I've tried everything!! (PLEASE HELP!)

[sammnadine]

I have a 2+ month old Chameleon whom I've had for about 3 weeks, although it did not take long for me to notice that she was slightly dehydrated. I know, I know. veiled's don't typically drink Infront of people but I mean, she never really drinks. I spray her cage 4/5 times a day because I know that she doesn't drink much. I also hand mist her (kinda like a shower but she's so small I don't want to hurt her so I just mist her in my hand. I see her watch the water drop from the dripper onto the leaves but she never drinks from it. she'll drink from the rodent bottle but only if I'm holding it and she absolutely hates the oral syringe. I had a water dish with a bubbler but recently took it out because 1. I realized that she wasn't going towards it at all and 2. it made me nervous thinking that bacteria was growing in there if I missed a day of taking it out and cleaning it. so on top of her not drinking, her eyes seem a bit sunken. nothing too bad but definitely a bit sunken. I'll try to add pictures. SO on top of that - her urates. they've been okay, mostly white with a bit of yellow on the end which is typical because she doesn't poo often. oh that's another thing - is that bad? she doesn't poop often at all . maybe once a week? for a few days she pooped every day but that was rare because for the three weeks I've had her she doesn't do that. anyways, urates. they were good but this past one seems to be half dark yellow/not quite orange and half white. it also seems pretty wet. is it normal for a chameleon to urate and not poop? because I see the urate but no poop..?

anyways, if anyone has any tips on hydrating her/keeping her healthy or anything. much is appreciated! btw she doesn't like my phone haha.. I feel like these pictures make her eyes look much worse than they are.

 

[oneillchameleons]

Her eyes don't look too sunken in yet so she must be drinking at some point. She is a little on the skinny side though, looking at the base of her tail. I have some chams that only defecate once or twice a week as well. I'd continue heavy misting (as long as you have good drainage) and increase her food intake slightly. Just to be safe you should fill out the "how to ask for help" section so we can help you further if we notice anything else.

 

[sammnadine]

Her eyes don't look too sunken in yet so she must be drinking at some point. She is a little on the skinny side though, looking at the base of her tail. I have some chams that only defecate once or twice a week as well. I'd continue heavy misting (as long as you have good drainage) and increase her food intake slightly. Just to be safe you should fill out the "how to ask for help" section so we can help you further if we notice anything else.

I'm going to be getting some other types of food because right now I'm just feeding her crickets. so silkworms, horn worms, etc., some variety, maybe something with a little more fat to it. do you think that might help?

 

[oneillchameleons]

I'm going to be getting some other types of food because right now I'm just feeding her crickets. so silkworms, horn worms, etc., some variety, maybe something with a little more fat to it. do you think that might help?

It's a good start yes. She doesn't look too bad. I've seen chameleons in a lot worse condition bounce right back. As long as you are following the care sheets on this site she should be fine.

 

[kinyonga]

Please answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum so we can help you better. Even

 

[sammnadine]

Chameleon Info:



Your Chameleon - female veiled chameleon, about 2 months old. in the cage for about 3 weeks.

