Sudden Weak Chameleon! PLEASE HELP!

C

ChameleonJules

New Member
My female veiled chameleon about a year old just shed for the first time since we've had her (about 4 months) and now is suffering from weakness in the legs. She was unable to crawl on her vines at all and was hanging upside down by her back legs for quite a while today. I picked her up and held on to her for about a half hour, then put her back in, which is when I realized the weakness. She can't hold herself up and didn't eat yesterday.
HELP!
 
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen, 18x18x36
Lighting - 12 hours of day basking 100W and 12 hours of night basking 100w
Temperature - 70 degrees (+/- 5 degrees)
Humidity - having trouble with this so just moved her cage but it hasn't ever affected her like this.
Plants - Not sure name of plant, but it is the same one she has always had.
Location - it isn't near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? about 2-1/2 feet off the floor

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, female under 1 year old. Had her for almost 4 months
Handling - every other day, but less lately because she has been shedding and grumpy
Feeding - mealworms (5 a day) crickets (2 medium sized a day)
Supplements - None.
Watering - Misting Do you see your chameleon drinking? No
Fecal Description - white Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - about 2-3 weeks ago, she didn't want to be held as much. Shedded last week for the first time since we've had her.
Current Problem - Weakness in the legs, not holding herself up. Didn't eat at all yesterday
 
Welcome to the forum!

From your husbandry and description of her and without seeing pictures it sounds like MBD.

You don't mention having a UVB light. They need exposure to UVB in order to produce D3 so they can use the calcium in their system.

You said you provide light at night....they don't need light at night.

What is the temperature in he basking area? Without appropriate temperatures they can't digest the food properly so they don't get the nutrients they need.

They also need supplements.
Since most of the feeder insects we use have a poor ratio of calcium to phos its important to dust them before feeding them to the chameleon with a phos - free calcium powder to help make up for it.

I also dust twice a month with a phos - free calcium / D3 powder to ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and leaving it to produce the rest from its exposure to the UVB. D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to health issues so we don't want to overdo the D3 supplements.

I also use a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A. Vitamin A from prEformed sources can build up in the system so by using some prOformed source it leaves it so we can be in control of it.

It's also important to feed/gutload the insects well. Crickets, locusts, roaches, superworms can all be fed a wide assortment of greens such as dandelions, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, kale, etc. And veggies such as carrots, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, squash, zucchini, etc.

Calcium, D3, phos, and vitamin A. Are all important players in the bone health and other systems in the chameleon and need to be in balance. When trying to balance them you need to look at what you feed the chameleon and the insects and at the supplements you use.


One more thing female veileds can produce eggs without having mated and need an appropriate place to dig to show you when they are ready.
 
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Your basking light wattage is very high. Do you have any UVB at all? It is recommended to have a 5.0 UVB fluorescent tube. They need UVB bad otherwise they can develop MBD, a serious bone disease.

Your temperature sounds not right. With 100 w light you should reach at a peak 90 (which for a juvenile will be too high. 85 is enough for basking). How do you measure the temperature?

May I ask why you use 100w at night? Veiled need a temperature drop at night and can accept as low as upper 60s.

On feeding it is recommended to use calcium without D3 in every feeding and calcium with d3 every 2 weeks.

Humidity is important as well. How often and how long do you mist?

I would give more crickets and less mealworms. Worms have a hard shell which is harder to digest.
 
I agree with Kinyonga and if you have not provided a uvb light and calcium supplements your chamelelon most likely has developed Metabolic bone disease. Are her limbs curvy? Does she look like she has extra joints in her arms??
 
Hi welcome to the forum. There is a lot wrong with your little ones care but we will try to rectify as much as possible. Do you have a uv light? It is vital that she has one in order to absorb calcium in her bones and muscles. You don't use supplements! She needs her feeders dusted with plain calcium without d3 daily and calcium with d3 twice a month and a multivit twice a month. Without this there will be a very likely chance she will have mbd which will affect her grip as you describe. From the age of 6 months approx a female can produce eggs regardless whether she has been with a male. She will need to be provided with a laying bin. You have given a temp if 70. This is far too low I would bump it up to 80. Turn off her night light. She needs to cool at night to slow down her metabolism in order for her to sleep. Can you post pics please.
 
Yes her limbs look a bit off. We live in Washington State and were told she needed a heat source at night. I asked if we should use a glass tank type of enclosure and was told no. When I bought the basking lights I was told to buy the day heat and night heat. So can we fix this?
 
Mbd cannot be cured but with the correct lighting and supplements and feeding it can be stopped.
 
ChameleonJules said:
Yes her limbs look a bit off. We live in Washington State and were told she needed a heat source at night. I asked if we should use a glass tank type of enclosure and was told no. When I bought the basking lights I was told to buy the day heat and night heat. So can we fix this?
Click to expand...

I live in Washington State as well. There is not a need for day and night heat as long as the ambient temperature of the room stays in the high 60's. As stated already, purchase a UVB light and fixture for yourself and get calcium supplements as well. It is important you do this right away to get your little one's condition to stop deteriorating. If you have further questions past what has already been addressed for you, I am happy to discuss.
 
kylerenz said:
I live in Washington State as well. There is not a need for day and night heat as long as the ambient temperature of the room stays in the high 60's. As stated already, purchase a UVB light and fixture for yourself and get calcium supplements as well. It is important you do this right away to get your little one's condition to stop deteriorating. If you have further questions past what has already been addressed for you, I am happy to discuss.
Click to expand...

Would a basking light not be necessary to bring daytime temps up to the low 80s?
 
yeah you are for sure going to want to get a uvb source. and maybe get some temps of those basking lights, i think it could be a little much. I agree with everyone you are gonna want to get that uvb going and start looking up supplementing! its vital stuff for these little guys and gals!
 
actually her limbs do not look bad. She does look like she might have eggs though. Has she ever laid before? Do you have a laying bin in the cage for her. If she does have eggs, and cannot lay she will become eggbound and die. I would take her to a vet and have her xrayed for possible eggs. If she is not moving she needs to be seen by a vet anyways.
 
OK, I will go out and get the UVB light right away. Can someone tell me what to get for calcium supplements? I get crickets from PetSmart and meal worms from them too. What supplements should I get? Obviously they don't have knowledgable people there
 
Kate said:
Would a basking light not be necessary to bring daytime temps up to the low 80s?
Click to expand...

A basking light for day time is absolutely necessary. Just not any lighting to keep night time temps up :) Sorry if that was not clear.
 
ChameleonJules said:
OK, I will go out and get the UVB light right away. Can someone tell me what to get for calcium supplements? I get crickets from PetSmart and meal worms from them too. What supplements should I get? Obviously they don't have knowledgable people there
Click to expand...

calcium WITHOUT d3 at every feeding, calcium with d3 and a multi vitamin twice a month. That is the norm on here. Like I said if your chameleon has eggs you have to get her to lay them. She looks kinda plump in the video but it is kinda hard to see cause the video is so cut off.
 
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