Need help trying to figure out an estimated age for my new chameleon

[Splacek93]

I just bought a new veiled chameleon today. The pet store told me he is 8 months old. I feel he should be bigger for being 8 months old. Can anyone help me out?

 

[Andee]

Can you get a close up picture of the back of the back feet? Also do a few different angles of the entire body. He could technically be 8 months old and just not well taken care of. Something about him looks sickly though I can't tell what from that picture alone.

 

[Splacek93]

Can you get a close up picture of the back of the back feet? Also do a few different angles of the entire body. He could technically be 8 months old and just not well taken care of. Something about him looks sickly though I can't tell what from that picture alone.

 

[bobcochran]

He's small and under developed for an 8 month old male. I'm just wondering why you would buy a chameleon you think is undersized for their age?
See what looks like 2 elbows on the front legs=MBD. I would take him back and get a refund or a healthy cham.

 

[Andee]

He is a boy, but he looks like he has mbd in his front legs. Which could explain why he's so small.

 

[Splacek93]

is there anything I can do to help it? I have calcium supplement with vitiman D3. Do you think that will help it at all? This is my first chameleon so I'm not real familiar with everything yet.

 

[rminnis]

Basically they are going to tell you to find a vet asap!

 

[Andee]

Vitamin D3 is what you need, you need to use it twice a week. But powdered calcium won't stop the progression of MBD. You need to have an up to date UVB light and you need to get liquid calcium from a vet.Taking him outside for a few hours a day will also help.

 

[Splacek93]

ok. Thank you very much. I don't want to just take the poor guy back. I would rather get him the care he needs.

 

[Andee]

MBD is actually very manageable. I have a jackson chameleon who has mbd far worse than your little one and after 6 months of liquid calcium she no longer falls and acts much more like a normal chameleon. However she will always look different and seems to get tired quicker. I still give her liquid calcium a few times a week, but much less often.

 

[Splacek93]

thank you for the help! I am from Pennsylvania and the humidity here is starting to go down, will that be a problem taking him outside for a couple of hours? Is there a certain type of UVB light you recommend?

 

[rminnis]

Do you give it to the cham straight with a dropper or do you mix it into its drinking water?

 

[Andee]

I recommend linear UVB lights with 5.0 or 10.0 if your cage is heavily planted enough. Liquid calcium is given straight with a syringe that has no needle. And you can only get it from a vet.

 

[rminnis]

You can buy liquid calcium at tons of places online

 

[Andee]

Anything made by fluker's and zilla I would not use unless you post all the ingredients and level of calcium up on here. Most liquid calcium products made for humans have additives.

 

[Splacek93]

i actually just read a bunch of bad reviews on the fluker's, so I will not buy any product from them.

 

[Andee]

Usually vet liquid calcium isn't too expensive, its the check up in the beginning that is. My vet charges me like 7 dollars for 2 ounces and that lasts me a couple months or so. But after the first check up all I do is call in for the liquid calcium and they'll set it up for me. I don't know if other vets do this or not.

 

[Splacek93]

thank you very much for all your help and advice. I greatly appreciate it. I will keep everyone updated on my boy's health!

 

[Replife]

Sorry you got burned by a pet store this seems to happen alot how ever I'm super glad your willing to Step up and help the poor guy out

 

[Remkon]

ok. Thank you very much. I don't want to just take the poor guy back. I would rather get him the care he needs.

That's nice of you!
Best of luck for you and your cham!