My baby chameleon is having issues

[KiwiTheChameleon]

Hello!

Recently, i received a baby chameleon from LLLreptile. It has been with me for about 2-3 weeks now. She refuses to eat the food out of her bowl, but sometimes when I put the container by her face she will eat (or just lick the side of the container, which is kind of odd). I mist her every time I get the chance to, which is probably 5 times a day. Also, she sleeps a lot. During the day she will close her eyes and sleep. Even if i'm holding her she will fall asleep. I don't know what's wrong and I need some help. I don't want my baby to die!

Thanks!

 

[Peachypink]

Please fill this form out. We can not give any help with little information. Most issues like you are describing have to do with husbandry issues. Let us help you get it right.

These are questions found in the Health Clinic, they will help is help you. Just copy and paste and fill in your answers.





Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[KiwiTheChameleon]

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, female, I ordered her as a baby and now she's been with me for a few weeks.
• Handling - I used to hold her almost everyday. I haven't held her in more than a week because i thought that was the problem.
• Feeding - I feed her this reptile food mix with dead flies and stuff. Occasionally I try to feed her cabbage, kale, carrots, etc. I have a bowl in her cage that i fill with food but i can't tell if she's touched it. I put the food container out in front of her and sometimes she will eat it right out of there.
• Supplements - Zoo Med Anole American Chameleons Food.
• Watering - I mist her cage every chance I get. I mist for a few minutes. Almost always she will drink after I spray.
• Fecal Description - Her dropping are little sacks with white on the outside and yellow in the middle. Never been tested.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Glass with metal screen on top. 20.25"Lx12.5"Hx10.5"D – 10 Gallons (copied and pasted from website).
• Lighting - 5.5" Dome Lamp. 50-watt day blue incandescent bulb. Light on around 6:30 (on weekdays), lights off around 9-9:30.
• Temperature - Daytime temp is usually 80-90F. Lowest overnight is more than 60F. Theres a temperature/humidity gauge inside.
• Humidity - Between 30-50. By misting. Humidity gauge.
• Plants - Yes, golden pathos.
• Placement - On my desk in my room. It is about 5 feet a way from a humidifier. The cage is about 3-4 feet off the ground.
• Location - Chicago.

Current Problem -Kiwi is not eating (at least when I'm watching), and she sleeps during the day. She is skinny and you can see her ribs.

 

[ChamLB]

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, female, I ordered her as a baby and now she's been with me for a few weeks.
• Handling - I used to hold her almost everyday. I haven't held her in more than a week because i thought that was the problem.
• Feeding - I feed her this reptile food mix with dead flies and stuff. Occasionally I try to feed her cabbage, kale, carrots, etc. I have a bowl in her cage that i fill with food but i can't tell if she's touched it. I put the food container out in front of her and sometimes she will eat it right out of there.
• Supplements - Zoo Med Anole American Chameleons Food.
• Watering - I mist her cage every chance I get. I mist for a few minutes. Almost always she will drink after I spray.
• Fecal Description - Her dropping are little sacks with white on the outside and yellow in the middle. Never been tested.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Glass with metal screen on top. 20.25"Lx12.5"Hx10.5"D – 10 Gallons (copied and pasted from website).
• Lighting - 5.5" Dome Lamp. 50-watt day blue incandescent bulb. Light on around 6:30 (on weekdays), lights off around 9-9:30.
• Temperature - Daytime temp is usually 80-90F. Lowest overnight is more than 60F. Theres a temperature/humidity gauge inside.
• Humidity - Between 30-50. By misting. Humidity gauge.
• Plants - Yes, golden pathos.
• Placement - On my desk in my room. It is about 5 feet a way from a humidifier. The cage is about 3-4 feet off the ground.
• Location - Chicago.

Current Problem -Kiwi is not eating (at least when I'm watching), and she sleeps during the day. She is skinny and you can see her ribs.

She needs real living bugs.

Buy two week old crickets, they will grow into larger ones. She needs small horned worms, small super worms, small baby roaches, and if possible give her bean Beatles. (20% more proteen than crickets, not all states allow them though)
These bugs need to be dusted with calcium before you feed them.

Personally I would find some small green horned worms asap, they will hydrate her and give her the protein she needs.

 

[DrRhymes]

I would also take a lot at the resource tab on this website, gives a lot of info on what you should be feeding her. There is also good info for most aspects of husbandry.

 

[Peachypink]

Please, please, please read through the care sheet on veilds. There are so many things that you are going to need to change. You have a female so you are going to need to get things right so she can be healthy enough to handle laying eggs.

Here is the link to the care sheet....
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

When you say baby, how old? What was her hatch date?

The glass aquarium you have her in will not be good for long. You will definitely need to get her into a screen cage soon.

She NEEDS live feeders. Crickets and dubia are great staples. Tiny ones to start. Keep them smaller than the space between her eyes. Fruit flies are another great one for babies. Black Soldier Fly Larva are small and are great for little ones. www.lindasgonebuggie.com has great starter packs for baby chams. I would suggest ordering one. In the meantime, find somewhere that has small crickets. Veilds will also eat veggies but should never be without live feeders. As a baby she should be eating all she wants and several times a day.

For supplements she needs a calcium with no D3 daily dusted on her live feeders, a calcium with D3 twice a month and a multivitamin twice a month.

Get rid of the food mix and start giving her the live bugs.

 

[KiwiTheChameleon]

Thanks for all the helpful info. Kiwi is now barely moving and I'm afraid she is too weak to eat the live bugs. Is it too late for her? She's gone a bit pale. HELP!

 

[Peachypink]

Thanks for all the helpful info. Kiwi is now barely moving and I'm afraid she is too weak to eat the live bugs. Is it too late for her? She's gone a bit pale. HELP!

You need to get her to a vet NOW.