My Rockelle has an upset tummy!??!

[Misty96]

Hi, My chameleon, Rockelle, is a 16 month old veiled chameleon who is having really smelly bouts of diarrhea. She has had 3 clutches of eggs and is very healthy but this is starting to concern me. Can someone give me some ideas of what it could be? Is this common that I could change with some adjustments or is this indicative of an infection or parasite. She is still eating and drinking regularly and just laid her 3rd clutch a couple of weeks ago. Thanks!

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, female, 16-17 months old. Had her from the beginning; not sure of hatching date?
Handling - once/twice weekly
Feeding - 4-5 crickets twice daily (7am & 6pm) meal worms once weekly. If laying eggs will only eat meal worms sparringly right before ~ gutloading crickets with organic foods and fluckers
Supplements - If gut loading with fluckers I don't supplement with Calcium & D. If organic gutloading supplement with dusting ReptoCal Cal/D3 or Zilla Calcium liquid spray. After laying clutches boost with Herptivite Multivitamins w/Beta Carotene as laying can taxes her system (never more than 3-4 times per year).
Watering - I mist am and pm when feeding and keep a small water bowl for humidity purposes more than drinking as she usually drinks off the leaves or straight from my sprayer
Fecal Description - Nice firm pellets with no smell but has recently developed smelly diarrhea

Cage Info:
Cage Type -screened cage; approximately 3' X2' ???
Lighting - Slimline Desert 50 UVB/T8 and 50W Noctural Infaared Heat Lamp. I leave the heat lamp on all the time in the corner of the cage. The UVB is turned on in the am and off early evening.
Temperature - 68 Lowest overnight temp to a high of 74.
Humidity - Never could measure this accurately with the thermometer but I mist twice daily with plenty of time to dry out in between and keep the plant in the cage moist but soil not too wet?
Plants - Live schefflera with faux vine and climbing wood?
Placement - In a corner of the living room on a table with moderate quiet activity level. Indirect light from the window on both ajoinging walls with evening sun glancing into the cage/providing natural light daily (I think this is the key to Rockelle's good health so far and UVB balance ~ no signs of MBD). I have high ceiling and the top of the cage is approximate 5 feet from the floor
Location - South Bay area of California?

Current Problem - Smelly diarrhea.

 

[kinyonga]

It could be a parasite.

 

[Elizadolots]

Rockelle is a great name.

You should take her to the vet's. Smelly poop is not normal.

They can pick up parasites from their feeders. You can do everything right and still have it happen. Sometimes, vets will agree to perform a fecal without seeing the animal. You should call ahead and see if they'll let you bring a sample in.

 

[Misty96]

I think you both might be right. This is what I'm thinking too. I had a weird experience with my feeders as the last few times I bought them I had more died off than is usual and the dead ones had a weird color. Have you ever experienced this? I keep a very clean keeper and cage so I don't think it is any contaminationon my end.

 

[laurie]

If you are feeding her twice a day, 4 or 5 crickets each time I feel that is over feeding. Most people cut back to feeding one time every other day. I can't see that causing the problems. Something else is the issue and I agree that a parasite is most likely the answer. After you get her past the diarrhea you might want to cut back on her food. Overfeeding can contribute to large clutches which are very hard on your cham. jmo Let us know what you find out, good luck.

 

[Misty96]

Thanks Laurie ~ good advice as I'm starting to feel like I have a chicken instead of a chameleon. Rockelle has been so healthy that this is throwing me for a loop. Contacting the vet tomorrow about the smellies. THX, I'll post an update.

 

[laurie]

Good luck, it doesn't sound like the problem will be anything the vet can't fix, and we will hope for her to get better quickly.

 

[Misty96]

Waiting for a call back from the vet.....

 

[laurie]

I can sit here and wait for the good news with you.

 

[Miss Lily]

Please, take on board the warnings about over feeding females. I lost my first female partly due to being overfed and kept too warm. She laid two clutches of over 100 infertiles each time, and died a month after her second clutch at only 18 months old. I learnt my lesson, but I wish I had listened and not had to learn the hard way. My current female laid her first clutch back in November at the age of 20 months, and as yet she hasn't laid again. I am strict with her food for her own good and keep her int he low 80s.

Like others have said, smelly poop can indicate the prescence of a parasite.

 

[laurie]

Any news yet??

 

[Misty96]

Thank you Laurie ~ I couldn't get an appt. until Thursday, which I'm not happy about, but supposedly they are the best retile vet in town??? Very strange hours, no walk-ins, and closed on Tuesdays and can't see me until Thursday?? Hoping Rockelle is ok until then and also hoping that they'll try a broad spectrum antibiotic as they said that each stool sample costs $150. Is this the average fee? Visit is $71.00.

Miss Lily, what temp do you keep your cage and what & how much are you feeding your current female? I'm always open to learn.

Have either of you heard of a weird infection that gets into the feeders that causes them to die and turn dark reddish black? I've read about this and have experienced the same thing. I am suspecting that my source for crickets has some issues and that is what made my Rockelle sick or am I reaching for straws?

 

[Elizadolots]

That fecal test seems pricey to me, but it might be a very extensive test, I don't know. $71 for the office visit is an excellent price in my experience. Maybe it all balances out.

I'm not familiar with the cricket problem you're describing. It does not sound like the "cricket plague" that is causing so much trouble. Those crickets don't change appearance, they just sort of stall out at 3/4 size for awhile then die. It's entirely possible your supplier had a problem.

I think you need to thoroughly clean out your cricket habitat. I would use bleach. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and dry completely before setting it up for crickets again. If it can be done without being overly disruptive to Rockelle, you should deep clean her cage as well.

 

[Misty96]

Elizadolots ~ thank you, did exactly as you described prior to my email so I know I'm on the right track; thanks!

 

[laurie]

I am sorry but $150 for a fecal? Is he going to gold plate it after he takes a look? The office visit is ok, but the fecal is wayyyyyy out of line. Might want to find out just what they are doing and lumping it under fecal. Hope Rockelle hangs in and gets better.