I adopted a special needs veiled chameleon. He had been starved by his owner. I got him fattened up and he has been doing great till a few weeks ago. He started falling off his branches and today broke out in black poke a dots after eating his crickets. Im not sure of his age and I need help. He has been eating and drinking fine and everyone says he is just old. Im so worried.
Please help
- Thread starter catdash
- Start date
Elizadolots
New Member
You should fill out the "How to Ask for Help" form. Just copy, paste into a reply and add your information. In your case, you'll need to give us as much as you know about the previous care and the current care (so, for example: Lighting: Was a blacklight, Now a Reptisun 5.0 + 60 watt incandescent bulb). Be specific (brand names, not "the right stuff") and be graphic. We really do want to know that the poop looks like!
If you can take pictures of everything, the animal, the enclosure, the lights, that will help a lot.
If you can take pictures of everything, the animal, the enclosure, the lights, that will help a lot.
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
When you post a reply, scroll down a bit to the button that says 'manage attachments' Then you can add pics from your computer by clicking 'choose file'
Your Chameleon -Eddie is a veiled cham. Male, and I dont know how old he is. I have had him for about 7 months.
Handling - I dont handle him. Only pet him a few times a week and talk to him several times a day lol.
Feeding -he eats 5 super worms everyday and maybe 10 large crickets twice a week. Ive gut loaded the crickets and worms with oranges. grapes. And apples.
Supplements - I dust his crickets with calcium powder twice weekly. I dont know the brand opti something. I threw the container away.
Watering -i mist him twice a day for at least 5 minutes untill I see him drink from the leaves and he has a drip system.
Fecal Description - His poo is yellow and thick sometimes darkish orange.i dont think he has probably ever been tested for parasites. His last owner sucked!
History - He was not fed well before I got him. And was kept in a tiny glass aquarium.
AWFUL!
Cage Info:
Cage Type - His cage now is about 4 foot tall 2 1/2 foot around screen enclosure. 3/4 wrapped with clear plastic to keep some humidity inside.
Lighting -he has a heat lamp I dont know which brand its the one the pet store said was the best. He also has a purple night light. His lights go on at 8 am and turn on his night light at 10 pm.
Temperature - His cage is normally around 70 degrees during the day and may get down to 60 at night. I dont have anything to test the humidity.
Plants - He has a large umbrella plant and many vines and sticks he also has silk ivy on the sides to create some hiding places. -his cage is in our living room not near any drafts or fans. His cage sits on a two foot wooden box.
Location -i am in fort wayne indiana.
Handling - I dont handle him. Only pet him a few times a week and talk to him several times a day lol.
Feeding -he eats 5 super worms everyday and maybe 10 large crickets twice a week. Ive gut loaded the crickets and worms with oranges. grapes. And apples.
Supplements - I dust his crickets with calcium powder twice weekly. I dont know the brand opti something. I threw the container away.
Watering -i mist him twice a day for at least 5 minutes untill I see him drink from the leaves and he has a drip system.
Fecal Description - His poo is yellow and thick sometimes darkish orange.i dont think he has probably ever been tested for parasites. His last owner sucked!
History - He was not fed well before I got him. And was kept in a tiny glass aquarium.
AWFUL!
Cage Info:
Cage Type - His cage now is about 4 foot tall 2 1/2 foot around screen enclosure. 3/4 wrapped with clear plastic to keep some humidity inside.
Lighting -he has a heat lamp I dont know which brand its the one the pet store said was the best. He also has a purple night light. His lights go on at 8 am and turn on his night light at 10 pm.
Temperature - His cage is normally around 70 degrees during the day and may get down to 60 at night. I dont have anything to test the humidity.
Plants - He has a large umbrella plant and many vines and sticks he also has silk ivy on the sides to create some hiding places. -his cage is in our living room not near any drafts or fans. His cage sits on a two foot wooden box.
Location -i am in fort wayne indiana.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
No need to insult the last owner when you're still new to chams.
