Need help trying to figure out an estimated age for my new chameleon
- Thread starter Splacek93
- Start date
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
What you buy online is not the same as what the vet prescribes. The calcium prescribed by the vet is absorbed better than any of the name brand calcium dusts or liquid calcium.
MBD is a serious life-threatening and extremely painful disease. One way it manifests itself is with weak bones that crush, fracture (the double elbow in the picture) and fold. This is not something that a novice could treat on their own. I don't think very experienced chameleon keepers would attempt to treat it without the guidance of a vet.
Also, too much calcium can kill your chameleon by stopping their heart. Really, a vet needs to monitor and guide treatment.
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jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
I wish you all the best and understand your hesitance to return him.
Did you read the article/thread on Metabolic Bone Disease at the top of the Health Forum page? That will give you a better understanding of what you are dealing with. Basically you are dealing with a disease process where there is not enough bone being laid down so the bones become very weak. The broken front leg is indicative of that but even with the apparently straight bones, there may be many fractures and folds you cannot see unless you take an xray.
This is not a minor disease, but life threatening and very painful. It looks like your little guy has at least one fracture and probably more. While they don't show pain on their faces because they don't have the same facial muscles mammals have, do not underestimate the amount of pain he is in. Until the vet tells you the fractures are healed, I would not handle him and when handling is unavoidable (such as medicating him), be very very careful. The cage should be set up so that falls are prevented and he is able to move easily with broken legs. In general, the fractures will not be splinted and he will have to heal on his own, so you can imagine the amount of pain he might be in until the fractures stabilize. Healing will take more time since he doesn't have enough calcium in his body to begin with.
Please take him to a vet so you can get an idea of what you are dealing with. The vet will likely want to do xrays to find out what is broken and if it is yet healing. My vets have charged me less than $100 for any xrays I've had done. Have your vet show you how to get medication into him as easily as possible. It isn't very easy to do and you risk causing a lot of pain or even breaking more bones as you try to restrain him.
Most Metabolic Bone Disease is caused by a lack of Vitamin D3. Vitamin D is manufactured by the body in the skin when UVB rays hit the skin. Heat is also needed. UVB can be obtained from sunlight or UVB lights. UVB light bulbs vary in quality and begin deteriorating the first time you turn them on which is why it is recommended you replace your UVB light bulbs every six months. I use European-made Arcadia bulbs (obtained from Light Your Reptiles, a site sponsor) which are a better quality bulb and last longer than anything you can buy that is made in China.
Sunlight is the very best form of UV light, plus you get all the spectrums of light. UVA light is what stimulates them to be awake and eat and since you've mentioned he is very small for h is age, he will greatly benefit from natural unfiltered sunlight. A basking bulb--just an ordinary incandescent light bulb from the hardware store--will provide UVA and heat. Glass will block UVB and screens will cut down the amount that enters the cage. Overheating is always an issue when you put a cage in the sun. When I have my humidity-loving (needing) mountain species outside, I put them under a tree so they get dappled light, and I mist their cages heavily every hour or even half an hour is the temps are getting a little high for them. My veiled is outside 24/7 in a cage around a 6' tall tree so he can choose to bask in the sun or hide in the cover of his tree.
Vitamin D3 is also available in vitamin dusts but you will not know the usable amount the animal is getting by dusting. Your vet will probably give a subcutaneous injection of Vitamin D and calcium.
In the mean time, get him outside every day in unfiltered sunlight in a place he will be able to warm up enough. If that is not possible, make sure he has the very best lights you can buy. Most pet shops carry ZooMed T-5 fluorescent lighting. I use 12% since the UVB penetrates deeper into the cage than the 6% bulbs so. ZooMed makes a 10% bulb. Give him areas where he can get into or out of the UVB on the same levels so he can maintain his heat but choose whether or not to be getting UVB.
Starting out with a problem chameleon will be a challenge, but it will teach you so much more about chameleons and keeping them than if you were starting with a nice fat healthy baby from a reputable breeder. Keep us posted.
rminnis
Established Member
Actually again your wrong you can buy vet quality liquid calcium online if you know what to look for and where to look, that being said obviously you probly need the help of a vet.
Splacek93
New Member
Thank you! I just bought a uvb light this morning to help. I am having a little bit of trouble trying to find a vet that deals with chameleons around my area. Until I find out if any vet will take the time to look at him I got a calcium conditioner to try out until then. Hopefully that will help a little bit until he can be seen.
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