I attended the white plains reptile expo. I saw a VERY large mellers chameleon stuffed into a box where he couldn't even move. His color is good, he's active, but one of his eyes is closed. Also when I went to spray him, he was so dehydrated he drank directly out of a cup. He started salivating which I assume is a sign of dehydration. My main concern is his eye. It appears that he recently went through a very rough shed, and im not sure if its complications from that, the dehydration, stress or something else. He is wild caught, approximately 6 weeks ago. I was told he is eating 200 large crickets a week. Normally, I would never jump into a purchase but seeing him stuffed in that little cage (glass) just got to me and I had to take him home. He is currently in a 36" x 36" x 48" screen cage with plenty of vines etc. Would you recommend a vet visit or should I give him time and see how his eye reacts? Also would you recommend using turtle eye drops in his eye? He does open it rarely, and I also notice he moves it around when his eye is closed like something is stuck in there. Sorry for the story but besides my old veiled and flapneck I havent had chameleons in awhile.
Mellers Chameleon
- Thread starter lmorphine
- Start date
ataraxia
Avid Member
One of the most important things about hydrating a dehydrated animals is limiting water and giving it to them in sessions. They will drink themselves into oblivion if you let them with the possibility of aspirating and causing anther health issue. Id recommend limiting the sessions to 15 minutes and doing this at least 3-4 times a day. Honestly taking this animal to a vet right now isnt going to do any good unless it is a vet that is well versed in chameleons. Even then they would more than likely send you home with the typical antibiotic. Best thing to do is take a fresh feces in for analysis, hydrate the animal, make sure the temps, humidity, cage is good.
The eye could be from a variety of things. It will be a process of elimination at this point.
1. Hydration
2. Debris {could have skin from the last shed}.
3. Illness (parasites, organ damage, infection, etc)
4. Nutrition
The eye could be from a variety of things. It will be a process of elimination at this point.
1. Hydration
2. Debris {could have skin from the last shed}.
3. Illness (parasites, organ damage, infection, etc)
4. Nutrition
Yes. I let him drink from the dish for about 5 minutes at 2PM. I sprayed him again at 5 and again just now. I definitely want to limit him. He did open his eye while I misted him. I assumed the vet would just do the typical things, so I am hoping I can resolve it without medication. I will definitely post up some pictures soon. He is a big boy weighing 0.72 pounds. He doesnt look underweight so unless he was just caught recently he seems pretty healthy, although I doubt he was taken care of well because a hydrated chameleon shouldn't willingly drink standing water. Well, now he is in good care and hopefully he will be alright. Im willing to work with him. I am going to let him settle in and try feeding him on tuesday. Ive had him since 10am and he hasn't pooped yet.
SaintJimmy
Avid Member
Can you attach pictures? 
Poor mellers. I hope he pulls through
Poor mellers. I hope he pulls through
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
Congrats on the melleri! They're my favorite species. He looks young and a tad underweight, younger animals tend to have lanky legs because they haven't quite filled in yet. To compare, my 5 year old female is in the 450g range (yours is around 330g), so he will continue to gain weight and fill out with more muscle with time and good care.
Does he ever open the bad eye? A good trick to flush out an eye that might have debris in it is to pick up a bottle of plain saline (no pain or redness-relieving medications) from the drug store that has the nozzle tip (like for contact lens rinsing). Try to hold his head steady with a couple fingers and then from a short distance aim the nozzle at his eye and squirt with a little force, so you get a good jet, right into it when the eye is open. You should see his turret fill up with fluid, at which point you stop, and let him roll it around, and hopefully any debris will be flushed out.
You can repeat this a couple time and do it again later if he still seems to be rolling it in irritation. Even if whatever is in there comes out he may not open it normally immediately, it may have caused painful irritation and that may take a few days to heal on its own.