There's still plenty wrong with your info yourself.
The suppliments he should have are
calcium without d3 everyday,
calcium with d3 2x a month,
multivitamins 2x a month,
From his fecal he is dehydrated. It should be white, not yellow or orange. Super worms are not a good staple, they are a treat, crickets and dubias are good staples. Take out the night light. Those are completely useless and will prevent sleep. The temps are supposed to cool down at night, and be dark, 60ish. Don't you have a UVB light? You NEED a uvb or he will die. Get a reptisun 5.0. Testing temps and humidity are vital, get the daytime heat up a bit more. Pics of his enclosure would help.
There's still plenty wrong with your info yourself.
The suppliments he should have are
calcium without d3 everyday,
calcium with d3 2x a month,
multivitamins 2x a month,
From his fecal he is dehydrated. It should be white, not yellow or orange. Super worms are not a good staple, they are a treat, crickets and dubias are good staples. Take out the night light. Those are completely useless and will prevent sleep. The temps are supposed to cool down at night, and be dark, 60ish. Don't you have a UVB light? You NEED a uvb or he will die. Get a reptisun 5.0. Testing temps and humidity are vital, get the daytime heat up a bit more. Pics of his enclosure would help.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Definately more foilage would help. It's pretty bare. Only one plant?
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
Superworms do have a high fat content so don't keep him on that many for too long.....if you can then give as much variety as possble, here's a good list - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
Your gutloading could be better, here's some tips - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
For his poo there should be a bigger brown bit and a smaller white bit (the urate section). If the white bit goes yellow or orange that's a sign of dehydration (silkworms might help with hydration and they are low fat). He really doesn't need a night light at all, but he does need a uvb tube (a reptisun 5.0 is most recommended). Does your vitamin powder have d3 in? You'll need to get your vitamin schedule sorted.........need to know your brand names for that.......
What is his basking spot temp? Most people have the lights on a 12 hour cycle.....
This is the best caresheet I know of for veiled chameleons - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
Welcome to the forum - I hope this helps
Your gutloading could be better, here's some tips - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
For his poo there should be a bigger brown bit and a smaller white bit (the urate section). If the white bit goes yellow or orange that's a sign of dehydration (silkworms might help with hydration and they are low fat). He really doesn't need a night light at all, but he does need a uvb tube (a reptisun 5.0 is most recommended). Does your vitamin powder have d3 in? You'll need to get your vitamin schedule sorted.........need to know your brand names for that.......
What is his basking spot temp? Most people have the lights on a 12 hour cycle.....
This is the best caresheet I know of for veiled chameleons - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
Welcome to the forum - I hope this helps
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Okay well you're still being an ignorant hypocrite. Try giving him everything he NEEDS and then you can talk about the previous owner.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Yes we do appreciate your attempt to actually help your ownership, but I wish you'd asked sooner. That long without UVB can cause serious MBD.
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
I just saw the photo, you have fattened him up, haven't you? The bulging casque is where he store excess fat......he should go on a bit of a diet too...
The bulging casque is where he store excess fat......he should go on a bit of a diet too...
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Falling is a sign of MBD. Probably from the lack of UVB. You'll probably have to order the calcium without d3 online, I suggest stickytonguefarms.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Yes, and too fat is almost as bad as too skinny.
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
The spots are just him being in a bit of a grumpy mood.....does he ever hiss or lunge at you? If the spots are new then you have a chilled out male veiled, so count yourself lucky for that........
I don't want to speculate on the falling just yet, but it does sound like it could be mbd....could you post a couple more pics that show scale so we could guess at age better and get a look at his whole body (esp legs)?
I don't want to speculate on the falling just yet, but it does sound like it could be mbd....could you post a couple more pics that show scale so we could guess at age better and get a look at his whole body (esp legs)?
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Also, you can handle him, it's not forbidden. That's probably why he's stressed at the time if you got near him and he's not used to it very much. Hand feeding gains trust.
