Looking for a miracle

[blackhawk]

Just obtained a wild caught male Nosy Faly whose health was GREATLY exagerrated by the seller (I'm pissed but this isn't about me) and am in need of a miracle worker.

I live in a small town and there is no vet option.

Supposedly this chameleon has been in the states for months and is eating like a champ but it looks like he just got off the boat. Completely dehydrated, eyes and casque sunken, weak grip and I can see the hip and shoulder bones clearly. As soon as I took him out of his shipping bag and saw his condition, I placed him on a branch suspended above a tub and ran a warm shower against the wall. He drank immediatly and after about 20 minutes he started moving away from the water so I placed him in his new cage (large screen enclosure, no substrate, perches and vines and large potted shefflara). Outside temps were in the low 80s with sun so I put his cage outside most of the day. I checked on him from time to time but really wanted him to have some peace. He remained perched on the branch that I placed him on all day and kept his eyes closed unless he knew of my presence. He has shown no interest in any food items - have offered dubias, crickets, freshly molted superworms and hornworms. I have seen him on his perch with a hind leg dangling off at times. He hardly moves. I have misted his cage twice while outdoors for a good 10 minutes or so and he hasn't drank. I assume the most important thing at this point is to hydrate him and I like the idea of the warm shower but I don't like the idea of handling him in order to put him in the shower. He needs calories and he needs water. Tomorrow's temps are high 70s/low 80 with rain. Wondering if he should be outside tomorrow. Any advice that pertains to turning this animal around would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Solid Snake]

Dont give him too much water too fast.
I think outside is the best thing you could do for him.

I have no wc experience though, jmo.

 

[ataraxia]

Yes keep him outside tomorrow but allow him to evade the rain when he wants. Humidity will help him a bunch. Im sure i have some nosy be's that came from that same shipment.

Top priority:
Keep hydrating him.
As soon as you see the first feces. Take it in ASAP for examination. More than likely he will have a parasite load that will need to be dealt with. id go ahead and shot gun panacur but you will need to see what all you are dealing with.

Offering food at this point is going to be useless. If you feel comfortable with force feeding. After a day or so of heavy hydration. You could force only a few crickets if he has no appetite..

If his eyes are sunk in and looks severely malnourished. Id contact the seller and look for a refund. I would not except another animal as they are shit of a vendor. Sorry i cant stand people like this. Way to many of them looking to profit off of sick animals.

Please pm me who you bought this guy off of.

Good luck.

 

[drcrossfire]

I'd say keep working on hydration... if he's still not eating after a few days you may consider force feeding. I have not done this, but there are some threads on it.

 

[laurie]

That sucks, at least he came to you so he has a better chance. I agree on doing everything possible to get him as hydrated as you can. Wait a couple of days to offer food, if he didn't take any today I would offer something soft on early Friday afternoon. That way you can be sure he is well warmed. If you have to force feed let me know and I will tell you what I use and how I have accomplished it. Hoping for the best for both of you.

 

[Murrdox]

I hope you're able to figure out SOME kind of vet option, because as ataraxia said, he almost certainly has some parasites that you're going to have to deal with, and a vet is pretty much your only solution there, unless some other keepers here are experts enough to tell you how to self-medicate him.

Maybe you can mail a fecal sample to someone with a vet close by that can have it tested for you? Heck, I'm in VA and I have a decent herp vet in the area, I might be able to take care of that for you if you want.

 

[Chuck G]

An appointment with a herp vet is mandatory if you are going to attempt to save him. He may be too far gone at this point.
Get your money back if this chameleon arrived in this condition. Take pictures!
Let this be a lesson to people buying wild caught chameleons no matter if the condition is exaggerated or not. They will almost always have issues that will need a vet whether they show signs right away or not. I wish you luck with him.