However, be prepared to go to the vet and get an ointment because if it's not debris but caused by an infection or something from an injury during importation then it's not going to heal on its own. If he gapes at you take a peek into his mouth, make sure everything looks alright (his mouth color will be black/deep purple-blue, don't let that alarm you) and that he doesn't have any gunk or signs of a sinus or oral infection. Sometimes when there are problems in the sinuses it manifests in eye issues, just because they close them in discomfort.
Good luck! Keep us updated, I don't think we get to see enough photos of Meller's on this forum!
Does he ever open the bad eye? A good trick to flush out an eye that might have debris in it is to pick up a bottle of plain saline (no pain or redness-relieving medications) from the drug store that has the nozzle tip (like for contact lens rinsing). Try to hold his head steady with a couple fingers and then from a short distance aim the nozzle at his eye and squirt with a little force, so you get a good jet, right into it when the eye is open. You should see his turret fill up with fluid, at which point you stop, and let him roll it around, and hopefully any debris will be flushed out.
You can repeat this a couple time and do it again later if he still seems to be rolling it in irritation. Even if whatever is in there comes out he may not open it normally immediately, it may have caused painful irritation and that may take a few days to heal on its own.
However, be prepared to go to the vet and get an ointment because if it's not debris but caused by an infection or something from an injury during importation then it's not going to heal on its own. If he gapes at you take a peek into his mouth, make sure everything looks alright (his mouth color will be black/deep purple-blue, don't let that alarm you) and that he doesn't have any gunk or signs of a sinus or oral infection. Sometimes when there are problems in the sinuses it manifests in eye issues, just because they close them in discomfort.
Good luck! Keep us updated, I don't think we get to see enough photos of Meller's on this forum!
xbrokenbabydoll
New Member
He's really beautiful, I hope he's able to pull through for you. I'm sure he appreciates you taking him out of a bad situation and putting him in a way better one Congrats on your new addition!
Congrats on your new addition!
Although he seems a bit young to drive, he could take himself to the vet. You will have to give him money for gas though. Tank's on empty .
Beautiful cham!!! Best of luck with him.
. Beautiful cham!!! Best of luck with him.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Um...they don't ALWAYS tolerate housing in groups especially when they are super stressed and acclimating. Even then it can really depend on the individuals and how they are free ranged. Best to deal with one at a time from someone who was so clueless and careless about their animals. Plus, do you really want to support such a poor seller? Be aware that even if you think you are over the acclimation "hump" after a couple of months they can still crash. Sometimes you won't see the full range of health problems they are hiding for several months. He may be docile now because he's preoccupied with surviving and less than healthy. As time goes on you'll see his true personality.
Hydrate, deal with the eye, test for parasites, feed, settle "him", treat parasites (test first but save heavy duty treatments until he's well hydrated), figure out if you can free range, then consider adding other chams.
So heres an update. He hasnt eaten or pooped yet. He now has both eyes closed but ever since I added a fogger, he keeps his original eye that was closed slightly open. He does open the other eye completely if I take him out. Has anybody ever heard of using grape seed extract to treat parasites? If so, for a mellers that weighs 0.52 lbs, whats the dosing? Hopefully he makes it. He still drinks like an animal and has a strong grip. Very good coloring, nothing that would make me think he was sick besides the eye and the food.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
I would not treat him with anything until he's eating and acting normally! You might unintentionally make an undiagnosed problem worse and put additional strain on kidneys. I would keep up the hydration and fogging to help him clear his own eyes or get rehydrated to the point where he's comfortable with his eyes open (he's not eating because he's not hunting) and moving around normally. He's not really emaciated now.
The most critical thing to do right now is stabilize him, not treat him. Melleri take a while to dehydrate and that's most likely what you are seeing. It also takes them time and a lot of moisture to recover. Showers, gentle misting for 1/2 hour at a time, privacy, all help. If he's drinking well and if he'll take the water if you drip it directly on his nose, you could give him a bit of a calorie/energy boost with some diluted Pedialyte.
Lathelia
Established Member
I wouldn't use waxworms. They are not very nutritional.
Hornworms are good for hydration
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