Not Drinking Cham!

[SJRG95]

My little man hasnt been drinking so after weeks of showering him and just spraying him for hours and hours a day. I decided I will give him water through the same syringe he gets fed from. It holds about 5ml.
I was wondering about how much water I should give him? I cant have him not drink. He would only drink when outside but now that its in the 60s I dont want to risk his life.

Thanks guys!

 

[kinyonga]

Have you tried dripping water slowly on the end of his nose?

Look under "treatment" in this Site for the amount of water a day...
http://www.chameleonnews.com/02NovDonoghue.html

 

[SJRG95]

Yes I've literally spent 15 minutes just dripping water. He is so stubborn it kills me.

 

[SJRG95]

He only weighs 22 grams. Ha so He would be drinking so little. I've decided to start at 2ml for the whole day. And see how that goes. It sucks because he already gets fed through the syringe and calcium and he gets a shot ever 3 days. He has to hate me!

 

[zlew]

is he dehydrated? My cham will never drink in front of me, but he definitely does when I'm not watching, since he's fully hydrated. As long as he's hydrated, you have nothing to worry about. I usually run my dripper all day and i have a misting system.

 

[SJRG95]

No he's dehydrated he does eat and never drink a. He only drinks when outside but it's too cold. I Already have to force him to eat. It sucks

 

[SJRG95]

Doesn't eat*

 

[ChameleonLady]

What does his poop look like?

 

[kinyonga]

So he's not eating on his own either?

Please answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum so we can help you better and post a recent photo of him.

 

[SJRG95]

Will do

 

[SJRG95]

Your Chameleon - The east usambara two horned (fischers sub species), male, about 10 months- to a year
Handling - Every day to feed him and give him his calcium and his shot for an infection
Feeding - Nothing- used to feed crickets and super worms but he stopped eating shortly after he came to my care (his tongue cant catch food) so he is on a omnivore supplement i feed 3-4ml a day.
Supplements - I dont- i would use zoomed calcium stuff but he doesnt eat live food
Watering - I mist with warm water. He rarely drinks- maybe a lick or two, and only when outside. I shower method 3 times a week for 1 hour
Fecal Description - Runny poop, yellow pee. If he poops. I have had it tested, he had parasites but the vet said its all better.
History - Got him back in august- he is occasionally exposed to my female veiled but not for more than 2 minutes. He likes to sit at the bottom of his cage and sleeps on a low hanging branch. His tongue doesnt work and often gives up when i try to feed him. He is dehydrated, but drank maybe 3 licks today I am outside with him now since its warm. He doesnt often bask, but loves to run around on my climbing habitat.
He has a oral infection but that is getting treated- weve been to the vet 3 times already since August and are working hard to get him to become better.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Screen- currently a 2foot wide by 3 foot tall - we are building his bigger cage will be 3 feet wide- 5 feet tall.
Lighting - 10 watt UVB, 75 heat, usually lights on my 10am out by 10-11p
Temperature - Night time range from 69 to 73 depending on what my heat/cool is set to, Daytime- 75 to 80 depends on how long my blinds are up for (my room faces the sun during the day and it can get very hot)
Humidity - 60-75%- I mist 4 times a day for 2 minutes, and have started to mist longer because he doesnt drink
Plants - Using a large pathos- he has no sticks in his cage because he cant grip very well and i fear he will fall
Placement - By my closet that we dont use, away from the bed, he is near the door to my room, however my veiled is closer to the door, he cant see us enter or leave unless i walk infront of his cage.
Location - Central Florida

 

[SJRG95]

This is about 2 days old

 

[calvin]

This is about 2 days old

I am no pro. But it looks like his eyes are sunken witch I believe indicates dehydration. I am sure u are doing the best job u can at bring him back to health

 

[SJRG95]

Yeah I know he's dehydrated which is why I think I'm going to start syringe drinking him. Which sucks to be honest.

 

[fester2226]

can you post pic of cage

 

[carol5208]

can you post pic of cage

I think that is the cage in the background. If so, it really needs more foilage, vines and branches for him to climb around on. Those fake vines are ok, but should be incorporated with more walkways for him.

 

[SJRG95]

No thats my girls when i took it apart to clean I will post a picture of his cage shortly. I dont trust him with vines and stuff to climb on he can barely hold on to my fingers when i am holding him in my hands- he has almost no grip strength. During most of the day when i am home he gets to run around on my climbing wall which i will post a picture of as well.

 

[SJRG95]

There is his cage as of right now- i have it set up to where he cant fall because he has weak grip- and the chameleon wall i have- hes hiding in the corner at the top.

 

[repdog]

How do you use the omnivore supplement? Is it a powder that you mix with water? If so then he is getting some water. If so this is what I have on hand for any sick ones. I took in some geckos that were in very bad shape, they were hand feed with this food then I would drip a little water on their nose. I hear you it took me an extra half hour every morning before work to feed them. That was 3 times a day.

 

[SJRG95]

Yeah I mix it with water I give him probably an extra 1 to 2 mL a day bc I water it down some so that he drinks. I'm glad to know some one else understands!