Old age and clumsy

[Dwhite]

My male veiled chameleon is about 4 or 5 years old and getting very clumsy. It doesn't help there was no sunshine here in 3 months. He has a new 55cm T5 UVB bulb (replace every 4 months), and he gets plenty of calcuim. Might finally get sunshine in the forecast soon. Unusually gloomy this year. Trying to revive him, but fear old age is setting in. Any advice?

 

[Thompson]

What's your dusting schedule/what products do you use? Pics?

 

[ERKleRose]

Could you fill out this form in as much detail as possble, please (including pics of your cham, his entire cage, and his lights)?

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.

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Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[jannb]

They often get arthritis when they get older. Take him to the vet. There’s some good meds for arthritis in reptiles.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

He has a new 55cm T5 UVB bulb (replace every 4 months),

That's about 3X as often as necessary. T5HO linear bulbs (both Reptisun and Arcadia) are good for 12 months. One of my current bulbs is 18 months old and still putting out as much as it did when new.

 

[Dwhite]

He is in the sun now

 

[Dwhite]

The sun is finally shining this week after most of the year being cold, cloudy, and gloomy. This is him in the sun now. He gets most calcium and water from a squeeze vile pipette. He has mister and I hand mist often. Usually temperature is stable here in San Diego, California by the beach but it has been unusually cold and gloomy this year until now, so keep temps up has been challenging and no possible sunshine for a long time until now. He might be doing better today. Sun really seems to be helping.

 

[Dwhite]

Terrarium is 36"x18"x36"

 

[Dwhite]

UVB light is on 12 hours per day. 40 watt cermamic heat lamp directly on terrarium for cold days and he is able to get very close to heat source and light.

 

[Dwhite]

Never any handling, unless absolutely necessary to get him sunlight for when there are long stretches of time when sun doesn't come through his open window. Lately not even that because it has been so cold and cloudy and when sun was coming out, it was only 62F or 18C degrees.

 

[Ramrod]

Never any handling, unless absolutely necessary to get him sunlight for when there are long stretches of time when sun doesn't come through his open window. Lately not even that because it has been so cold and cloudy and when sun was coming out, it was only 62F or 18C degrees.

Mine gets sun outside almost every day. Sunnier here in east county as we don't have the marine layer the coast does.
Sunshine through the window is good for heat but uvb rays won't penetrate glass.

 

[kinyonga]

Please post some recent photos of your chameleon from both sides.

You said he gets sun through the open window...so that's through 2 layers of screen then?

What's the form of calcium in the bottle? Calcium gluconate?

Do you use the 40 watt ceramic heater as a basking source...So he has no asking light?