Leon seems very ill...

[Tillie]

My boyfriend noticed today that my Leon was at the bottom of the cage and not moving so good, almost like he was shivering whenever he tried to take a step. I know he hasn't been eating as much lately, but I hear that pretty common with veiled chameleons so I wasn't too worried. He's also been very moody, but I hear that's common too.

He came out of his cage fairly easily, although I've never seen him hiss so much. Also he seemed like it took a few tries to get a good footing? Also his foot looks a bit swollen, I've got a picture.

Can you see it? He's outside now, because I thought it might just be that he isn't getting enough natural light. He looks happier already, but I still want to make sure... He's still young and growing. He's only about 9 months old? I feed him 5-8 large gutloaded crickets a day, dusted in reptocal. More if he looks hungry.

What does everyone think?

(ps please don't mind the mess in the pic... we were cleaning when we noticed it)

 

[Julirs]

He looks OK-can you give us the run down by answering these questions-use brand names if possible for lighting, etc...
Cage Info:
Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size?
Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?
Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels?
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?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures can really help as well.

 

[Tillie]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - screen cage, about 4 ft tall
Lighting - zoo med 75w basking spot light, left on for about 12 hours.
Temperature - Usually a bit warmer than room temperature, at any given time.
Humidity - 80%, misting three times a day and live plant
Plants - Live umbrella plant
Location - In our bedroom, but in a corner so that when the closet door is open, he can't see our bed or the TV

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male veiled, about 9 months old.
Feeding - He's only ever been interested in crickets. 5-8 large gut-loaded crickets a day, dusted in reptocal. I usually feed him at night but if he looks hungry during the day, I feed him then.
Supplements - Reptocal and I give them orange cube to supplement vitamins.
Watering - Hand misting, yea, he drinks almost every time.
Fecal Description - He hides them so I never see them until a few days later. They look small, easily passable, mostly black with maybe 30% urea?
History - got him as a perfectly healthy baby boy
Current Problem -

He's moving very poorly, slowly and shaky. He hasn't been eating much and is very moody.

a normal picture of him:

 

[Julirs]

My thought here is since it does not appear that you have any UVB lighting he is in the early stages of MBD (metabolic bone disease). UVB and calcium are essential in keeping chameleons. Are you using Repcal with D3 or without?
You really need to order a Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 linear flourescent tube ASAP and you really need to see a vet to quickly reverse the progression of the disease.

That is a gorgeous chameleon you have there.

 

[chamlover]

I double that and ASAP like julirs said. Also you didn't say what his basking temps where. I know you said you had a 75 watt bulb i believe, but where is his basking branch and what are the temps there? How long do you mist him? Does he have a dripper? But the most important is Calcium with D3 and the UVB bulb quickly and in the meantime address the other things. Gorgeous veiled.

Debby

 

[Tillie]

Well his calcium powder does have d3, and we're going to get that bulb today, in a few hours. I'm afraid there aren't many vets open around here on Sunday, but I'm going to call around tomorrow to see who can see me. Thanks for your help. This was really very sudden, he'd been perfectly healthy with no swelling a week earlier. I noticed a change in appetite and temper, but I thought that might just be because he's shedding.

 

[CammieNLeno]

This was really very sudden, he'd been perfectly healthy with no swelling a week earlier.

If you have raised him from a baby up to 9 months without a UV bulb, it has not been sudden at all, he has been in trouble for about 5-6 months now. I am putting my $$ on early stages of MBD as well.

Hopefully you have cought it in time. Have you started to research local vets?

 

[summoner12]

You can get UVB lamps from LLL Reptile. LLL's prices will be cheaper than your local pet shop. (if you haven't made your purchase already)

Fixture.

Lamp.

Since you are using a Reptarium I am suggesting you get the 10.0 lamp. Reptariums block a lot of UVB due to the heavy plastic meshing.



If you check out this website, you will learn a lot about reptiles and their UVB requirements.