LexInSpace
New Member
Start of MBD?
- Thread starter LexInSpace
- Start date
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome you have a handsome guy there !!. Can you see Spurs ? Also I would not feed meal worms there all fat and hard bodied they can cause impaction . I'm new at this to only have one chamealon but he looks good to me . There's lots of great keepers check in with @Nursemaia or @Andee one or the other will give you an answer .
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
Also you're enclosure temperature should be low 70s basking 82 to 84 . If the rest of enclosure is 80s you're baby can't cool down if need be .
Andee
Chameleon Enthusiast
I agree that the colors look more similar to female for that stage of life, but it depends on if you see apurs. There isn't much weird about the way he sits except that he seems to grip looser with one foot consistently. You can try checking it's grip compared to his other feet. Otherwise he looks fine. Also I agree slow down on the mealworms, if you feed any, feed very few only once a month. Wax worms need to be slowed down on too. The moths are a little bit better, yet both a very fatty.
LexInSpace
New Member
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. He seemed to be sitting funny. But when he's out he is active and puts weight on all feet. I'll attach a pic of his back feet. The guys at the shop said he was male. It took a while to find one though, so I wouldn't be surprised if he is a she! Thanks for all the help and advice! I'll turn his heat down a bit!
- Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? About a month and a half
- Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I take him out in the mornings, I'll hand feed him a few worms. Then he suns himself on the ficus tree for about an hour before going back for breakfast in his cage.
- Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, wax worms (treat every few days), meal worms, horned worm babies, black fly larva, (silk worms soon)
- Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Rep-cal Calcium daily, rep-cal calcium with vit d (2x a month), rep-cal herptivite multi (2x a month)
- Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Misting 2x daily, dripper 2x daily. I also just got a little battery operated fountain to try in his cage. I've seen him drink a few times. Yesterday was the last.
- Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Dark brown/white looks like form bird poop?
- History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Purchased from lll reptile. I got my dart frogs from them also, so far no bad experiences.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Zoo med screen cage starter kit 16x16x30
- Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zoo me day uvb repti 5, daylight blue repti bulb, 60 wat basking light.
- Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? 90 at the highest basking spot, floor mid 70s
- Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Lowest high 60s-low 70s. Temp in cage and where my frogs are across the room.
- Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? It says 33 at the moment. Goes to high 50%. I'm hoping the fountain will help with humidity.
- Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Ficus (basking spot out of cage) in cage: rubber tree, pathos, vines and fake ivy.
- 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? Corner of living room. Low traffic and away from fans.
- Location - Where are you geographically located? San Diego
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. He seemed to be sitting funny. But when he's out he is active and puts weight on all feet. I'll attach a pic of his back feet. The guys at the shop said he was male. It took a while to find one though, so I wouldn't be surprised if he is a she! Thanks for all the help and advice! I'll turn his heat down a bit!
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
It's a male. Basking should be around 85. Fountain are not good because of all the bacteria they breed
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Andee
Chameleon Enthusiast
No definitely a he, just seems like he is either ahead with growing or behind with colors, neither of which is much of a worry. I see what you mean now that I see the new pic. His back foot shouldn't be turned that way, however he shows really no signs of mbd. If I was to guess it's a birth defect since there is no swelling to suggest a break. Either that or he fell when he was neonate and broke his ankle, and it wasn't attended to correctly and just healed like that. Unless when you touch it he expresses pain i really wouldn't worry about it much. I would just watch it as he grows older, he may get arthritis in the area sooner than expected.
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
Definitely male , No water Fountain there bacteria magnets .
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
Great minds think alike
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
LexInSpace
New Member
Thank you for all the helpful advice! I'm a worry wart with my babies. Hopefully I can get his diet down. It seems like a bit of an art form! As long as he's happy and healthy, totally worth it.
WAMBO
Chameleon Enthusiast
Once you get used to it, and get a routine, it gets easier. Good luck, you can do it!
