Just noticed my Chameleon has a (broken leg)....maybe?!?

[DaNDJ]

Hey peeps, just spotted my Chameleon DJ walking really funny, almost limping and keeping really close to the branch, So I took him out and put him onto my bed and he started walking exactly the same. He was really struggling to use his front left leg. Had a closer look and noticed its really bent, allmost as if he has an extra joint. I took some pics of him, I have some of him when we first got him aswell and its deffinatly 'new'. His about 4-5months old, he has no other marks/injuries on him. Also he isnt eating as much as he use to, we have swapped from crickets to locusts and will eat one and then stick his tounge out as if he was going tobe sick The guy who owns the place where we get our food from said that Locusts throw up, as thier defense mechanisim and this is maybe why...again....

Anyway thought you guys may know more from looking at the pics.

This is his 'normal' leg:

This is the dodgy leg, you can see the extra bend in it:

Another pic of his leg, theres deffinatly two bends there:

And again, maybe a better image of the 'bend':

Any ideas??????

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Greetings, and sorry to hear about your cham's leg(s). To be honest with you, the "normal" leg doesn't look too good, either. This guy needs a trip to the vet. I won't venture to say for sure what caused the broken leg, but the most common cause is MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease, caused by a lack of calcium or a lack of calcium absorption. The vet can deal with the calcium issue (if that's what it is), and a break this bad may need a splint. Also, it is possible the eating problem is caused by pain and stress. Also, lack of calcium affects the major muscle groups, including those related to the movement of food within the body.

Please get him to a vet as soon as you can. Tomorrow would not be too soon.

In the mean time, please answer these husbandry questions. If the break was caused by MBD, then a few tweaks to your husbandry may be needed (in addition to a trip to the vet).

Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
Location - 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?

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.

 

[blackbetty]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/mbd-broken-fine-20626/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/broken-leg-16723/

tht second one looks close to yours

 

[jannb]

I agree with Gesang. A vet visit is in order ASAP. Jann

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Also, in the mean time, handle him as little as possible. If it is MBD then he is at risk of broken legs and broken ribs, etc. If he seems to be doing himself harm by trying to climb about his cage, or especially if he is falling, then you may wish to move him to a bin, with no climbing devices so he won't be tempted to place stress on those legs. But, if he is resting his body on this vines, and staying still, then leaving him alone is probably best. Don't disturb him or make him move himself. Let him hide in his plants so stress will be minimized. You need to preserve the remaining legs until the vet can help him.

Also, are we sure this is a male? Are their "spurs" on the back feet?

 

[DaNDJ]

Hey guys, we put him on the top of his plant because thats where he keeps going, (what with you mentioning him been stressed and in pain) it makes sense that he is staying there, he is ok walking around, he moves ok but you can see he is not trying to use his leg. His other limbs look ok and they move freely.

This is DJ's home: This is where we left him tonight and its where he stays allmost all the time now, the right hand plant kept falling down and I think he was sleeping on it one night and it fell and he went into the log underneath.

This is his calcium supplement:

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Veiled, I actually think its a female (i refer to him as...well him ^_^) and its about 5months.
How long has it been in your care? - About 4months
Handling - Fairly often, maybe once/twice a week for a climb
Feeding - Crickets (5-6 a day), now his on Locusts (2-3 before spitting them out in disgust)
Supplements - Calcium Powder, sprinkled over the food.
Watering - We spray him everyday and he drinks fine
Fecal Description - Allways brown/light brown, a few have been light, allmost white/yellow but most are brown
History - Bought him from a month old, no known problems

 

[Eric Adrignola]

If your light bulb produces any UVB radiation, it's not getting to the animal. Glass filters it out.

I do't know what's in that stuff, but it appears to not be working - I'd get rep-cal with d3.

A vet will give him some calcium which will put a stop to this quickly - you'll be surprised.

 

[Dunnigan]

The UVB light appears to be in the cage, so there is no glass between it and the animal

 

[Syn]

If your light bulb produces any UVB radiation, it's not getting to the animal. Glass filters it out.

I do't know what's in that stuff, but it appears to not be working - I'd get rep-cal with d3.

A vet will give him some calcium which will put a stop to this quickly - you'll be surprised.

The UVB is in the cage.

It looks broken. I agree a vet is needed asap..

Also, whatever substrate that is should probably be removed, if he decides to eat it it could cause impaction.

 

[Julirs]

Where is your UVB bulb? Nutrobal is vitamins, you need a Calium dust -comon name Calypso over there. Do you know what your temps are in that cage?

 

[Chase]

Where is your UVB bulb?

Its inside the cage.

 

[DaNDJ]

Hiya there, yea the U.V light is inside the cage, its a repti-glo 5.0 which is what was supplied with the vivarium. Ill get hold of some better calcium powder then, ill have a look around. Im hopefully getting him to a Reptile Vets tomorow, its only 20-25mins away. Temps reach 80-85 during the day and about 60 at night.

The plants are artificial and the right hand plant kept falling off, I think he was sleeping on it one night and it fell off, maybe hitting the log in the middle??