• Handling - almost everyday, she loves to climb around on me.
• Feeding - about 5/6 small crickets split up to twice a day so 2/3 around 12 and then 2/3 around 5/6. they are currently eating fruits and veg & flukers Orange gut load.
• Supplements - Calcium with D3. I was dusting all of the crickets but then I cut it down to 3/4 every other day because I noticed that she didn't like the dusted ones.
• Watering - I have a Dripper, Mist 4/5 times a day for about 25/30 seconds each, I also have a rodent bottle that she uses if I'm holding. I saw her drink a very little bit the first day I got her and she drinks if I put the bottle Infront of her but not much.
• Fecal Description - they've been for the most part normal, she doesn't go often but they are brown. her urates are typically white with a little bit of yellow or orange on the end which is typical because she only goes about once a week. her recent urate was not followed by poop. she has not been tested for parasites.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - She is currently in a glass terrarium because I'm making her a screen one. I'm not too sure what the dimensions are because I used it for my beardie before so I don't remember.
• Lighting - zoo med 100w relit basking spot lamp and zoo med 10.0 uvb reptisun which are on for roughly 12 hours a day. and then because it gets so cold here at night i use exo terra 100w infrared basking spot which is on for the other 12 hours. W
• Temperature - 75-85 throughout and about 90ish basking. I'm not sure what the lowest overnight temperature is. I have a thermometer.
• Humidity - humidity ranges between 40-85. I mist often and have a dripper going constantly. I have a hygrometer.
• Plants - I'm not using any live plants.
• Placement - my cage is in the corner of my room and it is about in the center between the floor and the ceiling. there's not much traffic considering its in my room but she sees me quite often.
• Location - I'm in western New York!

 

[sammnadine]

I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I AM NOT FEEDING MY CHAM ENOUGH. I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT I WAS FEEDING HER MORE BUT THE GUY AT THE PET STORE PITCHED A FIT AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS GOING TO OVER FEED HER AND MAKE HER SICK SO HE TOLD ME TO KEEP IT AT 5 CRICKETS A DAY!

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I AM NOT FEEDING MY CHAM ENOUGH. I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT I WAS FEEDING HER MORE BUT THE GUY AT THE PET STORE PITCHED A FIT AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS GOING TO OVER FEED HER AND MAKE HER SICK SO HE TOLD ME TO KEEP IT AT 5 CRICKETS A DAY!

I wouldnt listen to many people at a pet store, they don't usually know much about the animals they sell and it is sad. I would feed her as many as is advised on the care sheet provided on the forums. I don't think feeding her more than 5 crickets would actually hurt her. I would think only feeding her 5 would hurt her.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

At her age feed her as much as she'll eat. Small crickets or small dubias would be a good start.

 

[MaiRemy]

Chameleon Info:



Your Chameleon - female veiled chameleon, about 2 months old. in the cage for about 3 weeks.

• Handling - almost everyday, she loves to climb around on me.
• Feeding - about 5/6 small crickets split up to twice a day so 2/3 around 12 and then 2/3 around 5/6. they are currently eating fruits and veg & flukers Orange gut load.
• Supplements - Calcium with D3. I was dusting all of the crickets but then I cut it down to 3/4 every other day because I noticed that she didn't like the dusted ones.
• Watering - I have a Dripper, Mist 4/5 times a day for about 25/30 seconds each, I also have a rodent bottle that she uses if I'm holding. I saw her drink a very little bit the first day I got her and she drinks if I put the bottle Infront of her but not much.
• Fecal Description - they've been for the most part normal, she doesn't go often but they are brown. her urates are typically white with a little bit of yellow or orange on the end which is typical because she only goes about once a week. her recent urate was not followed by poop. she has not been tested for parasites.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - She is currently in a glass terrarium because I'm making her a screen one. I'm not too sure what the dimensions are because I used it for my beardie before so I don't remember.
• Lighting - zoo med 100w relit basking spot lamp and zoo med 10.0 uvb reptisun which are on for roughly 12 hours a day. and then because it gets so cold here at night i use exo terra 100w infrared basking spot which is on for the other 12 hours. W
• Temperature - 75-85 throughout and about 90ish basking. I'm not sure what the lowest overnight temperature is. I have a thermometer.
• Humidity - humidity ranges between 40-85. I mist often and have a dripper going constantly. I have a hygrometer.
• Plants - I'm not using any live plants.
• Placement - my cage is in the corner of my room and it is about in the center between the floor and the ceiling. there's not much traffic considering its in my room but she sees me quite often.
• Location - I'm in western New York!

Hate to break it to you, if she is constantly going about when you are handling her, she's stressed. Less handling as possible, occasionally is okay but they don't like it too much. I'm sure many on here would flip out if they knew. Usually if you do handle, they like to be above eye level like your head (bc they feel safe at such a young age) when she stays still then she's okay.

