I think we brought her back to life...maybe!

[beaurain]

Charlie is probably a 3 month old veil. Two days ago she seemed weak and would not eat, only drink water. We called the vet and he said bring her in. He said she was impacted and it was possibly from the super worms or she just got a bad cricket, so he probed her, she went poo and he said she should be fine in a day.

We have her in an aquarium, the vet said that was fine for now. She has leaves that are a constant supply of water, she has branches and vines to crawl on, she eats gut-loaded crickets, the humidity is right where it needs to be as is the temp and we use the basking light and just the red lamp at night time. She gets 12 hours or so of light a day and she was very happy a few days ago. I was advised we didnt have the uvb/uva light like we thought.

Tonight when I got home from work, she was hiding under her leaves on the bottom and she was yellowish-white, with black hollow eyes and her mouth was open. It freaked me out! (I do not want to post that picture, it's pretty sad) I immediately sprayed her with water and she flinched. I grabbed her from the bottom and started rubbing her tummy and put her in a warm bath and rubbed her, we installed her new light set her under it and she started to green up a bit. The pet shop said there was probably nothing we could do, but try to give her water. She drank alot, so I know she was dehydrated and she started to turn greener except for her tail and hind legs. She isn't moving either of them. I know shes exhausted. Her eyes look better, they are still sunk, but she is moving them, and she is using her front legs to move when she can. She will not eat.

I am hoping that we can bring her back to her spunky self, and I am hoping that someone can give me some good news. I hate to cut the uva/uvb light off tonight, but I know she needs to rest. Can someone help us please? I just want someone to be real with us.....I have faith she will make it.

Also, is she suppose to be cool to the touch? I never noticed before, but when I reached in to get her in her distress, she was cool and the temp was warm in the tank....are healthy chameleons cool to the touch or just when they are sick?

 

[KatiLemons]

Can you post a picture of her. that usally can give us signs on whats goin on with her!

 

[ataraxia]

we need more exact info also. her displaying light colors and gaping say the temps are probably extremely hot. for a chameleon all aspects of your husbandry needs to be spot on.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
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?
Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[lindawaz]

also that red light at night needs to go. They need darkness to sleep.

That light needs to go all the time. Most of us use regular household bulbs for their basking light. It is a while light that simulates more like the actual sun.

Is your uBV bulb a tube light or a twisty, curly compact type, I am assuming you have purchased one since you did not have one and it is essential for them? and yes filling out the help form and pictures help alot

Their are many experienced people here that will help you all they can to get your Cham back on track! Until then good luck with your baby

 

[Chameleon Company]

It is difficult to be optimistic at this point. That she had just a simple impaction, easily remedied, does not seem the case, although I applaud you and the vet for trying. If she has been shorted UVB for weeks, if not longer, of her prime growth phase, could have caused issues you cannot now remedy, as chameleons are both fickle and delicate.

Do what you can with modest hydration and maintaining her temperature ranges. But I would not expect her to recover.

FYI, whenever you intervene with fluids, whether it be for medical reasons, or just trying to get a fresh-import jump-started, products such as pedialyte, or regular Gatorade, are best.

As usual, I hope that I am 100% wrong on my estimate.

 

[beaurain]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - 3 mo old?
Handling - every other day, maybe (she likes to sit on my husbands head, hes bald)
Feeding - gutloaded crickets
Supplements -we dust the crickets with the vitamins from exotic pet shop, we were actually using too much and it came out of her nose, we were told to back off
Watering - misting tank several times a day, she use to go straight to the leaves and drink until she was satisfied
Fecal Description - black? she had a large poo that was black and had orange stuff in it, very soft, then she went to the vet
History -shes very playful, we have video of her trying to eat crickets through her glass

Cage Info:

Cage Type - aquarium
lighting - now 5.0 uvb/uva light
Temperature - 80-87 daily and around 75 at night, have temp guage
Humidity - 50% humidity, usually just keep an eye on levels and mist when necessary
Plants - fake climbing plants
Placement - habitat is on a table in our living room, normal air flow
Location - south usa

This is Charlie about 3 hours ago, she is much greener now, but laying on her tummy on the 'floor'

 

[beaurain]

yes, its the curly light. she did seem to perk up a bit when laying in the light for a bit! I am actually glad she is on her tummy, perched like , but still on the floor. she kind of reminds me of a puppy resting.