He is having a real tough time eating at the moment, whenever he eats anything he holds his tounge out and spits out the food , Crickets, Locusts. Apart from that he is holding up okay, He was walking fine yesterday so this has happend over night we suspect

 

[Chase]

Get the UV bulb out of the cage, I'm surprised he hasn't gotten burnt yet.

 

[jannb]

Yon need 3 supplements. Use plain calcium at just about every feeding. Twice a month calcium with D3 and once a month a multi vitamin such as Herptivite. On the days that you use the D3 and multi do not use the plain calcium because they already have calcium in them and only lightly dust your feeders......don't make them look like ghost. Jann

 

[sandrachameleon]

DaNDJ, you're right that leg doesnt look good at all. I agree a vet visit is necessary ASAP. Until that is done, none of the below matters.

I see that the UVB tube is inside the enclosure on an angle top to bottom. Is there a plastic cover on the tube, or is it a bare bulb? Plastic filters UVB out. The light would be better placed on the top of the enclosure, like the heat bulb - the sun is in the sky so creatures are used to light coming from above.

I dont use Nutrobal, so cant say whether or not its sufficient. Another user has said this about Nutrobal - "a high potency calcium balancer and multivitamin supplement" - per gram - 200mg calcium, 150IU D3 plus vitamins A, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, folic, nicotinic & pantothenic acids, biotin, choline, niacin and minerals Na, Fe, Co, I, Mn, Zn, Se and Cu.

What are the temperatures readings at top (basking spot) and bottom? It looks like you are using an analog guage which are unfortunatley usually not very accurate. You may want to consider a digital.

Same for humidity.

Also, the enclosure looks quite bare. I would suggest a nice live plant and multiple vines and branches of varying widths and at different levels within the enclosure.

You can also remove the substrate. Doesnt do anything for the chameleon and might harbour bacteria and mold.

 

[DaNDJ]

DaNDJ, you're right that leg doesnt look good at all. I agree a vet visit is necessary ASAP. Until that is done, none of the below matters.

I see that the UVB tube is inside the enclosure on an angle top to bottom. Is there a plastic cover on the tube, or is it a bare bulb? Plastic filters UVB out. The light would be better placed on the top of the enclosure, like the heat bulb - the sun is in the sky so creatures are used to light coming from above.

I dont use Nutrobal, so cant say whether or not its sufficient. Another user has said this about Nutrobal - "a high potency calcium balancer and multivitamin supplement" - per gram - 200mg calcium, 150IU D3 plus vitamins A, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, folic, nicotinic & pantothenic acids, biotin, choline, niacin and minerals Na, Fe, Co, I, Mn, Zn, Se and Cu.

What are the temperatures readings at top (basking spot) and bottom? It looks like you are using an analog guage which are unfortunatley usually not very accurate. You may want to consider a digital.

Same for humidity.

Also, the enclosure looks quite bare. I would suggest a nice live plant and multiple vines and branches of varying widths and at different levels within the enclosure.

You can also remove the substrate. Doesnt do anything for the chameleon and might harbour bacteria and mold.

Hey thanks for all the replys. There is no cover on the U.V light, ive seen some with a plastic coating on them but didnt opt for one because I didnt want anything blocking any rays, He hasnt gone near it in terms of trying to climb on it, I think he knows not to touch it as its obviously fairly hot, he seems ok with it where it is. I will move it ontop of the vivarium though (havent done so as I was cautious of it falling off and smashing). I have him booked into the vets at 4:30 today and will see what he says about his leg (hopefully nothing life threatning). Temps for his basking spot are at about 80-82 and at night they fall to about 60-65, he allways sleeps fine untill the UV is switched on in the morning.

He started eating again today (but only after) he drunk an absolutly amazing amount of liquid so thats brought some relief to me and my g/f this afternoon.

He looks okay, not moving around and sitting in his usual basking spot. Things are looking a little better (trying tobe possitive)

PS.

Also ive moved both his plants and laid them on the floor of the viv as I dont want to risk them falling again, I need a solution to getting them to stick to the glass as they use the suction pads and tobe honest there bloody awfull. They can stick for days and be fine and then they will be utterly useless for days and I have to resort to laying them down. Ive been told I could use some fishing wire and hook it round the top of the plant and thread it through the top net of the viv and hang it securly that way?!?! what you think of that?? safe?

 

[jmdavis]

For your solution with your vines you could always go with the magnetic ones. I'm not sure if you've seen them but they seem to be nice and strong so they wont fall down, or just go with a live plant of your choice from the list of safe plants on the site. Hope your little one gets better

 

[Sang]

im suprised no one mentioned, for a glass enclosure, you have 1 hot light inside, 1 hot light beating down... were is his escape from the heat?


double check your temps.. an ambient of 80-85 is probably too warm, only one area should be that warm..the rest of the enclosure should be around 75-78...

 

[joe]

i dont no if this has already been said because i cant be botherd to look but are you sure you should have that substrate? and them fake leaves down the side? ( sorry,if this has been said) the substrate is bad because it soaks up moisture and the fake leaves, well he might eat um!

 

[martyllian]

I hope your little one gets better. She looks like a darling.

A tip for anyone taking close cham shots, put the camera in macro mode. Icon looks like a flower. may even be its own button depending on camera. it lets the cam focus closer, faster.