jclaiborne
New Member
Thanks for the suggestion...i will pick one up... shpuld i stage them like steps? I also thought about a wooden bird ladder. He is so unsure of his footing. With his coordination improve as he get his weight back?
Rescue in bad shape NEED INPUT
- Thread starter jclaiborne
- Start date
Thanks for the suggestion...i will pick one up... shpuld i stage them like steps? I also thought about a wooden bird ladder. He is so unsure of his footing. With his coordination improve as he get his weight back?
Djturna4thakidz
Established Member
As he gets hydrated and puts on some weight his grip should greatly improve. He looks better than he did. I would use the magnetic ledges under the UVB and basking light. A stepped approach would work. The bird ladders work good too but if his grip is weak the smooth texture of the dowel wood may cause problems. Real sticks with bark may be easier for him to latch onto.
Baksmurf
New Member
Just brainstorming...what about a spiral staircase approach for your boy? I don't mean full spiral buy half. That way if he falls it shouldn't be that far. Slight decline from one side of your viv to the other. Next level same approach but opposite spiral. You are very courageous for taking on this boy; I hope he pulls through and is able to show you how amazing they are.
Zephalia
Established Member
I can't get over how thin his tail looks. You are a kind soul to take him in his condition and incur the expenses of someone else's mistake and carelessness. He does look better already from those pictures, as someone else mentioned. Keep up what you're doing!
You set up looks great. I would just let him do his thing in there. If he falls, you have padding for him and he can choose whether or not to climb again. Hopefully he will get stronger every day for you.
You set up looks great. I would just let him do his thing in there. If he falls, you have padding for him and he can choose whether or not to climb again. Hopefully he will get stronger every day for you.
jclaiborne
New Member
I wanted to just thank everyone for the words of encouragement and advice. I really do hope this guy pulls through. He does look better day by day to me. I just hope his prolapse goes back in on his own, that way we can treat the eye infection. I can't believe how small he is, I was looking at pictures of panthers at a year old and he looks more like a 6 month old from his size. I will try and add some more textured branches for him to climb up. I just got an update from my wife she moved him up the the hammock and is watching him in case he falls, he is hammering back the wax worms again this morning. So I guess out of all the bad the constant good is he has been eating 14 worms a day for us and taking water from a syringe. I know his health is pretty low, but how fast should I expect to see improvements? Is it unrealistic to hope to see improvements in a weeks time? When he does improve do you think he will bounce fully back or will there be some lingering effects? Thank you all again.
jclaiborne
New Member
My wife just sent me this updated picture...she set him up top on the hammock but he walked to the branches on his own
Zephalia
Established Member
If he's eating and drinking, getting the heat/humidity and correct lighting I would expect you will continue to see improvements in his health. He needs weight on him but he may never reach the full 'normal' size that another panther would who received proper husbandry from day 1.
Stick with him and what you are doing. I hope the prolapse resolves itself and you can progress with his treatment.
Stick with him and what you are doing. I hope the prolapse resolves itself and you can progress with his treatment.
jclaiborne
New Member
If he's eating and drinking, getting the heat/humidity and correct lighting I would expect you will continue to see improvements in his health. He needs weight on him but he may never reach the full 'normal' size that another panther would who received proper husbandry from day 1.
Stick with him and what you are doing. I hope the prolapse resolves itself and you can progress with his treatment.
Thanks! If the prolapse doesn't go in on its own the vet mentioned stitching them back in, and as a last resort removing them. I hope it doesn't get to that, but I'm not going to bail on this lil guy, as long as he isnt suffereing I am going to keep trying to get him back on track.
jclaiborne
New Member
GrimsbyPatchwork
Member
I would like to congratulate you on the good work your doing ..you are taking all the right husbandry steps and I can see your determination to help this guy recover.
I have a feeling we are going to see a much healthier chameleon in a month or so..the change already shows from one PIC to another.
Good luck and well done ...someone should get an example from you before they purchase again
I have a feeling we are going to see a much healthier chameleon in a month or so..the change already shows from one PIC to another.
Good luck and well done ...someone should get an example from you before they purchase again
jclaiborne
New Member
I would like to congratulate you on the good work your doing ..you are taking all the right husbandry steps and I can see your determination to help this guy recover.
I have a feeling we are going to see a much healthier chameleon in a month or so..the change already shows from one PIC to another.
Good luck and well done ...someone should get an example from you before they purchase again
Thank you! I hope he does continue to improve, and will continue to update progress in this post. To be honest I had never considered keeping a Chameleon because of my other lizards that I am focusing on, but in the short time I have had this lil guy in my care, my outlook has completely changed. They are such cool little animals! I was talking with my wife about the origional owners, she kept saying that they said " i hope your husband doesn't think we are bad people or that we dont care", it seems like they are more concerned about the perception I have of them then they actual recovery of the lil guy. Breaks my heart, but at least they gave him to me for a fighting chance.
