Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
I am at a loss for what could be causing this (aside from maybe the lights, but I’ll let the forum see if my suspicions might be correct) so I am going to fill this out very thoroughly.
Current Problem - My panther Daedalus has been getting crusty in one eye. Not too much, just perhaps a corner of the eye, or it’s sealed shut in the morning. Nothing that a little bit of vet-prescribed ointment to keep the eye moist and a warm shower can’t help him flush it out. But it’s happened now a couple times in two weeks and I am unsure as to what may be causing it. His eyes look perfect and there is no sign of any sort of infection in his mouth.
CHAMELEON INFO:
Your Chameleon Panther chameleon | Male | About 14 months old | 11-12 months in my care
Handling Several times a week, sometimes daily.
Feeding Crickets, superworms, butterworms, and hornworms (occasionally wild caught mantids or grasshoppers) | He gets 2-3 feeders daily | Lately the gutload has been kale, apples, oranges, and a dry gutload following recipe ideas from Sandrachameleon's blog.
Supplements Rapashy supercal calcium w/o calcium only. I do not provide D3 because of how much natural sunshine my chameleons get a week, and I prefer to provide vitamins through variety of diet and gutloading | I dust every other feeding with the calcium.
Watering I have a mistking | I mist 20 minutes shortly after lights on, 5 minutes in the middle of the day, and 15 minutes in the late afternoon | Yes, I see him drink often.
Fecal Description Stool is normal, brown with white urates | He was last tested a bit ago, in April, but so far everything has been clear.
History About 2 months ago he broke the end of his tail and had it amputated. The necrosis persisted and another segment had to be more aggressively amputated but he has been clear since. The tail healed beautifully and he was prescribed antibiotics to protect against infections.
CAGE INFO:
Cage Type - The cage is a DIY wood and window screen cage (it was painted with latex wall paint along the outside but nothing was used on the inside, no sealants or anything. The water does not approach the walls of the cage so none is needed, and I didn't want to risk fumes or toxins on the inside of the cage | It measures about 5'L x 3'D x 4'H.
Lighting He has 4' Reptiglo 5.0 linear bulb for UVB, about a month old | Also, a 60w housebulb as a heat spot and three 4' 5000k linear fluorescents for the sake of more light and the plants. I wonder if these are perhaps to blame, but they've been there for a long time | The lights come on at 7am and go off at 7:30 pm.
Temperature The basking spot is at 82-85*F while the rest of the cage stays in the mid-70's* depending on what the AC is doing | Lowest nighttime temp would be about 75* | I have 3 temp gauges in his cage.
Humidity The humidity hovers in the high 60% all day except for when I mist, where it reaches mid 80% and lingers for a while before dropping | Misting and plants | I have a gauge in the cage.
Plants Yes, 2 pothos and 4-5 ficus.
Placement The cage is located in a separate bedroom, with my other chameleons | There is an AC vent in the room | Low traffic area | The top of the cage must be at about 6-6.5' tall
Location Melbourne, Fl.
Photos:
Him a few weeks ago. He looks exactly the same, with the stubby tail.
Thank you in advance!
I can only think of either the lights or the humidity, but the problem is only in one eye.
Current Problem - My panther Daedalus has been getting crusty in one eye. Not too much, just perhaps a corner of the eye, or it’s sealed shut in the morning. Nothing that a little bit of vet-prescribed ointment to keep the eye moist and a warm shower can’t help him flush it out. But it’s happened now a couple times in two weeks and I am unsure as to what may be causing it. His eyes look perfect and there is no sign of any sort of infection in his mouth.
CHAMELEON INFO:
Your Chameleon Panther chameleon | Male | About 14 months old | 11-12 months in my care
Handling Several times a week, sometimes daily.
Feeding Crickets, superworms, butterworms, and hornworms (occasionally wild caught mantids or grasshoppers) | He gets 2-3 feeders daily | Lately the gutload has been kale, apples, oranges, and a dry gutload following recipe ideas from Sandrachameleon's blog.
Supplements Rapashy supercal calcium w/o calcium only. I do not provide D3 because of how much natural sunshine my chameleons get a week, and I prefer to provide vitamins through variety of diet and gutloading | I dust every other feeding with the calcium.
Watering I have a mistking | I mist 20 minutes shortly after lights on, 5 minutes in the middle of the day, and 15 minutes in the late afternoon | Yes, I see him drink often.
Fecal Description Stool is normal, brown with white urates | He was last tested a bit ago, in April, but so far everything has been clear.
History About 2 months ago he broke the end of his tail and had it amputated. The necrosis persisted and another segment had to be more aggressively amputated but he has been clear since. The tail healed beautifully and he was prescribed antibiotics to protect against infections.
CAGE INFO:
Cage Type - The cage is a DIY wood and window screen cage (it was painted with latex wall paint along the outside but nothing was used on the inside, no sealants or anything. The water does not approach the walls of the cage so none is needed, and I didn't want to risk fumes or toxins on the inside of the cage | It measures about 5'L x 3'D x 4'H.
Lighting He has 4' Reptiglo 5.0 linear bulb for UVB, about a month old | Also, a 60w housebulb as a heat spot and three 4' 5000k linear fluorescents for the sake of more light and the plants. I wonder if these are perhaps to blame, but they've been there for a long time | The lights come on at 7am and go off at 7:30 pm.
Temperature The basking spot is at 82-85*F while the rest of the cage stays in the mid-70's* depending on what the AC is doing | Lowest nighttime temp would be about 75* | I have 3 temp gauges in his cage.
Humidity The humidity hovers in the high 60% all day except for when I mist, where it reaches mid 80% and lingers for a while before dropping | Misting and plants | I have a gauge in the cage.
Plants Yes, 2 pothos and 4-5 ficus.
Placement The cage is located in a separate bedroom, with my other chameleons | There is an AC vent in the room | Low traffic area | The top of the cage must be at about 6-6.5' tall
Location Melbourne, Fl.
Photos:
Him a few weeks ago. He looks exactly the same, with the stubby tail.
Thank you in advance!
I can only think of either the lights or the humidity, but the problem is only in one eye.
