I need help ASAP!!! CHAMELEON POOP!

[sebastianthechameleon]

I was just about to clean up the cage because it was a little dirty and i found this. He ate 3 worms yesterday and it looks like he didn't digest them well. Is this a sign of something bad?!?!? I need emergency help. I don't know what happened. I will call the vet as well. Please responds as quick as possible I am very worried.

 

[Craigwyatt]

I've said it a million times before here on this forum and I'll keep saying it. Mealworms are a horrible horrible horrible feeder. Exoskeleton is hard to digest. Some retile species can take them better than others but I think they go best on the end of a hook. That's it. I see no other use for them. I think people are attracted to them because of how cheap they are.
Hopefully there are no more in the stomach of your chameleon. They can cause impaction which will lead to death.

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

I've said it a million times before here on this forum and I'll keep saying it. Mealworms are a horrible horrible horrible feeder. Exoskeleton is hard to digest. Some retile species can take them better than others but I think they go best on the end of a hook. That's it. I see no other use for them. I think people are attracted to them because of how cheap they are.
Hopefully there are no more in the stomach of your chameleon. They can cause impaction which will lead to death.

I only feed him super worms and crickets never mealworms. How will i know if he is safe? How do i know if he is dying? i need some help right now not advice.

 

[Nursemaia]

Chances are he's fine but they are hard to digest because of the exoskeleton. You fed 3 and can see 2 in his poop. That leaves 1 that may or may not have been digested. 1 probably won't cause an impaction or make him ill. I'd just monitor him and start offering better feeders like hornworms, silkworms, various roaches, butter worms, soldier fly larvae

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

Thanks ill keep an eye on him. Is there anything i should be doing to help him?

 

[Craigwyatt]

Looks like I see 3 tails in the picture. Hopefully most of the worms were properly digested and that's what the rest of the picture is.
My guess- everything is prob fine. I'd say just keep an eye on him and hopefully he poops again soon. Another poop would be a good sign all plumbing is working fine.

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Link]

I personally never ever use worms. Except silk and Horn. You'll know when you have a head of a mealworm stuck. And you have to pick it out it stinks

 

[jajeanpierre]

A very fresh stool sample to the vet might be in order. That is a lot of mucus in the stool. Mucus is indicative of some kind of irritation be it from parasites or perhaps from too many super worms. If the stool returns to normal after passing the undigested super worms, you might just take a wait and see attitude. Undigested and mucus can be symptoms of parasites.

 

[Chameleon+Cody]

Yeah. I would agree. Meal worms are not good for them. Maybe 3 just might of been a little to many. Next time try 1. If it comes out digested then increase to 2. But maybe 3 is just its max.

 

[Blang]

Or quit feeding mealworms all together! I feed superworms almost everyday & never come out undigested

 

[Pitcard]

What are your basking temps? What time do you feed him? Sometimes a late meal or improper temperatures can cause this. When I had my first cham, this happened with a hornworm if I recall correctly. Freaked me out, but it was a good learning experience going forward.

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

He has a regular food schedule around 4 pm He isnt eating anymore (switched to crickets). i gave him a day of no food to clear his tummy but now he isn't eating at all! He hasn't pooped and today he seemed to be less energetic. He is resting his head more often and I'm not seeing urine or stool. What is my next step?

 

[Pitcard]

If it was me I would get some soft hornworms or silkworms ASAP, that might peak his interest. If not, wait another day or two with no food, keep him well hydrated of course. Syringe water him if you have to.

When he does accept the food, I would coat it in a tiny bit of veggie oil just to grease his insides a bit.

Make sure all of his temps are at the correct levels, and that he's getting a decent temperature drop at night time. I would also try feeding him a little earlier than 4, depending on his bed time. I feed right after the lights come on, this way they have all day to digest.