Please help if possible!

[merisah98]

I purchased a female green veiled chameleon from Petco and when I initially purchased her, both nodes in her eyes were swollen & secreting yellow, so I took her to the vet and they prescribed eye drops. The swelling has tremendously went down, but she’s acting a bit odd..she will sit on top of a branch, curl her tail, and continuously close/open one eye OR even gape. I have not had a fecal matter tested yet, but plan on taking her to the vet again for a follow up and a fecal test. Please see down below & let me know if I am doing something wrong! Also, I will post another picture shortly of the behavior where her tail is curled also!

Note: I have had her for about 2 1/2 weeks now.

Age: about 3-4 months old

Cage size: 16x16x30, switching to a larger one this weekend.

Humidity: during the day keeping it between 30-50, at night I try to keep it above 70, but keeps dropped to 50-60

Feeding: currently only feeding crickets, have fed hornworms occasionally & purchasing either silk worms OR discoid roaches soon.

Lighting: UVB T5 HO, I have it raised about 5-6 inches as her enclosure is small

Basking light: 50 W, I have this raised also

Basking temp: keeping it between 82-84 F

Fogger/Misting: misting 4 min prior to turning on Fogger before lights go on in the AM & at night after lights are out.

Feeding times: 1 hour after basking in the AM & early afternoon

Currently gutloading insects with: kale, apples, strawberries, carrots, etc & receiving bee pollen soon.

Supplements: calcium without D3 every feeding & multivitamin with D3 twice a month.

Fecal matter: is dark & moist, urate is white. I don’t see any parasites & it’s a bit smelly, but still getting it tested.

 

[Beman]

View attachment 335223I purchased a female green veiled chameleon from Petco and when I initially purchased her, both nodes in her eyes were swollen & secreting yellow, so I took her to the vet and they prescribed eye drops. The swelling has tremendously went down, but she’s acting a bit odd..she will sit on top of a branch, curl her tail, and continuously close/open one eye OR even gape. I have not had a fecal matter tested yet, but plan on taking her to the vet again for a follow up and a fecal test. Please see down below & let me know if I am doing something wrong! Also, I will post another picture shortly of the behavior where her tail is curled also!

Note: I have had her for about 2 1/2 weeks now.

Age: about 3-4 months old

Cage size: 16x16x30, switching to a larger one this weekend.

Humidity: during the day keeping it between 30-50, at night I try to keep it above 70, but keeps dropped to 50-60

Feeding: currently only feeding crickets, have fed hornworms occasionally & purchasing either silk worms OR discoid roaches soon.

Lighting: UVB T5 HO, I have it raised about 5-6 inches as her enclosure is small

Basking light: 50 W, I have this raised also

Basking temp: keeping it between 82-84 F

Fogger/Misting: misting 4 min prior to turning on Fogger before lights go on in the AM & at night after lights are out.

Feeding times: 1 hour after basking in the AM & early afternoon

Currently gutloading insects with: kale, apples, strawberries, carrots, etc & receiving bee pollen soon.

Supplements: calcium without D3 every feeding & multivitamin with D3 twice a month.

Fecal matter: is dark & moist, urate is white. I don’t see any parasites & it’s a bit smelly, but still getting it tested.

Hi can you post a picture of the entire enclosure from the lights down just so I can see if anything stands out?

How are you checking your basking temps?

Is the fogger running when lights are on in the morning?

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome. I’m really not sure what’s going on with your little cutie’s eyes. She could have something trapped in them, an infection or I don’t even know. It could even be a sinus problem. It’s great that you’ve taken her to a vet already. What brand of multivitamin are you using?
Regarding your husbandry, it looks pretty good. Just a few things to change.
The minimum size for most chameleons is 2x2x4’ or equivalent. If you can go even bigger than that, it would be terrific!
How much are you feeding her? She’s old enough that she should be fed just once a day in the morning. Why not silkworms AND roaches? Many venders sell variety packs - check the forum sponsors and also http://www.lindasgonebuggie.com/ You may want to think about starting a small roach colony - they are super easy to care for and you’ll never run out of feeders. Since you mention discoids at her than dubia, I suspect you’re in Florida. If so, when we get hurricanes it’s near impossible to find feeders. That’s what prompted me to start my colony (plus saving $$).
Glad that you’ve already raised your lights. Little ones love to walk upside down on the screen top and put themselves at risk for burns. You should lower your basking temp a bit though. Little ones and ladies shouldn’t exceed 80.
Misting should be for about 2 minutes right before lights go on and off and another at mid day is optional. Foggers should only be used at night and when you can achieve a temp drop below at least 68.
I’d drop the kale as it contains oxalates which bind to calcium. Attaching graphics for you. I don’t gutload, but I do keep my feeders well fed a variety of fresh produce and a little bit of Repashy Bug Burger (that I add a bit of bee pollen and spirulina to).
I have to ask - are you aware that your beautiful girl will lay eggs even if she never even sees a boy and it can happen as young as 5-6 months old? Since egg laying shortens the lives of our girls, we use some simple ways to help reduce egg production. I can’t go into any of it now or anything else. Have to get off line for the afternoon. Do ask whatever questions you have and share your pics, experiences, etc. Very glad that you’ve found your way here.

 

[merisah98]

Please excuse the mess! I had raise up the UVB & heating bulb temporarily as I’m waiting for a bigger enclosure/stand to come in

Also, I turn the Fogger on prior to lights going on in the morning & after lights go out at night. I typically keep it on for about 15-20 minutes & mist for at least 3-4 minutes prior to lights coming on/after going off as this is what I was told.. Also, please ignore the pothos in the back , it isn’t doing too well as it is root bound and I don’t believe it is absorbing water properly so planning on getting more coverage in the new enclosure as well for more coverage!