Juliaf3
Established Member
I think they said that because this poor guy looks like he was just left in a cage. Never tended to, not even a little. They clearly didn't even toss him any food. Which would give any normal human being a guilty conscience! I'm with zephalia. It's absolutely crazy how thin his tail is! My 5 month old Cham is EASILY his size, with a much much fatter tail. His tail hasn't looked like this guys since he was just barely 3 months old. Have you named him yet? I think you should, he's definitely going to be around awhile now that you saved him.
It's amazing the difference you have already made. Keep up the good work! I've been following this thread since you started it. I'm so looking forward to his full recovery and the before and after pictures! You are doing so so good!jclaiborne
New Member
I think they said that because this poor guy looks like he was just left in a cage. Never tended to, not even a little. They clearly didn't even toss him any food. Which would give any normal human being a guilty conscience! I'm with zephalia. It's absolutely crazy how thin his tail is! My 5 month old Cham is EASILY his size, with a much much fatter tail. His tail hasn't looked like this guys since he was just barely 3 months old. Have you named him yet? I think you should, he's definitely going to be around awhile now that you saved him.
to be honest the only thing I have been focusing on as far as his tail is concerned was that it has started to curl instead of just lay limp like when we got him on Sunday. I will have to look at some pics of adults for a size reference. Hopefully it will thicken up as he does. It is really sad that he is a year old and this size. My son figured out he was a panther cham so now he wants to name him Bagheera (the panther from Jungle Book) Lol I let my son name all of our reptiles (Beardied is Spike, our two Blueys are now Bonnie and Clyde and the Tegu is Athena, hes pretty good with names for a 5 year old) I'm glad to hear everyone saying that they think he will recover. I was really worried, I will definately keep everyone updated. Thank you again.
Juliaf3
Established Member
My 5 year old son names all our creatures too . Here's a picture of my 5 month old panther to show you the difference in his tail and bageerahs.
See how it goes from fat then to skinny? I didn't mean you should be focused on the size of is tail- you're Doing great! I just meant, his tail alone shows how little he has been fed. He was literally being starved so bad his body was taking all the fat stores from anywhere and everywhere on him to survive. It's shocking.
. Here's a picture of my 5 month old panther to show you the difference in his tail and bageerahs.
See how it goes from fat then to skinny? I didn't mean you should be focused on the size of is tail- you're Doing great! I just meant, his tail alone shows how little he has been fed. He was literally being starved so bad his body was taking all the fat stores from anywhere and everywhere on him to survive. It's shocking.
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laurie
Retired Moderator
Hello, you are doing a wonderful job. I have a couple ideas based on having a rescue much like what you have. If you don't find them useful that is ok also.
First put his cage on the side. Put smaller dowel rods, so his feed fit better, even with the dowel rods, and all, I would not have his cage set up so hw will go over 6 inches from the floor. That fall onto a soft towel will most likely hurt him less and scare him less. You can also have both his UVB and heat light where they can help him. My vet walked me through this procedure to let the Cham regain his strength and confidence.
Keep up the good work
First put his cage on the side. Put smaller dowel rods, so his feed fit better, even with the dowel rods, and all, I would not have his cage set up so hw will go over 6 inches from the floor. That fall onto a soft towel will most likely hurt him less and scare him less. You can also have both his UVB and heat light where they can help him. My vet walked me through this procedure to let the Cham regain his strength and confidence.
Keep up the good work
jclaiborne
New Member
Thank you for the input. My wife said he has been climbing all day and has "perked up" I will see when I get home. I have a secondary enclosure that I can flip and setup that way I don't have to tear this one down.
jclaiborne
New Member
My 5 year old son names all our creatures too
View attachment 95742
See how it goes from fat then to skinny? I didn't mean you should be focused on the size of is tail- you're Doing great! I just meant, his tail alone shows how little he has been fed. He was literally being starved so bad his body was taking all the fat stores from anywhere and everywhere on him to survive. It's shocking.
This is 5 months?! Good lord, our lil guy doesn't even have a neck flap like that. I now see what everyone is saying about the tail...so basically the tail is a fat store? If thats the case will it thicken back up when he bulks up?
Thank you for all the references. We have a while to go it looks like.
Juliaf3
Established Member
No I do not believe it's where fat is stored. Males just generally have bigger tails then females- I'm sure there is some fat stored there. I'd assume as he puts weight back on, his tail would get fuller as well. Yes, there is quite a road to full recovery, but you are doing a great job!
Oh and the neck flap is a defensive sign- it's not always like that
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