I am sorry to bother you all but I am having problems with my sons 18 month Chameleon (Bo) Things have been fine up until about 2 days ago when we noticed him just sitting on the limb not really moving at all. He seams to be very lathargic and not eating or drinking. Yesterday I went in and found him hanging upside down by his tail so I took him down and then called the vet. After talking with a couple of local vets they recomended me to call a certain reptile vet and I did and took him in. To tell you the thruth they really didnt know what was wrong and i think they just wanted my money. Anyway now he is just sitting on the bottom of his cage not moving and i hate to see him in pain. I am not sure what to do. The vet yesterday gave me some antibiotics for a possible upper respratory told me that they hope he gets better and sent me on my way. So I am now looking for advice from people that know these animals. What should I do and what should I expect?
Need Urgent help with Chameleon
- Thread starter tak2lmt
- Start date
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Hello, and welcome. You are not bothering us, youve come to the right place. Please fill out this form, and post pictures of the animal and its setup, and we will do whatever we can to help!
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
I will try and get this info with some pictures. I am not really in charge of it but am trying to pick up the pieces now that things are falling apart. I know that I am not a good person for a reptile I am more of a dog person. Anyway Bo has been in our care for about 18 months. we upgraded his home to a bigger cage and it is a very common cage that was purchased from the reptile store we bought him from (Screen cage) anyway he eats crikets and we do sometimes coat them in calcium and then feed him. He is now sitting in his cage with a heating pad under him but is not moving.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
From that right there I can tell you that there is ALOT wrong with this animals husbandry. Just fill out the form, take your time and be accurate and thorough. We very well may be able to get you on track.
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? (Veiled,male,20 months)
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? (My 8 year old 3 times a week)
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? (Crikets every couple of days)
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? (Exo-Terra)
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? (Every couple of days by mist)
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? (no test and has been dropping regulary)
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. (Just started getting lethargic about 2 days ago and now is not eating and not moving)
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 36x24
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zilla lighting
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? 67 in house. How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Dont
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Fake plants
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? It is on a table about 2 feet off the floor.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Washington NW
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? (My 8 year old 3 times a week)
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? (Crikets every couple of days)
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? (Exo-Terra)
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? (Every couple of days by mist)
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? (no test and has been dropping regulary)
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. (Just started getting lethargic about 2 days ago and now is not eating and not moving)
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 36x24
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zilla lighting
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? 67 in house. How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Dont
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Fake plants
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? It is on a table about 2 feet off the floor.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Washington NW
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
you need to be more specific about your lighting. Have you ever changed out your bulb in the 20 months you have had him? Do you have both a uvb and a basking (uva) bulb. We need to know exactly which supplement you have been using. Have you never gutloaded(fed your crickets )? We need to see pics as soon as possible. Is your cage screen or glass? Is it a tank or terrarium?
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Please, please be more specific. Pictures would also be appreciated. We really would like to help. We will meet you half way here.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
he looks dehydrated. Try taking an eye dropper and drip water on his nose and see if you can stimulate him to drink. What kind of lighting is inside the black dome? It is a uvb. We need to know what kind of lights you have. And please let us know if you have ever replaced the bulbs if you do indeed have a uvb. His limbs do not look bad. I was fearing MBD(metabolic bone disease). Can he shoot his tongue when he was eating?
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Heating pad, and the red light should be removed. They are not needed, and do not help in any way. We need to know about the supplements, and the other light in more detail. The chameleon may still be getting MBD. Proper lighting is: A 5.0 UVB bulb. A regular household bulb(75w) for basking. These things are essential.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
He cannot get the calcium out of his blood(if he indeed is getting calcium) and use it where he needs it in other parts of his body(bones) without D3. You will need to purchase a reptisun 5.0, or a reptiglo 5.0. Reptisun is more desirable, but if all they have is reptiglo thats fine too. You also need to put it on a proper supplement schedule:
Repashy calcium plus, on every feeder.(all in one)
...or...
Calcium w/o D3 every feeding
Calcium w/ D3 twice a month
Multivitamin twice a month
A vet needs to consider if it needs calcium shots or liquid calcium as well. MBD can be fixted and cured.
EDIT:
Also, its lights(basking and uvb) should be on a 12on 12off schedule. NO light at nite, at all.
Repashy calcium plus, on every feeder.(all in one)
...or...
Calcium w/o D3 every feeding
Calcium w/ D3 twice a month
Multivitamin twice a month
A vet needs to consider if it needs calcium shots or liquid calcium as well. MBD can be fixted and cured.
EDIT:
Also, its lights(basking and uvb) should be on a 12on 12off schedule. NO light at nite, at all.
Thezillaman21
Avid Member
this\ has\ the\ import\ corrections\ good\ post.\ i\ just\ wanted\ to\ say\ veileds\ like\ plant\ matter\ too\ so\ after\ you\ finish\ with\ the\ other\ stuff\ you\ may\ want\ to\ offer\ him\ some\ plant\ matter.
When he was eating he could shoot his tongue. I just gave him water from a dropper and also some calcium/Water. He is now just sitting on the bed and I just a cricket in front of him but it seams like he has no energy to try and eat it. Just a shot in the dark but I have a steam shower I was wondering if I should put him in the steam part to hydrate him. It is 25* outside and my house is about 70* do you think that is to cold for him?
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have seen chameleons look much worse.Has he been pooping? Sometimes if they become impacted in someway they cannot use thier back legs. His front limbs do not look bad. His back legs I am not so sure. So from what I am getting, you have no uvb bulb or have never had one? I don't think your chameleon would have survived this long without a uvb source. He does not look near death and I think it is worth fighting to save him. He is a beautiful chameleon. I am just looking from outward appearance. I cannot say what might be going on in the inside.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
NO! MBD is where there bones disovle, go soft and break. It doesnt seem severe, IF thats even the issue. Im sorry if I misslead you. While MBD is the most likely issue hes having, I am not a vet. Just making an informed assesment. If you get calcium and the proper lighting on him, he should recover. These animals are quite a handfull, forgive me for being pressumptious, but I get the feeling that the 8 year old is providing the majority of the care for the animal. That is ok. As long as an adult that understands nutrition, and everything else this animal requires is supervising. You will need to gutload the crickets, and preferably provide more to eat than just crickets.
Im hoping someone with hands on experience will speak up here, as Ive never dealt with MBD or a veiled chameleon for that matter, before.
DONT PANIC.
Just take the right steps to make it right. Start with the uvb light, and proper supplements.
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