I didn't think I would be back in the health forum but I am!

[Ladynyce]

Hello everyone!
I have been concerned regarding my pet Meller Sarah! She is about one years old to my knowledge and everything started happening after our ice strom that occurred here in Canada Toronto. In December we had a ice strom that took out power and heat. My building was one that was affected. Ihad my mMeller here at home with me for about 2 days until I started seeing my breath. I knew she had to be moved or she would die. on top of all that my fish all died and my cat was sick. Anyways I had my friend come and pick her up, I told her all the necessary things that needed to be done for thechameleon while she was in her care.

A week later I got her back and she wasn't looking good at all, it looked like she has been burnt in her face on her nose and under her month which was black. I have had her back home now for about a month. I have noticed a few changes with her, she's more aggressive then ever, doesn't wanna be touched, she eats well (hornworms, silk worms, butter worms, wax worms and meal worms) she hasn't touched crickets since I offered her a veriaty of worms. Still she is loosing so much weight. I can see her bones, she doesn't appear dehydrated, I have noticed a few nails have chipped as well. She has fallen a few times from climbing up the screen which I am aware she will need a bigger cage. I am going to have a homemade one done for her with a fogging system. But before that her health comes first. Shes not sleeping threw thw day, she sleeps all night, she's bright green and yellow, when she's upset black dots appear or before she eats.

over all I think she's doing well but with chameleons u can never be to sure. I am currently taking a veterinary assistance course but havent reached the exotic pets module. I am in need of help to find out why she is so skinny.

 

[Carlton]

Hello everyone!
I have been concerned regarding my pet Meller Sarah! She is about one years old to my knowledge and everything started happening after our ice strom that occurred here in Canada Toronto. In December we had a ice strom that took out power and heat. My building was one that was affected. Ihad my mMeller here at home with me for about 2 days until I started seeing my breath. I knew she had to be moved or she would die. on top of all that my fish all died and my cat was sick. Anyways I had my friend come and pick her up, I told her all the necessary things that needed to be done for thechameleon while she was in her care.

A week later I got her back and she wasn't looking good at all, it looked like she has been burnt in her face on her nose and under her month which was black. I have had her back home now for about a month. I have noticed a few changes with her, she's more aggressive then ever, doesn't wanna be touched, she eats well (hornworms, silk worms, butter worms, wax worms and meal worms) she hasn't touched crickets since I offered her a veriaty of worms. Still she is loosing so much weight. I can see her bones, she doesn't appear dehydrated, I have noticed a few nails have chipped as well. She has fallen a few times from climbing up the screen which I am aware she will need a bigger cage. I am going to have a homemade one done for her with a fogging system. But before that her health comes first. Shes not sleeping threw thw day, she sleeps all night, she's bright green and yellow, when she's upset black dots appear or before she eats.

over all I think she's doing well but with chameleons u can never be to sure. I am currently taking a veterinary assistance course but havent reached the exotic pets module. I am in need of help to find out why she is so skinny.

How long did you have her before all this started? Melleri often wait to start crashing for several months after they first arrive in a keeper's home. They are experts at hiding long standing problems until the new keeper feels they are "over the hump" in terms of acclimation. A nickname in the hobby used to be "the 90-day chameleon"...as they tended to survive 90 days.

The black areas could possibly be bruising if she was fighting to get out of an enclosure after being moved, but if it is still obvious after a month there's something else wrong. A burn under her chin wouldn't be very likely. We'd really need to see a pic. She could be acting out because she was moved three times over a short period and is now showing the resulting stress and is less tolerant. The chill could have used up some reserves, but as long as she's eating and active probably not. I think if she was affected too badly by the cold she would have been sick at your friend's.

A pic can show us just how skinny she is. If she has a parasite load she could be eating like a pig and not gaining weight. Stress can trigger a parasite bloom. I'd take a fresh fecal to a vet to check for parasites. When she's moving around you should see her ribs slightly. The better judge of her body weight is the base of her tail. The cross section should be oval from top to bottom. If you can clearly see the tendons and muscles of the tail she's thin. If the tail is smoothly rounded she's fine. If it completely round from top to bottom she's fat.

