Rescued Cham Update: Doing Worse?

[lock_ness]

Hey all! A few months back I posted about a rescued cham I got, looking for advice on his care and setup. I got lots of great answers, but I almost feel like he is doing worse now? He's usually grey and spotty with a white stripe down his side. He's active until about four, then he puts himself to bed and is awake usually but in his sleeping spot. His poop and urates seem good, but to me he always looks dehydrated. His mist king runs for one minute every hour throughout the night and for two minutes right before wake up, and his fogger runs all night. His UVB is a 5.0 tube bulb (zoo med brand?) and is 8 inches from the highest basking spot beneath it. His basking branch is only about four inches from the heat bulb, but the basking spot is 75 F and where it hits his back its 80 F. I just can't help but worry, so I am checking in again. All the other stats are essentially the same as my last post, except for stuff I was advised to change. Is Felix doing alright?

Link to my previous post: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/issues-with-rescued-veiled.194007/

 

[Beman]

I am going to pop in really quickly and ask a few questions that others will have for you.

Did you get a fecal test run to rule out a parasite load? He looks as though he has actually lost more weight than your original thread... He was quite under weight when you first posted. So a parasite load can be the cause of this.

How much is he eating per feeding day, How often are you feeding, and what insect types?

Does not look like the UVB light is on. Make sure that uvb is on a 11-12 hour period during the day.

Note you will need to add many more branches to fill out the cage for him. @MissSkittles can provide some images of how to do this more effectively.

 

[lock_ness]

I am going to pop in really quickly and ask a few questions that others will have for you.

Did you get a fecal test run to rule out a parasite load? He looks as though he has actually lost more weight than your original thread... He was quite under weight when you first posted. So a parasite load can be the cause of this.

How much is he eating per feeding day, How often are you feeding, and what insect types?

Does not look like the UVB light is on. Make sure that uvb is on a 11-12 hour period during the day.

Note you will need to add many more branches to fill out the cage for him. @MissSkittles can provide some images of how to do this more effectively.

I have not gotten a fecal done but I will schedule one today. I give him abt 7or 8 of whatever I’m giving per feeding (roaches, crickets, or mealworms) 3-4 days a week. The UVB is only on abt six hours per day, since I read at the Chameleon Academy website that the UVB only needs to be on a portion of the day. I can adjust that. And Darn with the branches thing I really thought I added enough this last time through. I guess I buy more and try again next weekend.

 

[MissSkittles]

I’ve been using garden trellis to secure branches and plants to, with very good results. I drill tiny holes in the trellis where I need to attach it and then use thin wires attached to the frame. I also add a couple of screws to each frame corner to secure some of the wires to, so it won’t slide down. Any sharp edges I sand dull. Hope this helps.

 

[Beman]

I have not gotten a fecal done but I will schedule one today. I give him abt 7or 8 of whatever I’m giving per feeding (roaches, crickets, or mealworms) 3-4 days a week. The UVB is only on abt six hours per day, since I read at the Chameleon Academy website that the UVB only needs to be on a portion of the day. I can adjust that. And Darn with the branches thing I really thought I added enough this last time through. I guess I buy more and try again next weekend.

Ok for sure a fecal to clear concern of a parasite load. With the food intake you are giving he should not be dropping weight.

UVB 11-12 hours a day. Heat fixture however you can do on a reduced time per day. I ran mine from right after lights on until 2pm. This way the cage could cool before night. Remember you want to feed him in the morning though so he has time to bask and digest.