Preparing for my first chameleon, tips appreciated

[Traildrifterphalanx]

Rep-Cal multivitamin and Zoo-med Repti calcium are what I use. I have calcium w/ and w/o D3, pacman frog needs the D3.

So far she had her breakfast of nymph roaches in cal w/o D3. I do not plan to give her the D3 kind. No multivitamins from me, yet, and unsure what they used at the store. I considered asking - I was holding her for about 15 mins before taking her home just checking her over (they also gave me a discount because they wanted her to get a new home and felt badly for her)

 

[Andee]

She may do well with some preformed vitamin A since she won't be getting anything from the multivitamin.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

She may do well with some preformed vitamin A since she won't be getting anything from the multivitamin.

Agreed !!.

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

I am definitely not replacing a vet with home remedies but wanted to ask.
Is raw honey used as often with chameleons as it is with beardies to fight infections? Say if I put a diluted dab on her little duckbill until the appointment

 

[Andee]

It depends on if she shows infection and such in her gums around there. And then certain types of honey could work. Local raw honey is ok for that, but my favorite for fighting infections is raw manuka honey 16+ or more.

 

[Andee]

I often use home remedies to keep them going until a vet visit. I even have intravenous fluids and insulin needles to give fluids to my smaller mammals, I would like to be able to do it with my reptiles soon, but I haven't brought one in recently that I can ask with. I can likely already do it with my tortoise. They aren't super hard. But chameleons and geckos are confusing.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Correct, Reptisun 5.0 t5, 14", reflector, above screen, about maybe 10" from the main basking area

I know it took her a bit to get a roach this morning. I heard her tongue hit the side of the cup but she got one on the second try, and seemed to get them all consecutively afterward, so perhaps it was trying to climb the side and then fell as she struck.

Her movements are very clear and deliberate and she otherwise looks very healthy. She is definitely a "full" body, I don't know if I'd say overweight or perfectly healthy as JaJa was a bit thin.

Ok I know you had posted a pic of lights plus I know you did tons of resurch . I believe JaJa was much younger then Mamool, maybe 8/9 weeks were you able to contact FLChams ?

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

I have an email out to them currently but have not heard back.
I may try calling after work as well.

I'll post more photos of the enclosure and lights after cleaning today just to confirm nothing new or anything could cause an issue

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I am definitely not replacing a vet with home remedies but wanted to ask.
Is raw honey used as often with chameleons as it is with beardies to fight infections? Say if I put a diluted dab on her little duckbill until the appointment

I use honey in my gut load also Frances vet had me use a diluted tiny bit while on antibiotics. It's very controversial here in the site .

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

Raw honey is like the medicine of choice on the beardie forum, so I thought it was worth asking. People have reported clearing eye infections with diluted honey water, and I treated a beardie toe after he chewed it off from a retained shed and it healed perfectly, though I am unsure if I can credit the honey.

I had yet to have seen it even mentioned here which seemed odd, but of course vet visit > diagnosing your own pets and I'm sure that's partially why.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I have an email out to them currently but have not heard back.
I may try calling after work as well.

I'll post more photos of the enclosure and lights after cleaning today just to confirm nothing new or anything could cause an issue

I really don't think her issue was set up im not an expert like some other keepers here . @Andee and @kinyonga have years in @kinyonga has had more then 25 years keeping chameleons . They may see something . @Andee has had many rescues . I have experienced a lot with Frances with her health issues .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Raw honey is like the medicine of choice on the beardie forum, so I thought it was worth asking. People have reported clearing eye infections with diluted honey water, and I treated a beardie toe after he chewed it off from a retained shed and it healed perfectly, though I am unsure if I can credit the honey.

I had yet to have seen it even mentioned here which seemed odd, but of course vet visit > diagnosing your own pets and I'm sure that's partially why.

It's the medicine of choice with so many it has huge anti everything qualities . The concern is the chameleon not being able to convert the honey and having a hyperglycemic episode . I took a lot of heat in a thread when mentioned using it .

 

[Andee]

Honey has a lot of antibiotic properties, but I would only be worried about converting the honey if it was a purely insectivore. You guys have veileds so I wouldn't be too worried. But honestly I don't worry a lot even when using it with my insectivores and I haven't had any issues. I have even used it to boost low sugar levels because of lack of eating and it has sometimes shown desire to eat for short periods. I never use it as a cure all. I always use it as a short term solution while I wait for a vet visit. We have minimal emergency vets here that do exotics. The "emergency vets" here are just normal vets with normal hours that do emergency drop offs as long as it's during their normal hours. It's why I love our exotic vets so much, because they are aware how much we lack in general until we hit santa barbara county and try to make up for it in any way possible.

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

 

[Andee]

I definitely think when you take her into the vet she should get her eyes flushed just in case. Otherwise she does look a smidge deydrated but much better than your other girl, and she could definitely use the 8 feeders a day.

She looks no older than 4 months. She looks a bit thin in my opinion but she is old enough that both the dehydration and the thinness should be easy to get undercontrol rather quickly. I definitely recommend setting a timer and doing a mist for a minimum of 8 minutes today when you can, she really needs a long drink. Encourage her to do it by making the mist when it comes out warm to the touch.

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

Thank you for the advice.
I took more photos but I had a poopy emergency with my oldest dragon while on lunch. He decided to run through it.
I'll give her a lot of 1 on 1 when home from work.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I definitely think when you take her into the vet she should get her eyes flushed just in case. Otherwise she does look a smidge deydrated but much better than your other girl, and she could definitely use the 8 feeders a day.

She looks no older than 4 months. She looks a bit thin in my opinion but she is old enough that both the dehydration and the thinness should be easy to get undercontrol rather quickly. I definitely recommend setting a timer and doing a mist for a minimum of 8 minutes today when you can, she really needs a long drink. Encourage her to do it by making the mist when it comes out warm to the touch.

Completely agreed !!. I only saw the one pic yesterday but she definitely looks more like 4ish months in those pics . You can start a weight on her . It will also help when she's getting ready to lay . Well gut loaded feeders , crickets I like to gut load with my own gut load . I have a wonderful lady whom breeds bugs but I just really know their well fed with my own . I give them a few day before feeding them off to any of our babies . If you are getting them from the supply store you definitely want to feed the bugs . You can start silkies as well with her BSL would be great too .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Silkie you do not have to dust . Was worms have a good fat content nutritionally are good . They would help with putting a bit of weight in her . Just a few a week .

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

for what it's worth her eyes are already looking better than yesterday.

The roaches I breed myself and they are fed collard greens and apples, with some added stuff depending on what is near spoiling (they were just given strawberries.)
I "harvest" from the colony into a critter keeper and provide them collard greens until they get eaten.

I'm going to be getting some BSFL for her. Would she enjoy this more as worms or flies?

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

for what it's worth her eyes are already looking better than yesterday.

The roaches I breed myself and they are fed collard greens and apples, with some added stuff depending on what is near spoiling (they were just given strawberries.)
I "harvest" from the colony into a critter keeper and provide them collard greens until they get eaten.

I'm going to be getting some BSFL for her. Would she enjoy this more as worms or flies?

Try both if you can . Andee breed lots of her bugs she keeps in with her if you are ordering . I don't think her silkies are ready grrr lol . Mine are not either .