 

[Ladynyce]

How long did you have her before all this started? Melleri often wait to start crashing for several months after they first arrive in a keeper's home. They are experts at hiding long standing problems until the new keeper feels they are "over the hump" in terms of acclimation. A nickname in the hobby used to be "the 90-day chameleon"...as they tended to survive 90 days.

The black areas could possibly be bruising if she was fighting to get out of an enclosure after being moved, but if it is still obvious after a month there's something else wrong. A burn under her chin wouldn't be very likely. We'd really need to see a pic. She could be acting out because she was moved three times over a short period and is now showing the resulting stress and is less tolerant. The chill could have used up some reserves, but as long as she's eating and active probably not. I think if she was affected too badly by the cold she would have been sick at your friend's.

A pic can show us just how skinny she is. If she has a parasite load she could be eating like a pig and not gaining weight. Stress can trigger a parasite bloom. I'd take a fresh fecal to a vet to check for parasites. When she's moving around you should see her ribs slightly. The better judge of her body weight is the base of her tail. The cross section should be oval from top to bottom. If you can clearly see the tendons and muscles of the tail she's thin. If the tail is smoothly rounded she's fine. If it completely round from top to bottom she's fat.

Oh no, I am hoping it isnt parasites! I have had her now since October. Shes been fine since I had her since I believed. Yes she is exstermly time I am going to take a pic of her now and try to post it. I need help because shes my baby. Your post was sooo helpful and I appreciate all the knowledge you have in Mellers. She definitely looks lik something is wrong but only by her size. Colors are bright, eyes are not sunk in, she eats a lot, everything is good temps are 85. Her housing environment is properly done because I have a next chameleon so I am aware of how their husbandry is. If she has parasites what can happen? Does this mean all that she eats she's not getting it? I am assuming she's WC.

 

[Carlton]

Oh no, I am hoping it isnt parasites! I have had her now since October. Shes been fine since I had her since I believed. Yes she is exstermly time I am going to take a pic of her now and try to post it. I need help because shes my baby. Your post was sooo helpful and I appreciate all the knowledge you have in Mellers. She definitely looks lik something is wrong but only by her size. Colors are bright, eyes are not sunk in, she eats a lot, everything is good temps are 85. Her housing environment is properly done because I have a next chameleon so I am aware of how their husbandry is. If she has parasites what can happen? Does this mean all that she eats she's not getting it? I am assuming she's WC.

Oh, OK, "she's" (we don't even know this...they are very hard to sex) been in your care for 2-3 months not counting the stay with your friend. That's not all that long for a melleri to acclimate really. Yes, most likely she's WC. Most available melleri are. Parasites are TREATABLE. Unless you tested and treated her earlier you'll need to at least find out what she has and at what level. If the parasite load is heavy, have the vet treat conservatively and over time, not try to get rid of everything at once. Too many mature parasites dying off at once can overwhelm the cham's system. If she doesn't start to pick up weight after treatment for intestinal parasites (usually the first to get rid of) you may need to get a blood sample to check for the presence of blood borne microfilaria. They won't be affected by the same meds.

Assume no one (seller, importer pet shop or whatever) treated for anything. Yes, the parasites are getting a lot of the value of her food. It's not a death sentence, but as she's losing weight needs to be dealt with. Actually I am more concerned about the black coloration on her face/head. A bruise would have cleared up in a month. A dark grey-blackish area on a melleri could be some sort of infection, a burn, very hard to say. There are some skin issues they can come in with that are hard to figure out. If you haven't already, I'd go read The Melleri Discovery website to find out more about this. It is the best reference on melleri issues, coloration, and care.

