Please help baby not responding!!!

[PardalisGirl]

Question..............

Sorry about your loss....I just read this thread. This question is for the advanced keepers that posted on this thread. I just noticed that an Exo-Terra COIL lamp was being used as part of this cham's set-up. Nobody said anything about it's use for this baby. Is this one of the spiral UVB lights that has the potential for causing serious eye issues? Or has this particular lamp been judged to be safe for our use? Thanks, trying to keep on top of this issue....

 

[AReptile]

Sadly my little guy passed away today...its been a tough last couple of days, but I'm relieved that he isn't in pain now. However, if I want to get a chameleon again, I'd like to be more prepared. I understand that I was told some things, multiple times, but did not listen...but now I am prepared to listen to anyone who thinks they can help. So please...if you feel this person may be you, by all means post a comment so I can avoid future tragedies.

For one the heat was too high...Is it reasonable to say that I don't even need a heat lamp, if temperatures never go under 65?-On average the overall temp for his GLASS terrarium was 80-82, and at night 78. As well, is 50%-70% a reasonable hydration level for veileds?

I also realize that substrate, (recommended by the pet store) may have been another factor...which could have lead to impaction, or even parasites due to the peat moss absorbing so much water. So should I avoid substrate all together?-or would newspaper or astro-turf the best solution?

As for calcium supplements, should crickets be dusted each day for young 8 week old veiled chameleons, or every other day? Should crickets that have not been eaten by the end of the day be removed?-I've heard that in some cases, crickets will bite the chameleon, while he's sleeping or basking, leading to a build up of stress, or infections. Or should I just ignore letting him hunt for food all together, by simply cup feeding him only?

Please reply if you feel like adding any input into my thread...I'm sorry for such a long email, but I'm just trying to understand the factors that may have lead to my chameleons death. I miss him very much, and would really like to avoid future problems like yesterdays and todays from occurring. I will post pictures of my terrarium tomorrow.

Thank you, Eric

I had a similar problem to yours with my first lizard probably about the same time this was happening to you. I just brought him back to the pet store and he gave me another one after he kept moving around like a blind man in front of them. What was odd was that he would open his eyes occasionally then go back to closing em. Pretty much everyone who posted in my thread gave very good information that I plan on using so thqat it doesn't happen to my second one. But i guess this seems to be a frequent problem with new chameleon owners.

 

[Julirs]

Sorry about your loss....I just read this thread. This question is for the advanced keepers that posted on this thread. I just noticed that an Exo-Terra COIL lamp was being used as part of this cham's set-up. Nobody said anything about it's use for this baby. Is this one of the spiral UVB lights that has the potential for causing serious eye issues? Or has this particular lamp been judged to be safe for our use? Thanks, trying to keep on top of this issue....

I missed that. Good catch!

 

[ericthornhill]

I missed that. Good catch!

Do you know if this particular brand has been ruled out for harmful UVB lights?-Or is it known to be a coil bulb that may be harmful to a chameleons health?

 

[PardalisGirl]

Exo-Terra Compact UVB lights.......

Hi there......I just did my own bit of research. The UK UVB research site we often refer to in this forum did not cover the Exo-Terra products. Or at least I could not find out where they did. However, the Exo-Terra company website offered enough information in the form of wavelength charts for the Compact 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 bulbs for me to make some immediate recommendations.

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/compact_fluorescent_bulbs.php

According to their own charts the 5.0 and 10.0 coil bulbs offer significant light below the 300 wavelength level. Real sunlight does not provide UVB below this level. These unnatural lower wavelengths of UVB are thought to be the probable source of the eye issues. I would definitely NEVER use the 5.0 or 10.0 products. The 2.0 product has much lower levels of these inappropriate wavelengths but is low in the needed UVB overall. It isn't strong enough in the correct UVB to of any value to us. So, I'm going to recommend staying away from the Exo-Terra Compact UVBs. You can't go wrong with a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0. Order from one of our sponsers before you get a new baby. It's a lot cheaper through them, even with shipping.

