Strange behaviour from simba!!

KatCham

KatCham

Established Member
Hi all and happy new year!!!

I've just emailed the vet in advance and hoping to take simba in tomorrow!! His problems have gone beyond swollen eyes!!

He's now really off balance and falls of his vines at least once a day!! When he shoots his food his aim is off so I'm trying hand feeding. When he occasionally does accept the feeder, the actual act of feeding knocks him off balance so watching him eat looks very strange! Definitely not normal behaviour!! It's like he's drunk!!

I've only been managing to get vit a in him when he does accept the feeders!!

He's been sat with his eyes closed during the day and hangs on his vines upside down!!!

Last night he was hung like a bat by his back legs but asleep!!!! Had to right him and he just stayed where I put him!

He's also not bothered being handled which isn't like him at all!! Haha!

Like I said, taking him to the vet but has anyone had a similar experience?
 
Your cham sounds very sick indeed.
Possible infection?!

Have you already filled out a "how to ask for help" form?

If not, please copy and paste it to your post, and also add some pics of your
cage set-up.
 
the swollen eyes, poor balance, and poor aim sounds like what my chameleon had going on (though his was less severe) and the vet diagnosed probable early Metabolic Bone Disease.
 
But I thought Mbd was caused by a calcium deficiency and all of his feeders are dusted?!
 
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - 2yr old male Panther Cham. Had since 3mo this old
Handling - Before getting sick not often as he wasn't keen. He doesn't mind at all now when I'm handling him to help him eat or putting him back on a vine. Not like him at all!!
Feeding - locusts(staple) gut loaded with bug grub and gel and fruit n veg, fruit grubs, morios roaches till he went off them. He's just shed so been off food but normally I offer 4-6 feeders every other day. Sometimes locusts left but he doesn't seem interested. Calcium only and repashy calci plus alternated each feed as well as vit a drop twice a month as recommended by vet.
Watering - mistking. Misted at 8,11,2 and 5 for 2-5 mins. Drinks regularly
Fecal Description - brown solids, white ur ages.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Yes - negative
History - Has had eye issues in the past which cleared with antibacterial drops.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Wood, glass and mesh. 4ft by 3ft by 1.5ft
Lighting - house bulb for basking spot. Arcadia uv tube 5.0. I have ordered a new tube reptisun 5.0. 12 hrs of light per day
Temperature - 32 basking spot, down to 22.9 at the moment. Lowest night temp I think is 19. Digital thermometer dual probe.
Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - Peaks at 85-90 goes down to 55-60. Hygrometer.
Plants - All fake
Placement - Corner of living room. Vent to outside is blocked off to prevent draughts and keep temp up. Top of cage is 6ft from the floor.
Location - Houghton le spring, uk

Current Problem - as above

On handling him today I noticed he also seems to have a lump on one of his front toes, possibly from a fall but doesn't seem to affect grip.
 
Kat I don't see anything you are doing wrong. I also have very little to offer for help.
I would arrange his viv so he can't fall over about a foot. Last thing he needs is to hurt his self. Keep him warm and well watered.

Let me know how he is doing. Good luck.
 
Taking your Cham to the vet is best. I'm certainly no expert on MBD but I think my guy was probably more susceptible because he is six months old and growing (at least that's what my vet said). I dusted all my crickets too. Best bet is to see what your vet thinks
 
Thanks Laurie xxx

Can't get him seen until mon as herp vet not back till then :(

Hope he's ok till then!!

He ate 2 morios yesterday with calci plus so going to try 2 locusts with calci only today n see if he's interested.

He gets misted quite a lot and with him shedding im showering him too :as he patch sheds now)

Will try and upload pics from yesterday. He doesn't look dehydrated. Eyes puffy again though :(

Poor boy. Just wish I knew what was wrong so I can put it right!!
 
Here's the pics from yesterday showing lump on toe

image-6.jpg


image-5.jpg


image-4.jpg
 
I'm really nervous now

Been emailing vet answers to questions re simba. Behaviour, issues etc...

She's asked me to drop him off mon morning so he can be xrayed and she can observe him!!

She has said if it is gout (lump on toe) then there's not much they can do for him :(

He can't go on like that if it is gout!! I'll be devastated if I have to let him go!! :(
 
Last edited:
Gutted!

Just heard from vet

Cutting a long story short, after looking at X-ray with an experienced vet who keeps reptiles himself, Nicole (my vet) has said it looks like gout :(

Seems like a one sides weakness but she wants to try a weeks worth of antibiotics which can sometimes help if issue is bacterial but she's said she's not expecting it to :(

She said if there's no improvement in a week then we can be more or less sure it's gout and there's nothing more they can do for him. I would be prolonging the inevitable in this case. He can't carry on like he is. He won't eat so would either waste away or he's going to fall and really hurt himself. His quality of life is near rock bottom so if no improvement with antibiotics the kindest thing will be to euthanise him. I couldn't bear to let him suffer any longer which he is at the mo

So trying antibiotics. Really hope they do help but if not, I won't be selfish and keep him alive just coz it's painful to let him go. He deserves better than that!!

My poor handsome blue boy!! :( :( :(
 
Just got home with simba

What a state he's in!!! He looked dead in the bottom of his travel box :(

On his side and whiter than I've ever seen him!!!

Obviously been so stressed today and he was really warm but I doubt they misted him as his eyes looked a bit sunken so have syringe fed him some water, administered antibiotics then popped him in enclosure n gave him a good mist .

He's gone green so suppose that's a good sign and he's not on his side any more but it was so stressful to see!!!

I just hope that antibiotics help but if not I'm not going to let him suffer!!

My poor boy!! :(
 
Oh Kat, how heartbreaking. Been there so many times myself and its the worst feeling in the world. I hope the antibiotics help him. :(
 
My heart goes out to you, I know exactly how you feel, My little guy past away just yesterday and even typing this now I can feel myself getting upset.

I'm keeping all my fingers crossed for you! Promise!.

Also as well might sound crazy but maybe put some soft cushion at the bottom of his cage just encase he falls, because even this could save him, As I said I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and I really hope everything goes well :)
 
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