Sick Chameleon?

[SquallySteam]

• Your Chameleon - Male Veiled around 2-3 months
• Handling - basically everyday, he loves coming out and hanging out with us
• Feeding - Crickets and mealworms sometimes superworms, about 5 every day.
• Supplements - Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3.
• Watering - we mist his cage twice a day and he loves drinking and bathing under the faucet in the sink
• Fecal Description - Brown and white. He has not been tested for parasites.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - I want to say its about 18x36, screen enclosure.
• Lighting - 100 watt lightbulb for heat, compact 5.0 UVB bulb
• Temperature - 80-85 on floor, 90-100 in the basking spot.
• Humidity - humidity is anywhere from 50% to 70%. Measured using a temp/humidity thermometer.
• Plants -fake leaves and branches.
• Placement - Cage is located in my room. But he's usually out with me chilling on me, crawling around, or sleeping
• Location - new jersey

Hey guys I'm new to this forum and chameleons in general but I got a question for you. I've had my Chameleon for about a month now maybe and today I noticed his left eye was closed like he was trying to wash it out so I held him under the sink where he likes to drink and he drank and covered himself in the water. But his eye stayed closed and he started leaving his head back and making weird breathing noises like when he hisses sometimes. Also he's kinda walking around like he's drunk, like not really looking just reaching for anything and going for it. I'm kind of concerned so if anyone could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you

 

[jpowell86]

Hello. I hate to hear this happening. It sounds like when you held him under the sink he may have aspirated a little. Hence the hissing noises and head tilt. I wouldn't try holding him under the sink, I would shower him and see if that would help with his eye. Put a plant or vines...anything that can be stationary in the bottom of the shower. Turn it on so that the water is luke warm and make sure that the water it isn't hitting him directly. The overspray and humidity should really help with his eye. I would leave him in there for about 45 minutes. Make sure the water is not hot because it can cause serious burns quickly. Could you post a pic of his enclosure as well? Welcome to the Forums!!

 

[SquallySteam]

Yea i can post a pic of it tomorrow. He's sleeping right now, but I will definitely try the shower thing tomorrow thank you. If he's aspirating a little will he be ok? It's just very nerve racking since this is my first chameleon and I'm not very knowledgable, I just don't want him to die. The sink has just been the only way to get him to drink. Thank you for the reply @jpowell86

 

[jpowell86]

Understandable, it can be nerve racking when you are beginning with these guys. If he is breathing normal and sleeping..he is probably okay for the night. What other watering methods have you tried? Do you have a misting system or do you spray by hand?? Just curious as to why he only takes water from the sink. Hopefully the picture of your enclosure will give some clues tomorrow.

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

My chameleon has been doing something similar but now it is starting to open the eye and has a protective red film over it because he\she scratched it. I showered it a couple times and now He\she doesn't walk around like it's drunk any more and its eating more so I think it should completely open soon. Does anyone else have any other advice that could help?

 

[carol5208]

My chameleon has been doing something similar but now it is starting to open the eye and has a protective red film over it because he\she scratched it. I showered it a couple times and now He\she doesn't walk around like it's drunk any more and its eating more so I think it should completely open soon. Does anyone else have any other advice that could help?

Post a picture of his eye. How do you know he scratched it?

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

It's sort of scabbed over the vet told me that she scratched it on something and that it should open on its own.

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

Here's his eye, he seems to still use it

 

[Gwendalyn.brock]

It's sort of scabbed over the vet told me that she scratched it on something and that it should open on its own.

Now its open