makeshift enclosure ideas?

[amanda509]

well..IF the poorly kept and mbd ridden veiled is still at petco in a week or so..im thinking about giving in and getting him but, i do not have plans on keeping it for too long, maybe a month or so, just to see what i can do for the little guy and IF its condition will improve, if so, then i may pass it on to someone here, or keep it for myself, who knows, im not that far yet but because i do not have long term plans on keeping it, i really dont want to invest in another big cage at the moment, so is there any ideas on makeshift ones? i was thinking a birdcage, anything else? i can easily aquire another uvb light and fixture, and cage furnishings, and im sure linus wont mind sharing his bugs soo..ideas?

but again, if its going to be too much of a hassle, i will have to let the horrible care of petco take its course, i really dont want to put out a lot of money for a cham that its too late to save thats horrible to say, but im sorry...

 

[MantisFTW]

I think a birdcage may be okay if its only temporary. It kinda depends on the type of cage it is, though. I would definitely recommend passing it on to someone else if its too much trouble for you. After all, its better to save him and have him kept in at least a little better care than to leave him to suffer.

 

[amanda509]

I think a birdcage may be okay if its only temporary. It kinda depends on the type of cage it is, though. I would definitely recommend passing it on to someone else if its too much trouble for you. After all, its better to save him and have him kept in at least a little better care than to leave him to suffer.

thats what i was thinking ^.^ at least get the poor thing in some uvb light with proper supplements and stop the mbd, instead of letting him stay in the store and gradually lose use of all his appendages i also have a few fish tanks i can turn on the side vertically and have the uvb angled, would that be okay? or too much of a ventilation problem?

 

[MantisFTW]

About how old is the cham in Petco do you think?

I dont think you should use a tilted aquarium and angle the UBV, because then it could cause blindness or vision problems in the cham since the light would be right in its face. Its better if its from the top, even if it is only temporary its better to be safe than sorry. The ventilation isnt so much of a problem if its temporary, like a month or less.

Im not exactly an expert on chams, I havent even gotten my first one yet. ^^; But my future cham will be coming in on the 24th. Im just telling you what Ive heard around these forums.

 

[camimom]

Depending on the progression of the MBD, a fish tank may not be bad.
sometimes when a cham has mbd, a cage that is longer than tall is better, so that it doesnt have far to fall when it does.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Depending on the progression of the MBD, a fish tank may not be bad.
sometimes when a cham has mbd, a cage that is longer than tall is better, so that it doesnt have far to fall when it does.

^^^ exactly what i was thinking! I believe there is a few members who use this idea.

 

[camimom]

^^^ exactly what i was thinking! I believe there is a few members who use this idea.

I believe Riven did the smae thing when Her little girl was really bad.

 

[amanda509]

Depending on the progression of the MBD, a fish tank may not be bad.
sometimes when a cham has mbd, a cage that is longer than tall is better, so that it doesnt have far to fall when it does.

it looks to be very young, maybe 3 months? its still lime green in color with few markings. about how big should the fish tank be? i have a couple, a ten gallon, 30 gallon, but its very long, and one more i cant think of right now as i said, the little guy cant use his hind legs very well :/ so im not sure how advanced the mbd is..

 

[camimom]

id say the ten gallon might be ok righ tnow.
can you take a pic of him and post it?

 

[amanda509]

About how old is the cham in Petco do you think?

I dont think you should use a tilted aquarium and angle the UBV, because then it could cause blindness or vision problems in the cham since the light would be right in its face. Its better if its from the top, even if it is only temporary its better to be safe than sorry. The ventilation isnt so much of a problem if its temporary, like a month or less.

Im not exactly an expert on chams, I havent even gotten my first one yet. ^^; But my future cham will be coming in on the 24th. Im just telling you what Ive heard around these forums.

and thanks, with camimom's info, i wont need to tilt it, and as i said, looks to be about 3 months as im guessing..

 

[amanda509]

id say the ten gallon might be ok righ tnow.
can you take a pic of him and post it?

im in school right now, ill make a trip hopefully tonight if im out and about, if i can get everything set up tonight, ill pick him up tomorrow ^.^ all i need are a dome lamp, and the uvb with fixture, which ill get from lowes

 

[camimom]

im in school right now, ill make a trip hopefully tonight if im out and about, if i can get everything set up tonight, ill pick him up tomorrow ^.^ all i need are a dome lamp, and the uvb with fixture, which ill get from lowes

I just wanted a pic to see how advanced it is.
What you can do is get some fake vines and fake leafy vines, get a soft towel.
place the towel in the tank, then place the vines and leafy things around the tank, so he can climb, but if/when he falls, he lands on a soft towel.

depending on how advanced it is, you may nee a vet visit for liquid calcium injections.

