Need help with Herbie!!!!

[Herbie406]

Hey guys,

So I just got my chameleon Herbie about 2 1/2 weeks ago. She is about 4-5 months old. She has seemed to be doing great, but the past couple mornings when I wake her up she does what seems to be a yawn, and then she seems to start gently coughing with her mouth open for a few seconds afterwards. The second time this happened her left eye started to bulge out of her head for about 30 seconds and then went back to normal. It looked like her eye was inflated like a balloon.

I have made an appointment for the vet but they can't see her for a couple days. Has anyone seen this happen ? The coughing seemed pretty weird, but the eye thing really freaked me out. Oh, and this only happens right after she wakes up. She seems to be healthy and active for the rest of the day

Your Chameleon - Young Veiled 4-5 Mo. Old
Handling - Maybe once since I've had her only to clean the enclosure.
Feeding - About 6-10 crickets a day, as many as she'll eat in 5 minutes. Dusted w/Calcium 3X a week.
Watering - Dripper System going all day, misting about 4 times a day.
Fecal Description - Seems normal, Brownish with white on the top
History - Just bought from exotic pet store
Cage Info: 30X30X18.5 Mesh Cage
Cage Type - Unknown- Bought it on sale at petstore
Lighting - Daytime: 75W Basking Bulb, 13W UVB; Nighttime: 60W Ceramic Heat Bulb, since i'm in Montana and it gets very cold at night.
Temperature - About 75 during the day, with basking temps around 85-90, Drops to 65 at night, plus heating lamp is on
Plants - 2 pothos plants, two draceana plants, and fake leaves, vines, and some driftwood
Placement - Plenty of different levels for her to take advantage of ambient temperatures.
Location - Montana, in my bedroom
Problem: Strange behavior in the mornings

 

[brownie64]

The eye thing is completely normal it's their way of clearing it up they will do the same thing some times when misted to clean them out. I agree though it can be pretty unsettling the first time you see it. The coughing I'm not to sure about if she doesn't keep her mouth open a lot, and you don't see any bubbles or mucus, and don't hear popping sounds when she breaths she is more than likely ok how is your humidity are you letting it dry out in between misting's?

 

[Herbie406]

Ok that's a relief to know about her eye! I have seen her open her mouth while basking a couple times. I figured it was probably to hot/dry so I'll turn the heat down a bit and give her a little mist. The humidity can drop down to about 30% when I let the cage dry out but it will spike right back up to 80% when I spray it. But other than that breathing seems normal. No noises, excess mucus or anything like that.

 

[brownie64]

I would say she is fine. Just out of curiosity do you have a laying ben set up for her she is coming up on sexual maturity real soon?

 

[Herbie406]

Actually I don't. The guys at the petstore told me I wouldn't need one for awhile. I guess I should get one just to be safe. What should I use for one?

 

[Direwolf]

Hi Herbie406,
Congrats on your new little one! I too have seen my guy, a 3 month old Panther, occasionally puff his eyes in the morning. My guy also does a morning "yawn" (or chameleon equivalent) which seems to me like he's stretching his jaw and/or wetting his mouth after a night of snoozing.

 

[brownie64]

Actually I don't. The guys at the petstore told me I wouldn't need one for awhile. I guess I should get one just to be safe. What should I use for one?

Here is a video.

 

[Herbie406]

Super helpful! Thank you guys!