 

[ericthornhill]

Thank you

Thanks to everyone for responding with such great advice,

You guys are always so helpful on this site, from your advice, to the references given. As for me I've been doing a lot of research lately, and have decided to give it another go, by purchasing another chameleon. He is around 8 weeks, to 2 months old. I know it may seem sudden, and too soon, but after a lot of reading, and due to my contract with the store, it seemed necessary to purchase one now, rather than later.

However, this time around I have made some changes to my set up. This post is being sent to see what you guys think, so once again, for the hundredth time, comments will be appreciated.

For one, I've moved the thermal bulb much further away from the terrarium, allowing for a much cooler temperature throughout the enclosure. His ambient temp is more so now around 68-70, his mid around 74-76 and his basking at about 78. The thermal is turned off at night, which cools his enclosure down to about 60-62 degrees.

Peat moss substrate is now all completely gone, and is now replaced by paper towels and a very shallow dish/lid, to catch all excess water produced by dripping and misting.

Crickets are gut loaded the night before with oranges, apples, potatoes, dried egg yolk, and a variety of grain foods. They will be coated in calcium powder supplement every other day. As well I am supplying him with 6-8 crickets per day.

The fake plastic plants were soaked in a 5-10% bleach solution, rinsed thoroughly several times, then left to dry for about 4 hours. The tank was sprayed with white vinegar, left to sit for 10 minutes, then thoroughly cleaned with warm water, and left to evaporate for 24 hours.

I plan on misting 3 times per day, and using the drip 2 times per day, but this may change depending on how he reacts, (urinate colours, rounded or sunken eyes).

If anyone has any input, feel free to leave a message. Once again thank you so much. I hope to keep this guy, and give him a long healthy life.

Thanks, Eric

 

[pssh]

Temps sound good but a basking spot of 80-83 would probably be a tiny bit better. You need more leafy veggies in your gutload like kale, collardgreens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, and parsley. You need to dust with calcium without d3 5 times a week, calcium with d3 2-3 times a month, and a multivitamin without vit A once a month.

Make sure the catch bin has screen over it so he can't fall in.

 

[PardalisGirl]

My thoughts.......

Do you know if this particular brand has been ruled out for harmful UVB lights?-Or is it known to be a coil bulb that may be harmful to a chameleons health?

The Exo-Terra Coil/Spiral compact bulbs are totally out. I don't know if the Exo-Terra linear tubes have caused health issues. According to their own website, they do produce some UVB at wavelengths below 300 (not found in real sunshine). Wavelengths below 300 produce DNA/cellular damage in higher doses. I personally would not risk using a product that produces these wavelengths in smaller amounts either. I've used the ZooMed Reptisun linear tubes for a decade and have been extremely happy with them. The Exo-Terra site is below:

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/linear_fluorescent_bulbs.php

 

[ericthornhill]

The Exo-Terra Coil/Spiral compact bulbs are totally out. I don't know if the Exo-Terra linear tubes have caused health issues. According to their own website, they do produce some UVB at wavelengths below 300 (not found in real sunshine). Wavelengths below 300 produce DNA/cellular damage in higher doses. I personally would not risk using a product that produces these wavelengths in smaller amounts either. I've used the ZooMed Reptisun linear tubes for a decade and have been extremely happy with them. The Exo-Terra site is below:

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/linear_fluorescent_bulbs.php

Linear being the long tube shaped bulbs? I really want to switch the UVB, but my hood wont fit a long tube sized bulb....are there any substitutions that are known to be safe to chameleons?

 

[PardalisGirl]

I don't know of any.........

I don't know of any compact/spiral UVB's that I would trust right now. You can get an aquarium hood fixture for a long UVB tube for about $20. I know you want to use that compact fixture since you bought it. Someone with a bearded dragon or other desert type reptile could use it. Perhaps you can sell it.....