 

[amanda509]

I just wanted a pic to see how advanced it is.
What you can do is get some fake vines and fake leafy vines, get a soft towel.
place the towel in the tank, then place the vines and leafy things around the tank, so he can climb, but if/when he falls, he lands on a soft towel.

depending on how advanced it is, you may nee a vet visit for liquid calcium injections.

i really dont WANT to make a vet visit, because i know the only local vet that does reptiles will milk every penny out of people -.- just because they are the only in the area that treat exotics...but if im sure the cham will make it, then i will, is there anything i can do on my own to help? i gutload my crix with a dry gutload i got from dave, not sure what it is, also with lots of dandelion leaves, oranges, romaine, carrots, some kale, and i have stickytongue suppliments...oh, and some repcal, but i dont use it with linus.

 

[madden]

I made a makeshift cage out of a 2x6, some duct tape, the front of a tall clock and a window screen lol, here's a pic, took me like half an hour! I needed a temporary enclosure while I worked on my bigger cages. But if you're not in the mood to make something yourself, the aquarium should work fine. I'd put a thicker than usual layer of paper towels Or something similarly soft down to prevent injuries from falling.

In regards to the mbd, I'm no vet, but when I was a kid I saved a cham from very advanced mbd by blending up some some waxworms with calcium with d3 vitamins and water, and fed him through a medicine dropper because he couldn't open his mouth. Plus plenty of natural sunshine. I'm sure there are more advanced treatments, but my guy recovered, albeit with bowed limbs, and lived another 4 years.

 

[clarkrw3]

You want to get Calcium Gluconate syrup. I would give .03-.05cc per day for a couple weeks at least. You can find it on line and at some pharmacies. Also check out Secco's thread cage ideas 5...that would be a really easy cage to put together temporarily in a situation like this. Also make sure you have a new 5.0 bulb on him.

 

[camimom]

i really dont WANT to make a vet visit, because i know the only local vet that does reptiles will milk every penny out of people -.- just because they are the only in the area that treat exotics...but if im sure the cham will make it, then i will, is there anything i can do on my own to help? i gutload my crix with a dry gutload i got from dave, not sure what it is, also with lots of dandelion leaves, oranges, romaine, carrots, some kale, and i have stickytongue suppliments...oh, and some repcal, but i dont use it with linus.

you might be able to get liquid calcium over the counter. and then get a needless syringe and put some in his mouth...

 

[amanda509]

You want to get Calcium Gluconate syrup. I would give .03-.05cc per day for a couple weeks at least. You can find it on line and at some pharmacies. Also check out Secco's thread cage ideas 5...that would be a really easy cage to put together temporarily in a situation like this. Also make sure you have a new 5.0 bulb on him.

you might be able to get liquid calcium over the counter. and then get a needless syringe and put some in his mouth...

okay, i will do that you guys have been soo helpful! thank you soo much, ill post more if i run into any issues or more questions and ill get a pic asap.

 

[amanda509]

i forgot! i have a jackson, so i know his requirements are lower than that of a veiled, can someone refresh me on the optimal temps and humidity for the little guy? and also, about how much i should be feeding? (need to stock up on crix)

 

[camimom]

i forgot! i have a jackson, so i know his requirements are lower than that of a veiled, can someone refresh me on the optimal temps and humidity for the little guy? and also, about how much i should be feeding? (need to stock up on crix)

for 3 months old, temps between 80 and 83.
supplements- normally calciwum without d3 daily, calcium with d3 2x monthly, multivitamin monthly. (though i would replace the without d3 with the calcium liquid)
and bugs, well he should eta 10-20 smalls a day, what he does dpends on his illnesss
I would buy some pheonix worms for calcium. they are great for it!

 

[amanda509]

for 3 months old, temps between 80 and 83.
supplements- normally calciwum without d3 daily, calcium with d3 2x monthly, multivitamin monthly. (though i would replace the without d3 with the calcium liquid)
and bugs, well he should eta 10-20 smalls a day, what he does dpends on his illnesss
I would buy some pheonix worms for calcium. they are great for it!

okay! thanks ill have to order some pheonix worms, they arent offered locally :/