Dusting, you're doing it wrong!! It could kill her if you dust w d3 every other day.

Without D3 every other day
With D3 twice a month
With multivitamin (herptivite) once to twice

Oversupplementing can kill your cham! So scheduling is mandatory. D3 can pull calcium out or stop from functioning properly and cause MBD. Just look it up and you'll have more research. Dust feeders lightly, like a dab not to overcoat because too much is poisonous. It can irritate their throat and swell up.

I'd stop supplementing with the d3 this month and stick with the RepCal without D3. Females need plenty of calcium. Gutloading feeders with collard greens or mustard greens are known to be the best. Orange cubes by flukers or store gutloads are known to do nothing nutritionally. Baby chams eat as many and as much as they want! Mine ate 7-10 medium a day! They are growing so they need nutrients! Variety is key, look up food for chams and you'll see charts for nutritional value. Remember PHOSPHORUS = BAD , CALCIUM = GOOD

Phoenix worms have the highest calcium to phosphorus ratio. It'd do her very good. Try to give her as much water as possible to help comfort her from the dusting. Females need calcium to lay eggs. Once she hits 4 months she's going to be even harder to keep. Def do research on female chams. It'll save you a lot of stress in the long run.

 

[sammnadine]

Have to break it to you, if she is constantly going about when you are handling her, she's stressed. Less handling as possible, occasionally is okay but they don't like it too much. I'm sure many on here would flip out if they knew.

Dusting, you're doing it wrong!! It could kill her if you dust w d3 every other day.

Without D3 every other day
With D3 twice a month
With multivitamin (herptivite) once to twice

Oversupplementing can kill your cham! So scheduling is mandatory. D3 can pull calcium out or stop from functioning properly and cause MBD. Just look it up and you'll have more research. Dust feeders lightly, like a dab not to overcoat because too much is poisonous. It can irritate their throat and swell up.

I'd stop supplementing with the d3 this month and stick with the RepCal without D3. Females need plenty of calcium. Do you gutload your feeders? Baby chams eat as many and as much as they want! Mine ate 7-10 medium a day! They are growing so they need nutrients! Variety is key, look up food for chams and you'll see charts for nutritional value. Remember PHOSPHORUS = BAD , CALCIUM = GOOD

Phoenix worms have the highest calcium to phosphorus ratio. It'd do her very good. Try to give her as much water as possible to help comfort her from the dusting. Females need calcium to lay eggs. Once she hits 4 months she's going to be even harder to keep. Def do research on female chams. It'll save you a lot of stress in the long run.

I just want to throw out to you that all of the information that you just gave me, I already knew. the guy at the pet store who has a chameleon put together all of my stuff for me while I was getting to know my Cham and getting some extra foliage for her. he handed me the bottle and told me to use that to dust every cricket I have to her, it wasn't until today that I actually was forced to read the bottle of supplement. I was just as upset as you seem when I noticed it. also, I've heard that before but she actually genuinely enjoys being handled. not by others but by me. she doesn't climb off of me but just on me. she'll also just sit on my shoulder or hand and look at me. she's over all really healthy. it's just the sunken eyes which have actually plumped up a bit today (I fed her much more today than I have been since I learned that the guy at the pet store ONCE AGAIN was wrong) and her urates. I've ordered some variety worms to try out for her.

 

[MaiRemy]

I just want to throw out to you that all of the information that you just gave me, I already knew. the guy at the pet store who has a chameleon put together all of my stuff for me while I was getting to know my Cham and getting some extra foliage for her. he handed me the bottle and told me to use that to dust every cricket I have to her, it wasn't until today that I actually was forced to read the bottle of supplement. I was just as upset as you seem when I noticed it. also, I've heard that before but she actually genuinely enjoys being handled. not by others but by me. she doesn't climb off of me but just on me. she'll also just sit on my shoulder or hand and look at me. she's over all really healthy. it's just the sunken eyes which have actually plumped up a bit today (I fed her much more today than I have been since I learned that the guy at the pet store ONCE AGAIN was wrong) and her urates. I've ordered some variety worms to try out for her.

