Just found out my veiled chameleon has coccidaia!

[Kboz1991]

I just got my veiled the beginning of this month and I got him from petco witch was stupid on my part. Hes only 6 inches long and ever since I got him he's been sleeping all day not really eating much. I took him to the vet the first time and he had a infection so he was on antibiotics than the next week I sent back in because he eyes were messed up and he had a eye Infection so now he'son eye drops also. I took a fecal in to be tested and I go back tomorrow and I called today and they said he has coccidaia. I go tomorrow to get the meds and everything for him. I have been having to feed him with a syringe since the first time I went to the vet and soaking him in warm water 2 to 3x a day to get him hydrated. I was just wondering does this parasite cause your chameleon to lose appetite and sleep all day? I have been trying to get him back to good health and I'm just woundering of that's the cause of him not having energy or moving very much and not eating. If anyone can give me any insight if really appreciate it thank you.

 

[jpowell86]

Coccidia is a protozoan that attaches to the intestinal mucosa and will prevent the proper absorption of nutrients. So, yes this could very well be the reason why your little guy has been lethargic. Did the vet happen to mention what he/she would be prescribing for this?

 

[jannb]

Chameleons get parasites regardless of where they come from. They get parasites from the feeders they eat so any chameleon, anywhere can get cociddia. The most important thing it that you get the proper treatment for him and clean up properly. Both the type of treatment and clean up is VERY important. Be sure to ask your vet for ponazuril. Here's a couple of links to help you out.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/chameleons-and-coccidia-ponazuril-offers-new-hope.16409/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/coccidia-cleaning-need-advice-tips-please.42444/

 

[Kboz1991]

No not yet I'll be going tomorrow around 5 pm. I been reading about some of the medications they give for that and really neither of them sound like they will make him better before he gets worse if that makes sense. I just want my buddy to get better I been trying to figure this out he's been sleeping most the day away and not doing much of anything. Just hope he gets better. I'm not sure if they will give him I think it's albon or the tms meds I think it is. I did a lot of research before I got him and still do a lot.

 

[Kboz1991]

I heard your supose to clean the cage out every other day or 3. Should I just clean everything with warm water or is there some type of cleaner I should use that's safe for him. He's really scared of me know because of having to feed him with the syringe and putting him in the water and the eye drops and I hate stressing the guy out because that's really bad for him bit there's nothing I can do to help that. If you could give me some tips on what to use to clean the cage and how often to do it that would be great. Thank you guys for the help

 

[jannb]

I heard your supose to clean the cage out every other day or 3. Should I just clean everything with warm water or is there some type of cleaner I should use that's safe for him. He's really scared of me know because of having to feed him with the syringe and putting him in the water and the eye drops and I hate stressing the guy out because that's really bad for him bit there's nothing I can do to help that. If you could give me some tips on what to use to clean the cage and how often to do it that would be great. Thank you guys for the help

Please read my post and check out the links that I provided above. Do not use Albon. It will make your chameleon stop eating and if he's already weak it will probably kill him. Use Ponazuril, it has no side effects at all. The second link tells you how to clean. Peroxide, that you buy from a beauty supply store is what you want to use to clean with. It kills the cociddia. Do you have other reptiles? Cociddia is highly contagious.

You might also find my blog for new keepers helpful.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-with-young-veiled-or-panther-chameleons.325/

 

[Kboz1991]

What if I can't buy it from there does Walmart sell it. I have no idea where to get it and what% to use

 

[Kboz1991]

I read both of those I'm trying to figure out where to get hydrogen peroxide and what percentage I need of I can find it

 

[Blang]

You should be able to get hydrogen peroxide at any Walmart or pharmacy near you! I would also recommend wearing rubber gloves when handling your chameleon or cleaning his enclosure, I think cocciddia is transmittable to humans so be careful when cleaning & handling! If its warm where you live you could go to a car wash & pour pure bleach or the peroxide on your cage & use a brush to scrub it down & pressure wash it good with rinse water!

