Questions for if I get another chameleon
- Thread starter Revo
- Start date
brownie64
Avid Member
Haven't found a way to prevent them really. Just try not to feed wild caught food, and do fecal checks every 6-8 months. That's what works for me.
Never owned a translucent veiled before, but can't think of a reason there care would be any different if so maybe someone who actually owns one will chime in.
I personally would look and see what they have available on the classifieds on this site. Good luck
Never owned a translucent veiled before, but can't think of a reason there care would be any different if so maybe someone who actually owns one will chime in.
I personally would look and see what they have available on the classifieds on this site. Good luck
jpowell86
Chameleon Enthusiast
1.) You can't prevent parasites perse. Feeder insects can carry parasites which can pass to your cham, and that's all there is to it. This is why fecal checks are so important.
2.) Correct. Some people say that their skin can burn more easily than typical veileds, but I have never seen that proven.
3.) Check the Forum's Site Sponsors. You can find great healthy chameleons there!
2.) Correct. Some people say that their skin can burn more easily than typical veileds, but I have never seen that proven.
3.) Check the Forum's Site Sponsors. You can find great healthy chameleons there!
Thanks brownie, so you shouldn't get parasites if you don't feed wild caught feeders?Haven't found a way to prevent them really. Just try not to feed wild caught food, and do fecal checks every 6-8 months. That's what works for me.
Never owned a translucent veiled before, but can't think of a reason there care would be any different if so maybe someone who actually owns one will chime in.
I personally would look and see what they have available on the classifieds on this site. Good luck
Thanks JP, is there a way to check without a vet visit?
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Parasites can not be prevented, chameleons eat vectors! Why get another Veiled? There are so many different kinds of chameleons Veiled chameleons are usually not the most friendly! Buy from breeders who advertise on chameleonforums.com!
brownie64
Avid Member
No you can still get them just not as likely. That's why I do the fecal every 6 months. If you don't want the expense of the vet just get your own microscope and do them yourself it's not really a bad learning curve once you find out what you are looking for, and do a few. However ether way the only prevention is to catch them before they get too far.
jpowell86
Chameleon Enthusiast
If you have a compound microscope, slides, saline, cover slips and you know what you're looking for! Honestly, it's not too terribly difficult to run a fecal at home if you have the equipment. I do my own at home. So if you want to spend the money and learn how to recognize bacteria and protozoan, then...for sure!
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think the most important part, regardless of what type of cham you might get next, is that you buy it from a trusted breeder, not a big pet store. Unfortunately, the big pet stores don't take the best care of their chameleons, and it sets new keepers up for failure. This means you might pay more (although Petco prices for Veileds are absolute thievery), but you know that your cham is healthy and well cared for.
- Buy from a trusted breeder, not a pet store - I recommend any of the forum sponsors: https://www.chameleonforums.com/sponsors/
- Do not buy a baby - get a subadult, at least 6 months old but 7-8 months is better.
- Get a male, especially when you are learning. Females have extra needs because of egg laying that can impact their health.
- I actually think you should get another Veiled - they are very cool, reasonably priced, and one of the more forgiving species of chameleon for care.
- Read, read, read, read, read! Have you read the caresheets hear? Great! Read them again! https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/ Even experienced keepers are always learning. That's part of the fun.
- THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: DO NOT get a new chameleon until you have disinfected EVERYTHING your old chameleon touched. Everything solid, metal, and plastic can be washed down or soaked with bleach water and rinsed really well. Everything wood, crumbly, or porous/absorbent and live plants should be thrown away. It sucks, but you should do this to protect your new cham from potentially catching the parasites from your old cham. Some parasites can live on surfaces for months, so cleaning and disinfecting is really, really important.
I will be cleaning the cage well. I am probably getting a translucent veiled but keeping my options open. I will be reading more on them. Also not getting the new one right away. I want to make sure I have everything right. My Chameleon had such a good personality she never opened her mouth or very rarely hissed at me. I can't believe how attached I got to her. I will try once more but if I have a bad experience like this I will be done.
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
Once they get those little mitten hands wrapped around your heart, you're smitten for life. Chameleons are very special. I wish you the best of luck.
Thanks Lathis for the luck. Its kinda funny because some in my family look at me funny and try to talk me into getting a dog. Oh well right.
Jp
What are the parasites I should look for. My Friend went to vet school and said she would teach me. She asked what I needed to look for.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
No, you can get parasites from commercially raised feeders. I would much rather feed wild caught insects than commercial ones. They are so much more nutritious. I'll take my chances with parasites. Most chameleons can cope with a parasitic load as long as they are healthy with a robust immune system. I believe the current zoo protocol is that if the animal is thriving, don't worry about parasites.
brownie64
Avid Member
Hookworm, Cryptosporidia, Capillaria' Giardia, Coccidia, Tapeworms, Strongyloides, Roundworm, and Pinworms. Wild caught insects can be more nutritious, but in my opinion if you gut load your insects properly they will do fine with commercial feeders, and it is less likely to have parasites, even though it like I said is possible. And I wouldn't leave your cham to it's own devices they are masters of hiding their illness, and the faster you nip an infestation in the bud the better. If you wait until the cham shows signs of a parasite infestation like not eating, eyes closed, vomiting, diarrhea. to just name a few it might be too far gone to bring back. just my two cents.
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Thanks for the list
jpowell86
Chameleon Enthusiast
Revo said:
So your vet friend should have all the equipment needed! She will want to do a fecal float so she can identify any worm ova in the sample. She can also do a smear test. Both are preferable. Nematodes, Protozoa and Trematodes are what she should look for.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
I haven't seen chameleons hide illness so much as I have seen keepers not recognize when an animal starts to go down. Parasites are normal and a healthy animals' immune system should keep everything in check. As I mentioned, the latest thinking about parasites is to not treat unless there is a problem. There is even some thought that parasites supply animals with a benefit. Weight loss or a poor growth rate would be indications of a problem. There is more to nutrition than what an insect has just eaten before it is eaten by a chameleon. What an insect feeds on its whole life matters. The stuff in a grocery store is grown on depleted soil. It is not the same as a wild insect.
brownie64
Avid Member
I merely state what I have seen in my 20 plus years of experience, and I have seen chameleons die from parasite infestation. And it has ben my experience that parasites are never good for health, and them having them is the problem. So I think I'll err on the side of caution, and be safe instead of sorry. Chameleons in nature my very well be able to fight off parasites, but the ones in captivity are under a lot more stress than wild ones, and I believe they can use all the help they can get. After all as their stewards is it not our job to stay on top of things?