My main concern was your supplements. What kinds do you have may I ask? If she's ok with handling then it's your call, mines pretty sweet when he wants to be. So I feel you on that one. Hornworms are delicious to him, I'm trying silkworms next. He loves an occasion meal worm as a teat because he likes the crunch. Too much is not good, but it's like potato chips to him.

 

[sammnadine]

My main concern was your supplements. What kinds do you have may I ask? If she's ok with handling then it's your call, mines pretty sweet when he wants to be. So I feel you on that one. Hornworms are delicious to him, I'm trying silkworms next. He loves an occasion meal worm as a teat because he likes the crunch. Too much is not good, but it's like potato chips to him.

the supplements stress me out too. just today alone I've learned about 5 things that the guy from the pet store told me about were wrong so I'm pretty upset about that. it's exo terra! I've ordered black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms), butterworms just as a treat for her and because she is SO skinny and horn worms. I'm waiting for silk worms to come back in stock so I'll try those next!

 

[MaiRemy]

the supplements stress me out too. just today alone I've learned about 5 things that the guy from the pet store told me about were wrong so I'm pretty upset about that. it's exo terra! I've ordered black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms), butterworms just as a treat for her and because she is SO skinny and horn worms. I'm waiting for silk worms to come back in stock so I'll try those next!

I mean your dusting supplements. Unless it's just exo terra?

 

[sammnadine]

I mean your dusting supplements. Unless it's just exo terra?

yeah, my dusting supplements are just exo terra calcium with D3 which I haven't used in about two days. I have to go to the store tomorrow so I'll pick up some more. what do you suggest?

 

[MaiRemy]

yeah, my dusting supplements are just exo terra calcium with D3 which I haven't used in about two days. I have to go to the store tomorrow so I'll pick up some more. what do you suggest?

I'd suggest repcal from what I'm accustomed to is known to be the best. The ones without d3 aren't usually found in stores but can be bought online for cheap.

Remember scheduling a balance is key. If you had to take vitamins heavily everyday you'd get sick or refuse to eat yourself.

Without D3 every to every other day
With D3 twice a month
With multivitamin once to twice a month

I usually do it like this. If I dust with d3 I don't dust without d3

Say mon-sat without d3
1st and 3rd Sunday with d3
2nd and 4th Sunday multivitamin

Not every feeder has to be dusted. Like if you feed 6 a feeding, 4 out of the 6 dusted.

 

[SocialNumb]

Your basking temps are on the high side

Temperature:
Baby/juvenile (<9 months): ambient 72-80F (22-26C), basking 85F (29C)
Adult males: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 90-95F (32-35C)
Adult females: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 85F (29C)

Feeding:
Neonates: as many small crickets as they can eat several times a day
Juveniles 3-6 months of age: 10-12 small crickets daily
Juveniles 6-12 months of age: 10-12 medium crickets every other day
Adults over 12 months of age: 7-10 medium-large crickets every other day

A lot of people go with as much as your cham will eat in a few minutes while young/growing quick

Supplementation:
Calcium and other vitamins are very important to your chameleon's health. Feeder insects should be lightly dusted with powdered supplement before being fed to your chameleon. Many keepers successfully use calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) at nearly every feeding, multivitamin once every 2 weeks, and calcium with D3 once every 2 weeks.

It's all in the care sheets https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

I've said this already (to you) but the sales people at pet stores don't know what they're talking about for the most part. This place you can count on.

Oh and MiaRemy is most likely right on the handling. Remember, you are a giant predator in your Chams eyes. At least till you're seen as a giant food dispenser with predator tendencies. Stress kills.