 

[jannb]

You should be able to get hydrogen peroxide at any Walmart or pharmacy near you! I would also recommend wearing rubber gloves when handling your chameleon or cleaning his enclosure, I think cocciddia is transmittable to humans so be careful when cleaning & handling! If its warm where you live you could go to a car wash & pour pure bleach or the peroxide on your cage & use a brush to scrub it down & pressure wash it good with rinse water!

The kind at Wal Mart or a Pharmacy will not work. It's not strong enough. It has to be the kind they dye hair with from a beauty supply store such as Sally's. It has to be 40 to 60 volume and liquid is much easier to work with than the gel. You mix it 50/50 with hot water.

 

[Kboz1991]

yea I have no idea where I cant get it today I tried to call all stores around me. I just ordered a bottle off amazon of 40 vol 12% liquid I'm going to try and find a little bottle to hold me over till I get it.

 

[Blang]

Also if your feeder insects come in contact with your chameleons poop and eat it there's a chance of reinfecting your chameleon! As soon as you see cham poop its very important to clean it up!!!! Just my .02! Good luck!

 

[jannb]

yea I have no idea where I cant get it today I tried to call all stores around me. I just ordered a bottle off amazon of 40 vol 12% liquid I'm going to try and find a little bottle to hold me over till I get it.

I buy mine at Sally's Beauty supply. Are any of these near you? If not google beauty supply stores near you.
sally beauty supply in Maryland?
sally beauty supply in Maryland?

 

[jannb]

I buy mine at Sally's Beauty supply. Are any of these near you? If not google beauty supply stores near you.

 

[Kboz1991]

I actually just asked my sister and that's were she directed me. There is one in Westminster right by me in MD. Yea I just put him in his big screen cage yesterday with everything so I guess I'm going to go back to the smaller cage for a few weeks till he gets clears up and throwout most my stuff and get new. I guess I'm going to have to throw my hibiscus out that I have in there and get a new one when he goes back to the big screen cage till then I guess its plastic plants and the smaller glass terrarium. thanks for all your help I appreciate it.

 

[FlChamMom]

My panther boy got coccidia a few years ago- it is hard to get rid of but possible. He was on 3 cycles of Ponazuril. I also put him in a "quarantine cage", a smaller cage with all plastic plants while he was on medication. After every cycle of Ponazuril, I scrubbed the cage with the Peroxide developer Jannb mentioned and soaked all of the plants in it. I threw of his old cage, but you could scrub the cage in the peroxide and be safe. I would definitely get rid of any live plants.

 

[carol5208]

I would also like to add that you should not soak your chameleon to hydrate him. There is no proof or evidence that a chameleon gets hydration through his skin or cloaca. Holding him and submersing him in water is only going to stress him more. Stress may weaken him further. If you are trying to get water into him, try taking an eye dropper and dripping water onto his nose for several minutes.

 

[wodesorel]

I just bought a big bottle of 40 volume at Sally's for $5 for cleaning. Can't beat the price. Take heed to wear gloves like suggested! I did but got some on my arm by accident and ooh did it burn. It'll also take the color out of clothing.

 

[Kboz1991]

Yeah I cleaned everything out I got albon that's all he would perscrib and there isn't any other reptile vet or any other vet around me that I could go to so I guess I'm going to give it a shot. Yea I found the 40 volume and yea it does burn a bit haha. Okay I'll try giving him some water like that and see what happens. Yea I soaked everything for about 20 mins and rinsed really good and let it dry out. I also got rid of the hibiscus I'm going to stick with plastic till I get him all clear. I figure of this doesn't work within the doses I'm suppose to give him I'll go find someone to give me the ponazuril. I'm just hoping he's all clear after this stuff. He's staying to turn around from how he was when I got him. But thank you all for your help

 

[Blang]

If you have to give him albon/ don't skimp on keeping him hydrated! Give your chameleon as much water as it will drink, albon causes severe dehydration, and if that happens internal organs will start to shut down! Sulfa crystals will form in the urates if not well hydrated! Good luck!