New Owner needing help.!!

[Bonnie1]

I have a Veiled Cham...We got it from the pet store a couple of months ago.
they wernt sure how old it was or what sex it was...we named..it...spike...well
spike would eat and drink really good every day.. then bought a week ago spike started to shed...spike stopped eating and its..eyes are closed like all the time..
my husband saw some skin yesterday so I think its still going but it kinda twitches i want to say. i spay spike at least 2 times a day. We have a drip system and from time to time i have noticed spike drink from it. We are just worried...spike hasnt ate that I have noticed in a while. We tried to put calcium on the crickets and it didnt do anything....We also Have a 2 year old bearded and she acted this way when she was burminating.. Is that whats going on...

 

[dondeb562]

please fill this out....
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[kinyonga]

What brand and type (spiral, compact, long linear tube, etc.) UVB light do you have on the cage? Does it pass through glass or plastic?
What supplements (specifically, please) do you use and how often for each?
What is the basking temperature?
Are you sure that its a male?

 

[Bonnie1]

pics to help

here are a couple of pics...

the first one is when we first got spike..


the second one took today.

 

[cushcameleon]

Based off the pictures I am guessing your using a compact bulb? If so replace it immediately, your chameleon may be suffering from a severe case of snowblindness.

 

[Bonnie1]

10 gal tank with screen over top
exo terra sun glo 120v 60hz 60w
unsure about temp and humidity
i know i have a fake plant in there but im not sure anything else about it
the tank is on our dinning room table
I live in Michigan

Veiled, unsure of sex or age
doesnt get handled...im too shaky and my husband works to much..
eats large crickets normally but hasnt for a while
i use flunkers repta calcium
have a drip system that gets filled every day at least 1x
fecal im unsure my husband cleaned it up

 

[Bonnie1]

what should i replace it to?? I dont know anything about the bulbs...why did the guy at the pet store give us that bulb???

 

[sandrachameleon]

First thing to do is forget 99% of whatever the petstore told you. Regretably, petstores give bad advice more often than not. Luckily you've found a great forum to get better advice from.

Second thing to do is check out this website which gives great info specifically about veileds, and things you need to know:
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/ Highly recommended.

You need to start monitoring the temperature in teh basking spot (the warmest spot, under the heat lamp) and at the lower cooler part of the cage, as well as humidity please. You can get a cheap digital that will do both at most any home improvement or variety type store.

A glass tank can heat up very quickly, and may not be providing adequate ventilation. You might be better off with a screen cage, or rather the chameleon would be. And 10 gallons is probably too small anyhow - how big is the chameleon? chameleons are tree dwelling lizards, so they need vertical space and like to be up around 6 feet off the ground, looking down at you.

Information about enclosures: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/82-enclosures-housing.html

Information about lighting:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/68-lighting-links.html
This thread specifically pictures the linear tube light most frequently recommended for chameleons:https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-enclosure-19933/#post169360

Information regarding supplementation: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

Information about how to feed the insects properly to ensure your chameleon gets good nutrition: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition.html

Other good sites, in addition to this forum:
http://www.adcham.com/
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.zorabellarose.com/Caresheet/VeiledChameleons.pdf
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/

 

[dondeb562]

Needs to be moved to a screen cage. Also It appears you have bedding in the bottom...? That can harbor bacteria and cause way too high humidity. What do her urates look like? When was the last time she had a bowel movememt? I would suspect the basic husbandry would be the problem here.

 

[dodolah]

One of the most important thing to have is a thermometer.
You could have accidentally cooked your chameleon in that glass tank.
So, we need to know how high the temp actually is in that cage.

 

[panthercrazy]

10 gal tank with screen over top
exo terra sun glo 120v 60hz 60w
unsure about temp and humidity
i know i have a fake plant in there but im not sure anything else about it
the tank is on our dinning room table
I live in Michigan

Veiled, unsure of sex or age
doesnt get handled...im too shaky and my husband works to much..
eats large crickets normally but hasnt for a while
i use flunkers repta calcium
have a drip system that gets filled every day at least 1x
fecal im unsure my husband cleaned it up

You mention a heat bulb only, do you have another bulb as well? You should have a UVB one also.


Sandra's info is very good, do take the time to read it all. Can you post a full picture of your set up?

 

[Bonnie1]

yeah when i find my extra batteries i will put it up

 

[Bonnie1]

has anyone been able to tell what sex it is with the pics

 

[dodolah]

take a picture of Spike's heel (back of his feet).
Just from looking at the pic you post, although a bit unclear, I have a feeling that Spike is a female.
BUT, I could have easily be wrong since it is possible in the picture that his calf covers the indication of spur.

 

[nicoRamirez]

it looks like a female to me aswell and get rid of that sun-glo bulb immediately thats what the pet stores always tell you to get and its all wrong once, you change the lighting give it a week and you should notice improvement.Then you need to start looking for a screened cage asap.

 

[brighteyez]

10 gal tank with screen over top
exo terra sun glo 120v 60hz 60w
unsure about temp and humidity
i know i have a fake plant in there but im not sure anything else about it
the tank is on our dinning room table
I live in Michigan

Veiled, unsure of sex or age
doesnt get handled...im too shaky and my husband works to much..
eats large crickets normally but hasnt for a while
i use flunkers repta calcium
have a drip system that gets filled every day at least 1x
fecal im unsure my husband cleaned it up

You really need to get something to read the temp and humidity. That's something you should know all the time, so things don't get too hot/dry/cold/wet. I'd recommend you get at least 2 digital thermometer/humidity guages, that way you can know what temp and humidity it is in his basking spot, and for the rest of the cage. He needs to be able to bask under his light, but then retreat to a cooler section of the cage if he is getting too hot.

As for the eating. My cham just shed for the first time and he lost his appitite just before and during his shed. I've heard others say this as well. Maybe your cham is similar.