Loss of energy in a veiled

[davemailcall]

My veiled has become increasing less mobile. Over the last few weeks, she went from roaming around to crawling or only moving when she really had to.

These last few days I've seen her lose her ability to hold on to branches. I've posted a few things about it, but I only attributed it to clumsiness on her part. But lately its more severe than that. She definitely has a grip issue. She doesn't like to be on vines and when she is, you can watch her slowly start to slide, so I usually grab her and put her on something with a little more support.

The big sign, is that she doesn't go hunting any more. She sat for a few days at the bottom of the cage where I put a little egg laying dish just in case. At first I thought she wanted to be in it, now I think she just doesn't have the strength to climb back up.

I took her out and set her on the floor and tried to feed her meal worms. She only went for them when I put them about an inch from her and even then, it looked really tough for her to eat. She ate three of them though...but it was a struggle. She didn't even move to get them, I had to put them within her range. She is well hydrated as well.

Is this weariness a sign of UV deprivation? Calcium loss? I took her outside and set her on one of her plants and she started to perk up a bit, even roaming around a little. Its really nice outside and perfect cham weather...is she too cold in the house maybe? Its usually in the upper 70s in the appartment and the upper reaches of her cage are well in the 80s.

Its almost like her legs don't want to work for her. Ideas? I've got a vet appointment on monday, but any tips in the mean time would be MOST welcome!

 

[Ren]

You do have a uvb and heat lamp in the enclosure correct? Also are you supplementing your feeders? Herptavite and repcal? If you are able please post some pics of your enclosure setup. it may help to figure something out... We all understand your frustration and it will be very hard for you to wait till Monday to see the Doc.let us konw a little more about the setup and your routine and it will help all of us to help you.

 

[ChameleonsTree]

Time for a vet visit.

 

[kinyonga]

From what you are saying, your chameleon is in a lot of trouble. It could be or MBD or a number of other things. I hope that she will last long enough to get to the vets and that the vet can help her.

 

[davemailcall]

This is the thread where I posted some pictures of the cage set up. I've since added vines that go about 12 inches higher than the plants and some other plants attached to the back. Let me know if they are good enough or I'll take more.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-first-cage-5392/

I have been supplementing her with repcal. I'm starting to wonder if I was giving her enough.

 

[Tygerr]

Sorry to hear about your trouble David. I liked that cage you built - very neat.
As long as the cham could get high up enough in the cage (to at least 6 inches below the UVB light), I can't see any glaringly obvious problems with the cage.
That fixture that your UVB bulb is in: it doesn't have any plastic or glass covering over the UVB bulb does it (i.e. the UV bulb is 'naked' to the enclosure)?

Kinyonga is right about the urgency of a vet visit though. If there is any way you can see a vet sooner than Monday, I would do it.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

you said egg laying dish. If she's gravid, a dish isn't going to cut it - they ned to dig, at least 6" of moistened (not wet) soil/sand to lay eggs.

 

[PardalisGirl]

Definitely time for the vet. ASAP. Until then....I read some of your prior posts and have some questions. Your cage is beautiful. You need climbing vines or branches to get closer to the top though for basking. Your top basking area should be in the upper 80's. A sick cham needs to be a bit warmer to aid the metabolism and healing. You want it warmer but not to the point of open mouth gaping. The lower to middle cage should range in the 70's and low 80's. What kind of lighting are you using? What is the brand name? You had a previous post that said your lighting was on for 6 hours a day. I'm hoping that was a typo. It should be on about 16 hours a day with an 8 hour night time. What has her normal food been? Mealworms are not a good staple. Gutloaded crickets with proper dusting is the best diet staple with other things added for variety, etc. Mealworms have the least amount of nutrition of just about any feeder insect. Is she drinking? If not, you have to find a way to get her to drink. Dehydration, which happens with sick chams, will kill her before the illness does. Lots of questions, but I think the answers will help all of us help you and your girl out. Will be thinking of her!

 

[davemailcall]

Just an update for everyone who posted their concern!
I was able to see a vet today. He said that Chloe is actually doing very well. There were a couple of issues that he addressed that I was concerned about.

One: She is getting plenty of calcium, but he said I could always give a little more. Her bones are well formed and doing great.
Two: Although I'm giving her plenty of light, she needs more heat. I figured that might be the case because I didn't have my vines going up high enough. They did as of a few days ago, but I guess the effect hasn't accumulated. And yes Paradalise, it was a typo, she gets light 16 not 6hrs a day lol
Three: The UV is very important and that I should make sure she gets plenty and to take her outside when I can. He also suggested sticking her in the shower and hydrating her. People have posted in here that methods of doing that, so I will.
This combo of things has kept her from molting since she hasn't felt physically comfortable doing it.

Luckily for me, he said that I was doing everything right and that Chloe looked really awesome compared to some other chams he's seen this summer.
He gave me an additional supplemental and having her on a towel on top of a heating pad on low was not a bad thing to do. So right now shes on my couch chilling a bright bright green moving around. I have to keep her put lol
Just a tip for some who don't know. Something that I never saw addressed on here. Chams that are somewhat young aren't into eating foliage, they are all about the meat. When they get older they get a taste for it.

I'm like a guy with a first child, every little cough and you freak out!
Thanks for all the tips and concern. I'll post some updated pics of her cage!

 

[davemailcall]

Two other comments I forgot to address

Tygrr: The UV bulb came with a cover, but I removed it.

Eric: The "dish" is 8inches across and about 8inches deep

 

[ColorCham427]

My Sambava is still acting that way. If it's nice out in your area, let her get 3 hours of natural sunlight. Keep her hydrated. Get a fecal sample and get it tested. My Sambava had parasites and he was loosing his grip, sleeping during the day, and only eating 1 cricket a day just to survive. Hope for the best!

-Brian