Checking basking temps/ humidity with a digital thermometer. I was using a zoomed gage before, but it wasn’t giving me a proper reading..

 

[Beman]

Please excuse the mess! I had raise up the UVB & heating bulb temporarily as I’m waiting for a bigger enclosure/stand to come in

Also, I turn the Fogger on prior to lights going on in the morning & after lights go out at night. I typically keep it on for about 15-20 minutes & mist for at least 3-4 minutes prior to lights coming on/after going off as this is what I was told.. Also, please ignore the pothos in the back , it isn’t doing too well as it is root bound and I don’t believe it is absorbing water properly so planning on getting more coverage in the new enclosure as well for more coverage!

Checking basking temps/ humidity with a digital thermometer. I was using a zoomed gage before, but it wasn’t giving me a proper reading..
View attachment 335229

Talk to me about your uvb... Is it a T8 fixture? It looks like this one https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...VYgytBh3HBQioEAQYAiABEgJaU_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Can you tell me if that is the fixture?

You want to stop fogging in the morning and keep that for night time when temps are cooler than 68. Otherwise high humidity from fogging and lights which put out heat can lead to them developing a respiratory infection.

 

[merisah98]

It's a T5 fixture, and oh I see! I believe that makes sense now as to why temps are higher than usual also, but I will definitely put a halt to turning on the fogger in the AM.

 

[Beman]

Looks like you replied but only with my response.

 

[merisah98]

It's a T5 fixture, and oh I see! I believe that makes sense now as to why temps are higher than usual also, but I will definitely put a halt to turning on the fogger in the AM.

 

[Beman]

It's a T5 fixture, and oh I see! I believe that makes sense now as to why temps are higher than usual also, but I will definitely put a halt to turning on the fogger in the AM.

Ok not to beat a dead horse... But your positive it is a T5HO not a T8. There is not a plastic panel that covers the bulb right?

 

[merisah98]

Ok not to beat a dead horse... But your positive it is a T5HO not a T8. There is not a plastic panel that covers the bulb right?

100% positive! I lifted it up just now to check, it is for sure a T5HO with no plastic panel covering the bulb.

 

[Beman]

100% positive! I lifted it up just now to check, it is for sure a T5HO with no plastic panel covering the bulb.

Perfect and what is the bulb strength on it? it should be written on one end. Sorry to hammer on this one but uvb being wrong and using a T8 or at the wrong distance with a T5HO for the bulb strength is a common reason for eyes closed.

 

[merisah98]

Perfect and what is the bulb strength on it? it should be written on one end. Sorry to hammer on this one but uvb being wrong and using a T8 or at the wrong distance with a T5HO for the bulb strength is a common reason for eyes closed.

Not a problem at all! I appreciate your help! It's a Reptisun F15T5 5.0 UVB

 

[merisah98]

Perfect and what is the bulb strength on it? it should be written on one end. Sorry to hammer on this one but uvb being wrong and using a T8 or at the wrong distance with a T5HO for the bulb strength is a common reason for eyes closed.

I haven’t gotten any videos/pictures of her yet with her eyes closed, but she will literally sit exactly like this and keep closing/opening one eye or she will gape occasionally under the uvb. Maybe temps are too high away from basking area?

 

[Beman]

Not a problem at all! I appreciate your help! It's a Reptisun F15T5 5.0 UVB

Ok perfection. So you want a measured distance of 8-9 inches to the branch from the bottom of the fixture.

Yes you can lift the fixture a few inches off the top. So say you did 3 inches off the top you want 6 inches from the screen to the branch below it. This puts baby in the right UVI level.

Right now it looks like you have too great a distance between the bottom of the fixture and the branches directly below.

 

[Beman]

Can you show me pics of the labels of your supplements please?

 

[merisah98]

Can you show me pics of the labels of your supplements please?

Here are pictures front and back also what is the best way to lower high temps in the enclosure?

 

[Beman]

Here are pictures front and back also what is the best way to lower high temps in the enclosure?

ok supplements are on point. So you will use the calcium without d3 at all feedings and then the reptivite with D3 only two times a month say the 1st and the 15th. Supplements should be lightly dusted on the feeders right before you give them. No powdered donuts coating on them. We only add supplements in this way. No additional adding to gutload.

 

[Beman]

When your talking temps are you talking ambient or basking temp?

 

[merisah98]

When your talking temps are you talking ambient or basking temp?

Got it, thank you! I would say both! I know that the temps are way too high for her at the moment and they also fluctuate even higher during the day, how would I lower them OR maintain them. Currently, I have her basking temp at 82, but I know this isn't ideal once she's an adult since she will lay eggs regardless if she has a mate or not & her ambient is currently sitting at about 79-80 degrees.

 

[Beman]

Got it, thank you! I would say both! I know that the temps are way too high for her at the moment and they also fluctuate even higher during the day, how would I lower them OR maintain them. Currently, I have her basking temp at 82, but I know this isn't ideal once she's an adult since she will lay eggs regardless if she has a mate or not & her ambient is currently sitting at about 79-80 degrees.

Ok so the best way to control ambient temps are by controlling your house temps. You want your heat set no higher than 72ish. Make sure the cage is not directly in front of a window either. This will pull temps higher and lower based on the season. You will want to keep her between 78-80 max for basking. Controlling basking temps is either dropping back the bulb wattage or raising the fixture higher. You can use those plant hanger bars that people use for hooking plants to walls. Mount that at the right distance above the cage. Also bulb type matter. Focused or basking bulbs that are flat on the surface are a hotter output bulb. I only use standard incandescent bulbs 60 watt typically is a good wattage.

Did you get info on how to reduce food intake as she matures to control clutch size?