Need Immediate help!! Please :)

[MsBrit]

I have just rescued 4 vieled chams (well earlier today) from my local pet shop. Unfortunatly one didn't make it.
They were in the worst conditions I have ever seen!!! They were laying on the sand at the base of the "Aquarium" and really looked poorly!!
The other three have really odd tails!! One has just a stump.. and the other two have very short tails with a very odd hook at the end.
Other then this, the vet said they are all in ok health. (not good by any means) but we think they will survive. The fourth was just to weak when I got to her.
they are very small (about the size from my thumb nail to the first knuckle)
and I have made a temporary enclosure for them in an old viv I had. It is by far not ideal yet but I shall get it completed tomorrow. They currently have a repti sun 5.0 bulb and no heat lamp (I hope this is right) and they are in an old viv I had for my iguana when she was new to the family. (I did clean it well)
I popped in a few fake plants I had and a small ficus. Any suggestions as I am rather new to chams and VERY new to this size!!!! they are soooo small!!!!
What do I need to do for these little guys? is this MBD? please assist if you can!
Thanks in advance!!
MsBrit

 

[DarkRapture]

do you have pix of them? are you sure that they're veiled? what size is the enclosure they're in? sorry for all the questions, but the more info the easier it is for people to give advice .

its great to hear that you rescued them, did the pet store make you pay for them? have you done your homework on caring for baby chameleons? i have read some of your previous threads and know that you will do your best for these tiny little guys .

perhaps they were not properly fed/hydrated... i would recommend that you start breeding crickets so that you have a steady supply of pinheads. it's really easy, and it will save you a bunch of money! if you want ill share more info about it.

jenni

 

[DarkRapture]

and its ok for them to be in a 'tank' as opposed to a screen cage when they're this tiny. make sure that when you mist that it's the finest setting that you can manage and don't spray them directly, they could drown lol...

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

I'm got some mixed feelings re: rescues UNLESS
you get the animals for free
and they don't count as a sale for the petstore in question.

The most likely problem is that they're dehydrated.
second is a metabolic issue resulting from lack of UV and h20.

what to do... post a pict for us.
2nd.
get some water into them
GENTLY slide down on side of their lip while securely holding their head and body
depending on the size, use a eyedropper to place some water by the gums.
if the animal is larger they can be held under the sink with a light trickle.
this will get some h20 in them.
place them in aquarium with HIGH humidity water in the air but at low temps
place a layer of paper towels down and spray the entire thing down with distilled water.
leave water droplets on all 4 sides and with the towels wet.
don't apply a heat source... just a UV light (tube)
give them plants and sticks to climb on.

if they move up to the light and angle their bodies
try adding a low watt light bulb as a heat source (reading light perhaps)

add fruit flies if they start to seem alert. (or pinhead crickets)
they wont eat unless they're hydrated so there's no rush today
add them the day after they've got a chance to get some water into them.

good luck
post progress

 

[Mintglow]

the poor things i think it's despicable the way pet stores keep chameleons.
along with the good advice everyone else said... i'd take them to a vet. hopefully you can save them!

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't believe that this would be an MBD issue while they are this young. It takes some time, albeit not terribly long but longer than they have been alive. Definitely pick up some pinheads or fruit flies. Just keep in mind unless you find a culture that has already begun to produce, it can take a couple of weeks to start getting flies. I don't know the exact names but get the size that start with an H. They are the bigger breed of fruit flies.

Also how big is the viv that you have them in?
At this point in their lives a ten gallon aquarium would probably be the best for the three of them together. Just to ensure that they are finding the water sources and their food.

Post pictures if possible. This will give everyone a better understanding of the situation and their health status. Dehydration is usually identified by the eyes being sunken into the skull a bit. I have never seen a dehydrated baby before. They tend to have pretty goobely eyes to begin with so I'm not sure how much it would show on them.

 

[Dave Legacy]

I'm got some mixed feelings re: rescues UNLESS
you get the animals for free
and they don't count as a sale for the petstore in question.

That's exactly how I feel. The pet store almost lost all the money they invested on those chams, but luckily for them someone came in and bought the entire dying stock and SAVED THE DAY!

MsBrit, don't get me wrong, I totally feel where you're coming from. You have a big heart and that's a very honorable trait, but the point I'm trying to make is that funding the problem will only further the problem.

Best regards,
Dave

 

[plop9025]

Thats pathetic, Good thing you got to them in time.

 

[MsBrit]

That's exactly how I feel. The pet store almost lost all the money they invested on those chams, but luckily for them someone came in and bought the entire dying stock and SAVED THE DAY!

MsBrit, don't get me wrong, I totally feel where you're coming from. You have a big heart and that's a very honorable trait, but the point I'm trying to make is that funding the problem will only further the problem.

Best regards,
Dave

I didn't pay for them. I stood outside and had a sign informing other customers of the condition of the chams and they finally gave them to me.
I am persistant. hehe I dont agree with giving a petshop money for them to restock the following day in the same horrible conditions!

As for the babies... Sadly I lost another. The vet said dehydration and the tail went black (the stump) so they think it also had infection and was just not caught quick enough.

I have them in a 10 gallon tank with alot of branches and leaves. I have a uv repti glo 5.0 tube on them and no heat source. However I do have thier tank on a warm surface (not a heat mat) they are drinking and eating cricket pins and fruit flies very well. The remaining two look good. Vet came out adn saw them again today and was very happy with thier progress.

I am trying to do my best for these two little girls!!!! OPlease keep your fingers crossed I don't loose another. I have been very sad since losing the little girl yesterday morning. I rescued 4 and am sadly down to 2.
Here is the best pic I can get. I had them out for the vet to give them a check over and snapped a quick pic. I try not to handle them to not stress them anymore. Please give advice or suggestions asap.
Sorry the pic is not very good. I didn't want to try to get anymore better quality. I will try again when the vet comes again on friday. (Or if I get them out any before then) Notice the tail of the little guy. The other one looks identical.

BTW the pet shop doesn't have anymore chams in thus far!! I will be watching!! They were in a tank with standing water to one end and sandy type gravely stuff in it. no branches or hiding places. it was disgusting!!!!

 

[Jordan]

A vet is not really going to be able to do much for a chameleon that size. They are far to small to take a blood sample and medicating something that size is not really feesible.

In your picture the one to the right looks as though part of his tail may have gotten chopped off or something. From what your post described earlier (could not see in the photo) I would suspect MBD as ChrisnLisa hinted at.

If you look down at the chamelon from above the tail should be in a line with the back. A crooked spot would/could indicate MBD. These effects are more often then not irrevesible.

I adopted a jackson one time I knew had MBD. I knew the possible cost of the vet and care. With great care he still past on a couple months after I got him. While it might break your heart to see them in these conditions it is more often then not less heart breaking then taking them in to watch them die slowly. Don't really like saying that but I have seen/heard it time and time again.