Respitory Infection?

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

My baby Melon may have one, holding head up, and slight sneezing. I have been trying to lower the cages temp, but having difficulty figuring out how to do this.

He has also been blinking his right eye very often.

Door open, and light fan on but it stays at 80 (on the far end away from the heat lamp)

Humidity is fine and I mist 2-3 times a day. (50%-70%)

Any advice would be extremely helpful.

Hes possibly 2 months, veiled male. Just finished his first shed, eats on the lower end of 10-15 items a day. Solid waste is brown and white, I don't see him drink but hes well hydrated.

 

[stasisb5a4]

Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Your Chameleon - Veiled, 2-3mnths (?) was told male, going on two weeks
Handling -Not often
Feeding -Low end of 10-16 items
Supplements - Bought only one supplement for the time being, Rep Cal calcium no D3
Watering - Dripper system, and misting twice a day.
Fecal Description - Mainly black, small bit of white. <- (Curious to know what the 'healthy' color is)
History - Only know the pet store free-range fed and had him in a glass enclosure.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Screen, 2 X 2 X 2. (temporary)
Lighting - Reptisun linear 5.0 on 9:00am off 9:00pm (best for my schedule for now till I can buy a timer)
Temperature - 70-85
Humidity - Misting 2+ a day, thinking of adding plastic to a side of the cage to help with humidity, 50-70
Plants - Pathos vine for now, hope to add hibiscus once I figure out how to handle his adult cage. The Pathos is a large one, vines tied all over the cage so he can climb.
Placement - Cage stands 4 1/2 feet high at the top of the cage, in my room only I come in. Away from vent and covered at night partially due to fan.
Location - Tucson Arizona

Current problem: As mentioned in OP - My baby Melon may have one, holding head up, and slight sneezing. I have been trying to lower the cages temp, but having difficulty figuring out how to do this.

He has also been blinking his right eye very often.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Really could use some help, earlier today it looked like he was trying to scratch his eye out. Is that normal? He's stopped since then but, I'm still very concerned.

 

[ataraxia]

I have never seen a chameleon sneeze. Pictures of the chameleon? Head pointed up alone isnt to be alarmed with.

Is the chameleon gaping?
appear to be swallowing more than usual?
bubbles in or around the mouth?
Basking more than normal?

Temps...Why do you want to lower temps? if you are able to provide 70 ambients and a 85 basking. Your temps are great. Did i read your description wrong? I do not see a heat bulb type or wattage in your post though..

 

[Elizadolots]

Are you sure he's not just snorting out salts?

They have salt glands that express through the nose.

He's very young and you've only had him awhile so it's a complicated thing.

Typical symptoms of a respiratory infection would be coughing (it sounds just like a cough) gaping and mucous strings showing in the mouth.

 

[cigdoll]

I'm kinda in the same situation here with possible respiratory infection. My male Veiled cham(Kiddo) is 10 weeks old and he's been under my care for just about 2 weeks now. Since day 3 under my care, I see occasional gaping and not only under the light; he gapes from here to there. Gaping is the only "symptom" I see from him that is possible respiratory infection. My temperatures ranges from 74f-82f and humidity ranges from 50-60%, currently using a Reptisun 5.0 florescent tube with no basking lamp due to his age.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Hey sorry for the late reply,

Problem with heating is that his basking is probably too high (haven't been able to temp gun the spot) but the farthest away is around 70-85.

I see mine gaping only when I first open the cage or when under the basking light (so I try to move it up accordingly). Not sure how I can lower the temp if it is too high. Could be too hot or simply posturing since I'm there.

I haven't seen mucus or bubbles. He is always in his basking spot mostly, I don't know if that's good or bad? He hasn't 'sneezed' since that day and his eye problem looks to have sorted itself out. I've only had mine for around 3 weeks.

I think I need to put a detailed description of my husbandry for my Melon and get some advice/critiques from you guys. Also working on finding a good chameleon vet in my area, hoping a check up is affordable.

 

[BocaJan]

If you want to lower the temps put in a lower watt bulb. I use 40's and sometimes elevate my clip fixture if it is on a young cham cage so they don't get too hot.

 

[Olimpia]

For reference, if your chameleon is ever sick with an infection, you would actually want to raise the temps a bit. If it's warmer it means their metabolism is working faster and it can help to clear a problem a little faster. Plus it's less comfortable for whatever bug is causing the infection - it's a bit like us running a fever, makes it too warm for viruses and bacteria to replicate/spread efficiently.

It's true, if you find your temps are too warm just use a lower wattage bulb. A normal house-hold bulb will do the trick, and you can get a multipack from any store for a few dollars and try the different bulbs and see which one works for you. But your temps sound just fine to me!

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Got a 40 watt today and putting it in tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys, havent seen any of the bigger symptoms so I hope its something easily fixed.