Is this normal?

E

einsteinlove

New Member
I got my chameleon when he was about 2 months old, he is now around 7-8 months. He has always been active in the past, eating and drinking, climbing up and down everything in his cage. I always dust his crickets with calcium and "gutload" them, he eats about 15-20 a day. I have the temp. and humidity at the correct levels, with a uv light right center his cage, he basks under it daily. For the past month I notcied him walking weird, he grabs his front legs with his back legs and it makes it so he can barely move around his enclosure. About a week and a half ago I started finding him on the floor of his cage with his eyes usually shut. I pick him up and place him back in one of his trees/plants and find him on the floor again within hours. When I place him back in his tree he generally opens his eyes and moves on his way like nothing happened. He has a strong grip and is still eating (not as much but the crickets are disappearing). He still appears to be healthy except for the finding him on the floor thing. He looks like he could start shedding anytime, could that cause this? I first thought of metabolic bone disease but I have done everything to prevent this from happening since he was 2 months old, so I don't see why or how it could have happened. Has this happened to anyone else's chameleon?
Thanks for any responses!
 
Hi there! I'm afraid grabbing at his limbs and ending up on the floor could cba sign of metabolic bone disease. Please can you fill in this form and be specific about what kind of calcium you use. There's plain calcium, calcium with d3 and calcium with multivitamin which all need to be used correctly in order for him to process everything properly. A picture would be really helpful too :)

Here's the form https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
 
I'm using zoo med repti calcium with D3. Is there anything I can do at this point to reverse the metabolic bone disease, if that is what it turns out to be?
Thanks for your reply.
 
your chameleon could be on d3 overdose. Are you dusting all the crickets everyday with that? you should have been using a plain calcium with no d3 at every feeding. The d3 should only be used a couple of times a month. I do not know how much d3 is in that particular brand. Grabbing front legs with back is a sign of MBD but I don't believe too much d3 can cause that. It can cause other problems with their organs.
 
Does MBD not occur when there is a calcium, d3, or phosphorus imbalance? I'm sure I've read here that mbd can be from too little or too much d3 but I will have to find my source!

Please do you have a picture? Nobody can say its mbd without a picture. If it is then it will be easy to tell.
 
Pictures are attached, I couldn't upload them directly in response. The first picture is of him BEFORE this all started, a few weeks ago. The second picture is of him this morning, he is not really opening his eyes and seems even more weak than before.

Thanks for any information.
 

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it does appear he has the beginning stages of mbd.

you can see the slight bowing in the front limbs.

are you only using calcium with d3?
 
I am only using calcium with D3, I didn't know not too, thats what the pet store reccommended I buy. Is there anything I can do to stop the MBD from happening or reverse the effects? He seems to be getting worse and I can't get him to drink anything. I just sat with him in a steam shower after reading several other posts on here and I've been dripping the water over his mouth for the past 24-48 hours but he doesn't open his mouth and only ocassionaly opens his eyes now.
 
you need a plain calcium without d3 for every feeding.

fortunately, the mbd isnt very advanced. but it is not reversible. but you can stop the progression.

do research on good gutloading- and get a plain calcium asap to dust his bugs with every day.

the d3 should only be used twice a month.
 
What should I do now that he can barely keep himself up in his plants? I always find him on the ground, is that going to be permanent now? Also are there any other tricks to getting him to drink water? He is my first chameleon and even though I've had him for the last 6 months or so after reading a lot of posts here I feel like I know nothing. Any knowledge you could drop on me about taking care of him properly and nursing him back to health would be very much appreciated! I wish I had found this forum when I frist got him. Thank you for your repsonses.
 
for now, build a hospital cage. soft floors and nt alot to climb on, until he can hold himself up.

get calcium into him as soon as possible.
ifyou can get him outside for natural sun, that will help too.

for water- drip a drop on his nose, and keep doing this, he should eventually drink.


rioght now- he needs calcium calcium calcium.
 
have you changed your uvb if its been six months since you bought it all this will now be no good what watts too

he looks like his not metabolising what is his poop like are the crickets coming back out whole?

make up some soup by mashing up fresh greens, carrot, crickets, any other feeder you have calcium powder water in to a plup and syringe in to his mouth by pulling his beard and opening his mouth
and as been said try and make up a hospital cage

or take to your vets
 
Thanks for all the advice. I am going to change his cage right now into a "hospital cage" and try feeding him. I did just get a new uv bulb, a 5.0 repti bulb, brand exo terra, please let me know if this the correct bulb.

Thanks again everyone for the support!
 
I think your best bet would be to take your chameleon to a vet. A vet will be able to give a series of injections that will jump start the calcium absorption.
 
Can anyone write out the correct steps to get him healthy? Unfortunately I am not able to bring him to the vet right now, I'm a broke full time college student with a baby girl. I love my chameleon and I want him to get better. Please let me know all the things I need to do to get him climbing and eating again. I have taken amost everything out his cage and layed down a soft towel for him, he just lays in the middle of the cage though. I've tried getting him to drink and eat and he won't do either at this point. I feel so sorry for him. What kind of calcium should I give him (I have the calcium with D3), how should I feed him, how often?
 
einsteinlove said:
What should I do now that he can barely keep himself up in his plants? I always find him on the ground, is that going to be permanent now? Also are there any other tricks to getting him to drink water? He is my first chameleon and even though I've had him for the last 6 months or so after reading a lot of posts here I feel like I know nothing. Any knowledge you could drop on me about taking care of him properly and nursing him back to health would be very much appreciated! I wish I had found this forum when I frist got him. Thank you for your repsonses.
Click to expand...

It sounds as if you have a very sick Cham there who needs a vet ASAP. Imo it looks like too much d3 has contributed to his condition. It is important to get some fluids into him. You have tried the recommended ways to get him to drink which hasn't worked. You could get a needle less syringe and give him drops of water into his mouth by gently pulling he's beard. You need to put the syringe far enough back as there is a danger of him aspirating. I would wait till someone seconds this method as it can be dangerous. Unfortunately it is not looking good for your boy.
 
Is there anyone in the Northern VA or DC area that would want to take him in and try to nurse him back to health? I can't afford to and I don't want to see him die.
 
I'd just recommend taking your cham to a vet. I know you mentioned you're broke, but im broke too. I had to use my credit card to pay for a $160 fecal test. I paid it off within a week, but it just goes to show when you invest in a pet you need to take care of it. Allot of "older" and "wiser" members on here may flame you for saying you can't afford a vet visit. :eek:

If you really really really can't afford it i'd recommend sending it to a member who is willing to care for him/her. Pay $50 bucks, overnight your cham and learn from your mistakes.

I suggest make a new thread and ask if anyones willing to take your cham before he passes. I know theres a few members on here who would offer to take care of your cham. Just sounds like you're ready to give up, so find someone ASAP.

- Gabe
 
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