 

[Ladynyce]

Oh, OK, "she's" (we don't even know this...they are very hard to sex) been in your care for 2-3 months not counting the stay with your friend. That's not all that long for a melleri to acclimate really. Yes, most likely she's WC. Most available melleri are. Parasites are TREATABLE. Unless you tested and treated her earlier you'll need to at least find out what she has and at what level. If the parasite load is heavy, have the vet treat conservatively and over time, not try to get rid of everything at once. Too many mature parasites dying off at once can overwhelm the cham's system. If she doesn't start to pick up weight after treatment for intestinal parasites (usually the first to get rid of) you may need to get a blood sample to check for the presence of blood borne microfilaria. They won't be affected by the same meds.

Assume no one (seller, importer pet shop or whatever) treated for anything. Yes, the parasites are getting a lot of the value of her food. It's not a death sentence, but as she's losing weight needs to be dealt with. Actually I am more concerned about the black coloration on her face/head. A bruise would have cleared up in a month. A dark grey-blackish area on a melleri could be some sort of infection, a burn, very hard to say. There are some skin issues they can come in with that are hard to figure out. If you haven't already, I'd go read The Melleri Discovery website to find out more about this. It is the best reference on melleri issues, coloration, and care.

When no bought her from the pet store they informed me that she was a she! I am fully aware that they are hard to sex, which makes me question if she is really a she. Well she was in a rank with another meller and apparently that was a male and he was huge compared to her I couldn't take him. I would definitely need a huge homemade cage for both not the ting tank they had them in. Parasites are a deep thought in my head now it would only make sense due to the fact that she isnt getting fat and only skinny. I can see her bones all threw her body.I slowly seen her loosing weight but the real notice was after the move in the freezing cold from house to house after that she started getting super thin. I seen the advice u gave me and yes u can see her bones even through her tail. you can see the back bones as well by her back legs, her ribs, and her spine. Her skin is wrinkly which would so of dehydration but trust me that is not the case. She drinks all the time, eyes are out nice and bright yellow, clear eyes, stool nice and white. By the end of the day she is getting skinner and skinner, I actually woke up this morningbut her lights on to wake her up and took her out the cage, I wanted to feel her strength and her grip, shes still pretty strong not strong as when I first got her but yes she still has strength. Like I said before she does look healthy over all over then weight, shes still nice and bright green, active.I seen tbat her nails chipped that would explain when she falls when shes climbing the screen. When I go to school this morning I will upload all the pics that I took of her last night.

 

[Ladynyce]

When no bought her from the pet store they informed me that she was a she! I am fully aware that they are hard to sex, which makes me question if she is really a she. Well she was in a rank with another meller and apparently that was a male and he was huge compared to her I couldn't take him. I would definitely need a huge homemade cage for both not the ting tank they had them in. Parasites are a deep thought in my head now it would only make sense due to the fact that she isnt getting fat and only skinny. I can see her bones all threw her body.I slowly seen her loosing weight but the real notice was after the move in the freezing cold from house to house after that she started getting super thin. I seen the advice u gave me and yes u can see her bones even through her tail. you can see the back bones as well by her back legs, her ribs, and her spine. Her skin is wrinkly which would so of dehydration but trust me that is not the case. She drinks all the time, eyes are out nice and bright yellow, clear eyes, stool nice and white. By the end of the day she is getting skinner and skinner, I actually woke up this morningbut her lights on to wake her up and took her out the cage, I wanted to feel her strength and her grip, shes still pretty strong not strong as when I first got her but yes she still has strength. Like I said before she does look healthy over all over then weight, shes still nice and bright green, active.I seen tbat her nails chipped that would explain when she falls when shes climbing the screen. When I go to school this morning I will upload all the pics that I took of her last night.

sorry for all the typos I am typing from my phone!

 

[Olimpia]

Could you fill out the health form and attach some photos of Sarah and her enclosure? Like I said via PM, I agree parasites are a very likely cause but we might as well look closely at her general husbandry and hammer out any kinks. Like Carlton says, it's tricky to acclimate these guys, having an impeccable enclosure and routine makes it a little easier.

 

[MSAquatics]

Didn't you initially post about your new melleri passing worms in its feces? Assuming this is the same Cham, did you treat it for the worms or have a fecal sample tested?

Leland