is this normal behavior?

[NewKingJoe]

I got a female veiled chameleon about 3 days ago and the first two days were great. I just left her in the tank to get settled into the new area and all that and she ate crickets I dusted with repti calcium. in the 3 days about 15 crickets. but today she went to the bottom of the cage and hasn't gone back up! I took her out for a bit and she turned dark for about 10 seconds and she just layed in my hand barely even holding on. then lightened up to a very light green/yellow and was just looking around at me for about 5 minutes then closed her eyes. I put her back in the tank on a vine and she didn't seem to want to be in them but she held on. but at this current moment she is hanging like a bat with her back legs and tail holding a vine and front two legs dangling. ive had geckos, iguana, and beardies.and snakes so I'm not a complete novice with reptiles or lizards. but someone please tell me what I should do or if I'm just over reacting about nothing.

 

[NewKingJoe]

here is a picture of her

*I have moved her back to the ground because I was worried of her falling*

 

[carol5208]

No that is not normal. They do not sleep during the day at all. If she is closing her eyes during the day, there is a problem. Obviously you have had her only 3 days so it is probably something she had when you got her. Where did you buy her from? They do not want to stay on the ground either.

 

[NewKingJoe]

I got her from petsmart. I just put crickets in there and she has her mouth open now but shes just laying there like shes completely out of energy. her eyes are open so I know shes alive but its sad and scaring me

and shes done this a couple time ( this video is her)

 

[KLowery88]

Possible respiratory infection? Hopefully one of the more experienced members will chime in, but is she struggling for breath?

 

[NewKingJoe]

shes just laying at the bottom of the cage all limp. laying on her side but breathing seems fine, and shes looking around. a cricket goes by and she opens her mouth but doesn't eat it. I'm very worried

 

[KLowery88]

You'll need to get her to the vet. Chameleons don't naturally lay on the ground, so there's something wrong with her. It could be beginning signs of MBD, but a vet would be able to tell you more. How was she set up before in terms of UVB light and supplementation?

 

[NewKingJoe]

I haven't even had her quite a week yet and shes been great up until last night when she just lost everything.
ive been giving her crickets with repticalcium on them and the crickets eat flukers orange cubes. and I have a "ZOO MED™ Mini Combo Deep Dome Reptile Lamp Fixture"
the only other problem is she broke the bank with her and the tank and all so I cant take her to a vet! is there anything I can give her for this even if its not it just a preventative?!

 

[shomegirl]

You probably won't want to, but you may want to return her to Petsmart, since she was more than likely ill when you purchased her. Sorry you are having problems.

 

[KLowery88]

I agree, I would contact Petsmart and see what the process is since you haven't had her long. Whatever is wrong with her is likely stemming from substandard care while she was with them.

In the future, realize that those orange cubes are not a good gutload, and she needs her food dusted with Calcium + D3 every other week. I know some people use the coil lights, but I would also recommend looking into a UVB tube bulb. They seem to be a lot better in terms of UVB output and light coverage.

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

There definatlly something wrong with her. She looks weak and out of breath (meaning she probably has a respiratory problem) but listen it is not your fault. The first chameleon I got was sick when I got him also. He had calcium deficiency and a respiratory problem. I would definatlly bring her back to petsmart. I know it is sad but there is clearly something wrong with her and you would better off with getting a new one. My Cham was doing the same thing, the heavy breathing thing and not eating at all. It was really sad. He eventually passed away because he couldn't handle it anymore. This is not your fault DONT THINK YOU DID ANYTHING WRONG!! Most pet stores don't take good care of their animals ( one of the workers told me straight to my face ) that is why more than half of them come to you sick. If you do end up keeping her I wish you luck and lots of hope

 

[Chamel619]

You're using a glass cage... They can over heat fast. what are the gradient temperatures, humidity? I'm sure the boobs at petsmart weren't providing proper care/husbandry. To get a sick animal and bad advice from a pet supply house is common.

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

You're using a glass cage... They can over heat fast. what are the gradient temperatures, humidity? I'm sure the boobs at petsmart weren't providing proper care/husbandry. To get a sick animal and bad advice from a pet supply house is common.

i completely agree, she could be over heated but the hanging upsidedown is a little weird.

 

[Chamel619]

i completely agree, she could be over heated but the hanging upsidedown is a little weird.

Hanging and closing of the eyes are not common in a healthy chameleon, but in the video he posted, I see gaping. Makes me think its a temp issue at the moment. Also, I see a water dish in the bottom and free roaming feeders, as well as substrate. #1 chameleons wont recognize water in a bowl as water. #2 If you're going to free range your feeders, you shouldn't have substrate. Hand or cup feed if you want substrate.

"Animals purchased at PetSmart come with a "vet assured" promise of health and wellness plus a 14-day satisfaction guarantee."

 

[NewKingJoe]

okay so this is the cage. glass on all 4+bottom. but one side has a screen(back corner of this picture) and the top is screened as well. I just went to pet smart though and they said she has 14 day vet guarantee so if she doesn't improve at all by tonight (that will have been 24 hours in this state) I will take her tomorrow! they said I have two options. 1. return her and get a new one 2. return her and get her back when she's better. they will send her to a local vet down the street from me that will work on her, at pet not so smarts expense, so I'm going to do that if there's no improvement.

<-- so sad

 

[Chamel619]

okay so this is the cage. glass on all 4+bottom. but one side has a screen(back corner of this picture) and the top is screened as well. I just went to pet smart though and they said she has 14 day vet guarantee so if she doesn't improve at all by tonight (that will have been 24 hours in this state) I will take her tomorrow! they said I have two options. 1. return her and get a new one 2. return her and get her back when she's better. they will send her to a local vet down the street from me that will work on her, at pet not so smarts expense, so I'm going to do that if there's no improvement.
View attachment 154834 View attachment 154835 <-- so sad

That is a very nice cage, for a gecko. I can kinda see an analog temperature gauge in the background.. ZooMed? looks like its almost 80 degrees at the bottom of the cage... If so, that's no good my friend.

 

[NewKingJoe]

the top under the heat lamp is reading about 90F and the ground is about 75F and 80% humidity on bottom and 50% up top. and that's very misleading the box said the terrarium for chameleons.. so I kinda assumed it would be good for them.
would that be over heating? I can turn the heat lamp off if you think that's the culprit. however shes been fine with it the whole time!

 

[Chamel619]

the top under the heat lamp is reading about 90F and the ground is about 75F and 80% humidity on bottom and 50% up top. and that's very misleading the box said the terrarium for chameleons.. so I kinda assumed it would be good for them.
would that be over heating? I can turn the heat lamp off if you think that's the culprit. however shes been fine with it the whole time!

I would shut down the basking light. Analog temp gauges estimate, nothing more. A digital gauge or IR temperature gun will be more accurate. I would also leave the cage door open, for a while, so that fresh cooler air can circulate. Providing you can supervise.

Many products have misleading advertisements. Live and learn.

 

[JGuinan007]

I would take her out right away and give a cool misting looks like she is sweltering

 

[NewKingJoe]

I have Just gotten a digital as well and suctioned the ends to the middle of the cage it's saying 78.6F and 55% humid.
I just misted her out of her cage and got her cleaned but she hasn't responded. still just looking around.