Massive Breakthrough In Chameleon Care!!!!!!!!!

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Ok, here it is!!!

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!

That's it! Yup, it is old news! I know! But it is still the best kept secret to successful chameleon keeping ever! It is usually not a secret because those who know it refuse to share it with others! But rather because a large amount of people the secret is shared with never even listened!

People, hydrate your chameleons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please!

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Dude Matt, not to still your thunder but if we're sharing information i just wanted to add that i came back from a vet visit today and me and my vet were talking and he explained to me that sometimes a difficult shed is not just a difficult shed but can be something internal like parasites or worms that is harming them internally so they have difficulty externally. I'm sure a lot of you know this, but in case someone out there doesn't now you know this too.

 

[JGO66]

What is the best method of treatment of any for intestinal parasites? Proper diet and hydration? Thank you both for your informative posts

 

[Lennoncham]

What is the best method of treatment of any for intestinal parasites? Proper diet and hydration? Thank you both for your informative posts

To treat parasites you need medication from a vet that is specific to that parasite. You can get a fecal test done to check for parasites.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

What is the best method of treatment of any for intestinal parasites? Proper diet and hydration? Thank you both for your informative posts

As the last comment says you would need to get a fecal done but to have some preventive measures you can make sure the habitats that you keep your bugs in is clean and that you never let dead bugs or old fruit/verges stay in their cage for long because bugs certain worms and parasites and fungus/fruit flies lay their eggs in dead bugs and spoiled fruit and veggies so it's important to keep the bugs enclosures just as clean as your pets cage.

Edit: even if you do these things it's still important to get a fecal every couple of months because bugs carry parasites and worms regardless, more especially if they are store bought.

 

[JGO66]

Is there any reptile vets anyone recommends with experience inthe socal area? Would rather be safe then sorry in the future

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Is there any reptile vets anyone recommends with experience inthe socal area? Would rather be safe then sorry in the future

If you do a search in the search bar I believe there's a thread where people list the vets in or near their area. It's really long too so I'm sure there's bound to be one near you lol.

 

[jamest0o0]

This could be said with people too, drink a gallon+ water a day and tell me it doesn't solve a lot of issues.

As for parasites, i'm no expert and i'm sure there are times when parasites get the best of a well taken care of chameleon. But these animals live in the wild eating filthy bugs. I am going to assume a lot of times they get bad from parasites is due to subpar husbandry. I could be wrong about that, but it makes sense. Stress-lowered immune system-illness/parasites takeover. *knock on wood* my chams might just end up with them next now that i said something lol.

 

[JGO66]

Very informative husbandry notes, thank you guys

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

This could be said with people too, drink a gallon+ water a day and tell me it doesn't solve a lot of issues.

As for parasites, i'm no expert and i'm sure there are times when parasites get the best of a well taken care of chameleon. But these animals live in the wild eating filthy bugs. I am going to assume a lot of times they get bad from parasites is due to subpar husbandry. I could be wrong about that, but it makes sense. Stress-lowered immune system-illness/parasites takeover. *knock on wood* my chams might just end up with them next now that i said something lol.

I can agree with that statement. But I also think in the wild though parasites do exist bugs "could" have less of a tendency to constantly contract parasites because 1) they aren't being housed in cramped spaces where they have to wait for someone to notice dead bugs or old food around them, 2) they don't have to worry about sprays and such people put on their lawns and and plants and such, 3) as they are wild they have a better idea of what they should and shouldn't eat and a better variety/knowing what their body is lacking and going out to eat the food that would help them up whatever is they we're lacking in the first place, 4) only the strong survive (lol). But this is just my speculation.

 

[jamest0o0]

Bugs in the wild i would think have even more parasites, i don't know this as fact, but it would make sense. We keep them in controlled environments here with less exposure to other things.

 

[jamest0o0]

I do agree with your point though, if the bugs are in unnecessarily dirty cages, that is not good. Comes down to common sense i guess. I think someone with great husbandry would also clean their bug bins once and awhile lol.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Bugs in the wild i would think have even more parasites, i don't know this as fact, but it would make sense. We keep them in controlled environments here with less exposure to other things.

Yea that's true and I definitely see your point I just....I feel like "they got the beat they got the beat yeaaaaaah they got the beat" in the wild lol.

 

[paulkaranik]

Wild caught bugs are typically healthy and stronger given that the breeding pool is infinitely larger. Healthier stronger bugs = less parasites.

 

[paulkaranik]

If they are caught in the appropriate areas after course .. (nowhere near pesticides etc..)

 

[jamest0o0]

Where's your sources for that? I'm not bashing wild caught bugs, but that doesn't really make sense. A lot of things, plants included, are bred to be stronger/healthier with less die-off. Don't see why bugs would be any different. For example, silkworms are bred to be more like this. A lot of wild bugs don't have access to consistent, balanced nutrition and eat garbage.

 

[jamest0o0]

Not trying to be argumentative, i can see how wild caught bugs could be better, but most of us don't have access to that. I just don't see why bugs, bred to be nutritious feeders that last(breeders don't want them to all die before they can profit afterall...), would be more susceptible to parasites.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

I can see what @paulkaranik is saying. In the wild only the strong survive thus breeding with other strong wild bugs and keeping the healthy gene pool up. Also you wouldn't have to worry about members of the same clutch constantly breeding with each other causing genetic malfunctions and such.

But now I'm a bit confused are talking about wild as in Madagascar jungle/forest/woods or are we talking just outside my house? And people who actually breed crickets as a living then that's a whole different ball game than say someone who is just keeping crickets and hope they lay eggs before they are fed off.

 

[bobbydigital]

Is there any reptile vets anyone recommends with experience inthe socal area? Would rather be safe then sorry in the future

Dr Greek in yorba Linda. Many other members along with myself would vouch for him. I drive over an hour (with no traffic) just to take my cham to him. Best vet I've been to.

 

[jamest0o0]

I can see what @paulkaranik is saying. In the wild only the strong survive thus breeding with other strong wild bugs and keeping the healthy gene pool up. Also you wouldn't have to worry about members of the same clutch constantly breeding with each other causing genetic malfunctions and such.

But now I'm a bit confused are talking about wild as in Madagascar jungle/forest/woods or are we talking just outside my house? And people who actually breed crickets as a living then that's a whole different ball game than say someone who is just keeping crickets and hope they lay eggs before they are fed off.

Well the thing is, just because the bug is strong or not, doesn't mean it won't carry parasites. Most 'wild caught' of anything tend to carry more parasites it seems. Some might just be hosts that pass them on too. So maybe a stronger bug could be host to even more parasites o.o? I just think in general, bred feeders are less likely to carry prasites than wild-caught. Does this matter? Idk... do i know any of this for sure... nope... just seems to make more sense to me. honestly i feel like i'm just thinking in circles now lol i'm crazy, it's been a long day for me.