. They will appear skinnier. Look around their back and pelvis at the base of the tail. If you see that seems "skinny" it might be because they are dehydrated.
 
Just wanted to add that remember that chameleons are aboreal, they live their lives in trees. I'm not sure what the thing is that you have in the cage for it to sit on? It looks kinda slippery for a chameleon, they like to walk on branches, vines etc and they feel safer in a cage with leaves and plants for cover. They need tall cages rather than long ones. You'll need to put more branches horizontally and some foliage at the top of the cage; right now it looks like it would be too far away from the heat bulb/uvb light to gain much from them.
 
Just wanted to add that remember that chameleons are aboreal, they live their lives in trees. I'm not sure what the thing is that you have in the cage for it to sit on? It looks kinda slippery for a chameleon, they like to walk on branches, vines etc and they feel safer in a cage with leaves and plants for cover. They need tall cages rather than long ones. You'll need to put more branches horizontally and some foliage at the top of the cage; right now it looks like it would be too far away from the heat bulb/uvb light to gain much from them.
 

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Yah going with female. You'll need to get her a laying ben set up for her when she gets in her new larger cage. They lay eggs even if they have not bred. I would put it in when she reaches about 4 and a half months old here is a video on how to set that up
 
Yah going with female. You'll need to get her a laying ben set up for her when she gets in her new larger cage. They lay eggs even if they have not bred. I would put it in when she reaches about 4 and a half months old here is a video on how to set that up

Do you know how to tell if they are infertal?
 
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