My Chameleon is sick i think. please help...

[Burrainiac]

I have 2, 6 month old veiled chameleons and just today i noticed that one was not clibing around as usual and didnt want to move as much. I went to the pet store and bought some small crickets for them and also put some mealworms in a Dish for them. I have misted the cage multiple times and it still does not want to walk around. I have even caught her sleeping while the lights are on during the day... what is wrond with my setup/ my chameleon, please help...


It is a 40 gallon tall tank with lots of foilage and sticks . also a heat pad is under it and i have a heat lamp and a compact florescent light on the top... I can take more pictures if needed..

PLEASE HELP

Burrainiac

 

[hondataeg6]

everything is wrong with youre set-up. you need to take youre chameleon to the Vet ASAP...

 

[Paco]

hey i might not be the person with the most knowledge on this site but youre cham looks very ill and should go to the vet, to me it sounds like theyr waay to hot heat pad is not needed, glass terrarium traps heat and its dangerous, substrate isnt needed, glass terrariums are not reccomended, compract bulb is probably hurting theyr eyes, they need to be in separe terrariums. this is just a quick help but your chameleons NEED A VET! ASAP!

your chameleons look really really hot by the pail colors and they look dehydrated get rid of the heat pad.

 

[Burrainiac]

so i just turned off the heat lamp and the heat pad. the compact florescent light is still on since it doesnt create too much heat... i cant really afford a vet but i hope it works and thanks for the help.

 

[hondataeg6]

I dont mean to sound like a jerk, but did you do a husbandy re-serch before you bought youre chameleons???

Paco, found the link i was looking for, Read it...

 

[Paco]

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.

fill this out please

 

[PedroANDAshley]

If you couldnt afford to take your pet to the vet you shouldnt even have one,
hes going to die prolly if you dont take him to an EXPIERNCED chameleon vet.

You need to take out the subsrate (dirt) in your cage, he wil;l eat it and it'll make him
sick
your shouldnt even have a heat pad,
he shouldnt be in a glass cage,
he should be in a screen cage.

you NEED to fill this out:
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

 

[Paco]

you should really check this out. http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

 

[Gensen]

Agreed!

Yes, sorry to say but your Cham's are in need of attention. Your set up needs lots of work, take some time to do some research even though it would have been better for the Cham's had you of done that first... you know hind sight is always 20/20... so all you can do now is make the needed adjustments plus get them medical attention. Good luck with both of them but I'm afraid for the worse if big changes are not immediately made to get them back to health.

You are doing the right thing asking for assistance and you have come to a great place for help and advise. Check out the links others provided to you here... also here are a few more for you to look over:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/

Best of luck!

 

[Olimpia]

IMMEDIATELY give those chameleons a very long warm shower!!! Right now! That one on the floor is really dehydrated. Fill a spray bottle or a pump mister with warm water and shower them for a good 10-20 minutes. They really need to drink.

 

[fusionf5]

The compact light does damage to their eyes.

 

[pssh]

Unfortunately there is a big chance your chameleon may pass without proper vet care. None of the husbandry matters (for the dying one) if he doesn't see a vet immediately. Maybe you could at least work out a payment plan with the vet.

 

[carol5208]

Burrainiac, it is very troubling for us on the forum to see pictures like these of chameleons who have not gotten the proper care and are suffering. Please let this be a lesson to you to do your RESEARCH before you purchase another pet of any kind. I don't mean to sound harsh, but a chameleon can lead a happy and healthy life in captivity with the proper care and husbandry. Also, I wish people would not purchase animals if they cannot afford to take them to a vet if the animal falls ill. Sorry for venting, but threads and pictures like these posted get me very sad, angry and frustrated at the same time.

 

[Metric]

Ok, so looking at those pictures it looks like your chameleon is suffering from a few things.


-Dehydration

-Lack of body mass (the tail is a dead give away), due to not eating and not receiving proper nutrition.

-MBD (metabolic bone disease) this is due to a lack of Calcium with D3, and/or a lack of proper UVA/UVB lighting exposure.

Many members have given you links about proper care, but right now you're chameleon needs to see a vet. I understand you can't afford one, so for now I'm going to give you some "band-aid" solutions to help your chameleon until you can sum up the money to get to a vet, but these are BAND-AID solutions, and will not fix your chameleon in anyway, just prevent it's death for a little while longer.

You will need a few things

-Crickets
-Waxworms
- A source of Electrolytes, I use this

But You can also use a VERY diluted mixture of water and Gatorade if you can't access a similar product.

- A phosphorus free Calclium powder with D3

- A multivitamin powder like Herpative (this is optional but Ideal)

- A syringe

I included the pictures because I'm assuming you may not be 100% familiar with the products with just text, and it will give you a reference if you decide to run to the pet store to get these.


Take your crickets and waxworms and use a mortar and pestle or something similar and mix in the Electrolytes with water, or your diluted Gatorade mixture in with the waxworms and crickets, have a higher ratio of waxworms to crickets, and try to remove the crickets legs before mixing them into this. Add a dash of calcium powder and Herpative. Try to get the mixture to a watery paste, it shouldn't be too thick, but not as runny as water.

Once you get it to the right consistency, try to remove any chunky parts, and suck the mixture up in the syringe. You're more than likley going to have to force feed this mixture to you cham using the syringe, and you will more than likely have to force it's mouth open aswell, be careful not to push too much of the solution out of the syringe, do it little by little and watch the throat to see if your cham is swallowing.

Another approach could be to use a branch like object in the shower, and turn the shower head so it hits the wall, and deflects a light warm mist onto your cham, assuming it can hold itself up on a branch, If your cham beginning lapping water, try to get the solution into its mouth then.

This has helped me bring many chameleons back that were to lethargic to eat willingly

BUT

A vet visit is still in order, and an overview of your husbandry and lighting is a must!!!!!

 

[Syn]

Hate to be the Debbie Downer but it does not look like there will be much of a recovery for this one.

A lot of great info has been given. I hope you follow it and change the setup accordingly.

Be sure to do proper research before ever acquiring another pet again.

 

[Metric]

I agree with you syn, but it never hurts to try : /

 

[Gensen]

Where are you?

I really hope Brrainiac is getting this information, they have not posted any replies.

 

[Ace]

I really hope Brrainiac is getting this information, they have not posted any replies.

dont jump into conclusions...

there is a chance the chma is going to a vet or changing everything they did wrong, but then again ignoring us has been a more likely choice been taken by few

 

[Gensen]

I sure hope so!

dont jump into conclusions...

there is a chance the chma is going to a vet or changing everything they did wrong, but then again ignoring us has been a more likely choice been taken by few

Sure hope so because the poor kids didn't look so good, I am sure if they went to a Vet they would work out a payment plan and if they wouldn't I'd call around until I found one that would, there are good Vets out there with good hearts!

 

[Ace]

Sure hope so because the poor kids didn't look so good, I am sure if they went to a Vet they would work out a payment plan and if they wouldn't I'd call around until I found one that would, there are good Vets out there with good hearts!

thats true...and as a matter a fact , i plan to be one in the future

my career goal is to become a vet for exotic animals (CHAMS) and possibly domestic animals(cats/dogss)