 

[lindawaz]

That is not a good thing on the floor like that

Unfortunately neither is that light- The compact ones can cause severe issues with Chams You need a reptsun 5.0 linear tube light.


What are you gutloading the crickets with?
Her supplements should be daily Calcium WITHOUT D3
Then 2 times a month WITH D3
2 times a month a multi vitamin.

The poo should have white not orange Orange means de- hydrated. You need to hydrate her. Not eating can be a problem, dehydration can lead to serious complications.

I am sorry to say, It may be time to take her back to the vet, she is not doing very well at the moment. She needs help ASAP

 

[Riven]

I'm not a cham expert, but usually that sort of discoloration comes with lack of circulation from damage or occlusion. Sometimes horses will lose use of their hind ends due to parasitic aneurysm. Any which way if you can't figure out what is causing her hind end to have that sort of pallor the tissue is going to die.

Is orange in the feces normal? Do you know what it was?

 

[beaurain]

My husband just wants a cut and dry answer....he doesn't want her to suffer. We will call the vet in the morning to see if there is anything that can be done. We don't want to go to sleep, fearing the worst. This is dreadfully sad, and we are helpless. This is our first chameleon together and it was my husbands birthday present. He grew up with chameleons in South Africa, but he said they were tough and would 'box' him. I guess this is just a let-down for us. Just say a prayer (if you pray) for our baby. We love her very much!

 

[beaurain]

We just want to thank everyone for their help. We think our Charlie just passed in my husband's hands.

Thank you all....

 

[lindawaz]

Even having a Cham for a short time you love them!
Very sorry about your loss.
RIP Charlie

 

[Emcee101]

I'm sorry, but a proper set up could've avoided this, And in all honesty it doesn't sound like you rushed for her aid, let alone lost any sleep.

 

[gwilliams]

I'm sorry, but a proper set up could've avoided this, And in all honesty it doesn't sound like you rushed for her aid, let alone lost any sleep.

A little harsh don't you think? You weren't there and you do not know their circumstances.... I come to this board loyal everyday and hardly comment - but that was just over the line...

I'm VERY Sorry for your loss and pray that it gets better.

Glenna

 

[emilybier]

I'm sorry, but a proper set up could've avoided this, And in all honesty it doesn't sound like you rushed for her aid, let alone lost any sleep.

Rude and uncalled for. The OP obviously cared for their cham by taking it to the vet and trying everything at home possible and they are here now so I don't understand your comment at all. It isn't their fault that they were set up wrong. It happens and they didn't just leave her to die.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[davthevieled]

I'm sorry, but a proper set up could've avoided this, And in all honesty it doesn't sound like you rushed for her aid, let alone lost any sleep.

I'm sorry for your loss and I hope posts like this don't tear you down! Regardless of what happened, it is and always will be tough when losing a cham. Keep your chin up, and if you ever find it possible just continue posting and learning. Even the best breeders and enthusiasts will end up with a dead cham. Again, chin up and just keep yourself around.

 

[lindawaz]

I'm sorry, but a proper set up could've avoided this, And in all honesty it doesn't sound like you rushed for her aid, let alone lost any sleep.

Simply terrible! You should be ashamed of posting like this especially when they did take the Cham to the vet, came here, and was very concerned!

Kindness in the loss of their pet would be more appropriate.

As I said before I am very sorry for your loss
RIP Charlie

 

[SilverDragoness]

Excuse me Rudeness101 that is totally uncalled for please consider the loss of another persons animal. It sounds like they did all they could.

 

[Supergirl]

So sorry for your loss RIP Charlie.