Poorly Louie

[Louie2010]

I have a chameleon just over a year old which I obtained as a sub-adult. He has been well until today when he has suddenly, this evening, gone quite pale yellow and is opening his mouth a lot. When I got him out he was making no attempt to climb as he would normally and he also keeps closing his eyes. He has no other symptoms his poo seems fine he has been drinking.

He is fussy with his food and for the last few months refuses to eat crickets and eats mealworms and hoppers (small for his size).

Can anyone help as I am extremely worried. I notice that there were only two vets stating they specialise in reptiles nearish to where I live but on further investigation the address for one of these is incorrect.

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Without more information and pics we really cant help you. You need to find and fill out the how to ask for help form. It gives us the lowdown on your husbandry and we can tell you where you may be going wrong. For starters I hope you havent been giving him hoppers very often. Anything over 1 every cpl of months is alot. Personally i think feeding hoppers is uneccessary. They can get plenty of protein from dubia or other insects. And too much protein causes gout which is very painful for chams or humans.

 

[beeze]

Please fill ask the Ask For Help Form and post some pictures.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Also you might be able to find a vet here.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/area-area-country-vet-list-32880/

 

[Louie2010]

Without more information and pics we really cant help you. You need to find and fill out the how to ask for help form. It gives us the lowdown on your husbandry and we can tell you where you may be going wrong. For starters I hope you havent been giving him hoppers very often. Anything over 1 every cpl of months is alot. Personally i think feeding hoppers is uneccessary. They can get plenty of protein from dubia or other insects. And too much protein causes gout which is very painful for chams or humans.

I was told when purchasing my chameleon that should feed him hoppers daily as part of his diet and has for sometime refused to eat crickets so i was told to introduce mealworms which he seems to enjoy.

 

[Louie2010]

More info!

Please fill ask the Ask For Help Form and post some pictures.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Also you might be able to find a vet here.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/area-area-country-vet-list-32880/

He is a Yemen chameleon (male) that I bought as a sub adult and he is now over a year old.
I handle him once a day at the moment as it is quite cold but in warmer months i got him out up to twice a day.
I feed him mealworms and hoppers and i am trying to reintroduce crickets (which he refuses to eat) i put around 2 hoppers in his cage and then 2 more when he has eaten them ( around 2-4 hoppers weekly) and about 5 mealworms a day.
I dust his food with calcium powder once a week at the most- as it often makes him very thirsty
I used to mist his cage but then he started to lick the bottle so he licks droplets off the spray and likes to lick water off the walls of the cage instead of his leaves. I do this about once or twice a day.
His poo is quite firm some some yellowy some dark brown- the same since I bought him home

He often closes his eyes in the cold- is that normal?

He has a glass cage
He has a a long UV light and a heat lamp- i turn both on around 7 30am and turn them off around 10pm
He is on the wall in my kitchen and air is vented through the back
I am in England, West Midlands
I hope this helps!
(p.s am sorry but have no photos to post)

 

[kinyonga]

IMHO you should be dusting the insects at almost every feeding with a phos.-free calcium powder. Are there any signs of MBD?

You said he closes his eyes when he's cold....that sounds normal...but during the day he shouldn't be cold.

You don't mention temperatures, gutloading either.
If the urates are yellow/orange it could be that it needs more water.

 

[kicsylany]

Is his eyes sunken? I guess they are. Orange in urate means dehidration, he needs more water, higher humidity. Spray him at least 2-5 minutes around 4 times a day, make sure the water is luke warm, not cold.

 

[Louie2010]

Thank you

I just want to say thank you for all the comments

Although his breathing seems better he is going to sleep in the day but does seem eager for water, when he has it, although he soon gets bored so does not drink too much.

Thank you for all the comments I am finding them very helpful!

 

[Louie2010]

Getting help

Although all your comments were very helpful I am taking Louie (chameleon) to the vets as he keeps falling asleep even if you are holding him I am very worried but will inform you of the the actions I will take to cure him.

He has never been ill before but on speaking to the vets they seemed very helpful so hopefully a consultation will help him on his way to get treatment and get better.

 

[kinyonga]

I think you have made the right decision in taking him to the vets. I should have suggested that in my post. Good luck! Keep us posted.

In the meantime...here's some information that might help...

Exposure to proper UVB, appropriate temperatures, supplements, a supply of well-fed/gutloaded insects, water and an appropriate cage set-up are all important for the well-being of your chameleon.

Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/

 

[Louie2010]

Thanks

I just want to say thanks again for all the help it is great appreciated we are about to go off to the vets but he seems more happy now and is more lively- luckily!

Thank you to everyone who posted and I will inform you of any change in health thank you!

 

[Miss Lily]

Hi, I hope your vet visit goes well. I am also in the UK so I could suggest some sites to buy feeders from is you like. Sleeping in the day generally isn't a good sign at all. I've been there myself and it's horrible not being able to help them or even know how or what to do for them.

 

[Louie2010]

Hiya,
When we went to the vets the vet said that he had internal parasites, he did not have the right medicine to hand so decided to give him a dose of antibiotics and give him the the medicine the following day. After Louie had the shot he closed his eyes and was hissing when we got in the car he went a speckled colour. Later as I checked on him he was lying down with his eyes closed and limp- we thought that was it, but put him back in his cage to rest- as it was late at night. Suddenly my sister told me to come over he was breathing! But very shallow and barely noticeable but that was reassurance and comforted me. That night we decided to keep his heat lamp on as he very weak.

Unfortunately when I got up in the morning to check on him he had passed away. :'( I had the best chameleon ever and I could not have wished for a better pet.

RIP Louie

ps thanks for all the kind comments and tips they were all very kind and were greatly appreciated x

 

[Louie2010]

Hi, I hope your vet visit goes well. I am also in the UK so I could suggest some sites to buy feeders from is you like. Sleeping in the day generally isn't a good sign at all. I've been there myself and it's horrible not being able to help them or even know how or what to do for them.

Thank you that is very kind

 

[jannb]

I am so sorry to hear that Louie didn't make it. I have a Luie and will be devastated when something happens to him. I try to stress on here all the time how important fecals are. By the time your animal acts sick it's usually too late.

 

[Miss Lily]

I am so sorry you lost him. It really hurts to lose a precious and very special chameleon. I was absolutely floored when I lost my Lily almost 2 years ago. She taught me so much and the pain lessens but never quite leaves you. These wonderful pets get right into your heart and you honestly don't realise quite how attached you are to them until they are gone. May he rest in peace.