Murrdox
New Member
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - 4' x 2' Screen Enclosure
* Lighting - 60W Bulb in dome above cage. 5.0 UVB 2' tube Bulb?
* Temperature - ~85 basking ~80-70 depending on cage location
* Humidity - Usually around 20-40%
* Plants - Hibiscus, Pothos
* Placement - Bedroom, not high traffic. Cage ceiling is roughly 6' off the ground
* Location - Virginia
Chameleon Info:
* Your Chameleon - Male Panther 1.5 years
* Handling - ~1 - 2 times per month
* Feeding - Currently on superworms, and having a little bit of a hunger strike. Will also eat waxworms, doesn't like crickets, hasn't taken one in months.
* Supplements - Repcal supplements, don't have them in front of me.
* Watering - Misting 1 - 3 x per day, Drip setup 2 x per day
* Fecal Description - Last fecal had quite a bit of yellow / orange to it.
* History - Doesn't like crickets, hasn't been a voracious eater lately. Took 2 superworms yesterday. Drinks readily. Very active.
* Current Problem - Swollen spot on his vent which developed after his last poo.
Hey folks, I need a bit of advice.
My Nosy Be Rygel is a tad dehydrated. I know this. This is probably just a result of poor husbandry on my part, overestimating how much he'd been drinking (I see him drink often, so I assume he's getting enough), and perhaps his larger cage that I got for him a couple months ago.
He's been on a bit of a hunger strike, but I think the hunger strike is likely being caused by the fact that he's dehydrated. He took in two superworms yesterday.
His last poo was pretty yellow/orange, and there was no fecal, only urate. Afterwards, I noticed that he seemed to have a tiny bit of urate sticking in between the folds of his vent. It wasn't anything huge, just enough that I could see it. We're talking about a splinter-sized piece of urate between the folds of his vent here, not a large piece of urate that was sticking out of his vent.
I didn't want to cause problems by plucking it out, so I left it like it was, assuming he'd either rub it off himself, or he'd pass it with his next poo.
I've been working very hard at being better at misting him more often, and putting much more water in his drip system so that he always has water, and get him hydrated. I've been keeping my eye out for future fecals, but so far I haven't seen any. He's in a large cage, so there could be one on a leaf somewhere I'm not finding, I'm not sure. Like I said, he hasn't been eating a lot, so a lack of a fecal isn't surprising me too much.
However, it's the bit of matter in his vent which is causing me to post now. I noticed yesterday that the side of his vent that had the particle stuck in it is a little swollen and little bit red now. It doesn't look horrible but it does look worse.
My thoughts were that tonight I'd take him out and soak his vent in some warm water for 10-20 minutes and try to loosen it so the particle can come out. Afterwards I was pondering the wisdom of attempting to remove the bit of matter in his vent or not. I'm hoping it won't get to that point, and the water will soften it and it will come out on its own.
Any other advice other than "take him to the vet"? I don't think it's to that point yet, but I certainly am going to do that if it doesn't improve.
I'm also making an investment in a Mist King system so that he'll get water more regularly while I'm at work. I just bought an engagement ring and we're buying a house, so finances have been tight and I've been putting it off a couple months
* Cage Type - 4' x 2' Screen Enclosure
* Lighting - 60W Bulb in dome above cage. 5.0 UVB 2' tube Bulb?
* Temperature - ~85 basking ~80-70 depending on cage location
* Humidity - Usually around 20-40%
* Plants - Hibiscus, Pothos
* Placement - Bedroom, not high traffic. Cage ceiling is roughly 6' off the ground
* Location - Virginia
Chameleon Info:
* Your Chameleon - Male Panther 1.5 years
* Handling - ~1 - 2 times per month
* Feeding - Currently on superworms, and having a little bit of a hunger strike. Will also eat waxworms, doesn't like crickets, hasn't taken one in months.
* Supplements - Repcal supplements, don't have them in front of me.
* Watering - Misting 1 - 3 x per day, Drip setup 2 x per day
* Fecal Description - Last fecal had quite a bit of yellow / orange to it.
* History - Doesn't like crickets, hasn't been a voracious eater lately. Took 2 superworms yesterday. Drinks readily. Very active.
* Current Problem - Swollen spot on his vent which developed after his last poo.
Hey folks, I need a bit of advice.
My Nosy Be Rygel is a tad dehydrated. I know this. This is probably just a result of poor husbandry on my part, overestimating how much he'd been drinking (I see him drink often, so I assume he's getting enough), and perhaps his larger cage that I got for him a couple months ago.
He's been on a bit of a hunger strike, but I think the hunger strike is likely being caused by the fact that he's dehydrated. He took in two superworms yesterday.
His last poo was pretty yellow/orange, and there was no fecal, only urate. Afterwards, I noticed that he seemed to have a tiny bit of urate sticking in between the folds of his vent. It wasn't anything huge, just enough that I could see it. We're talking about a splinter-sized piece of urate between the folds of his vent here, not a large piece of urate that was sticking out of his vent.
I didn't want to cause problems by plucking it out, so I left it like it was, assuming he'd either rub it off himself, or he'd pass it with his next poo.
I've been working very hard at being better at misting him more often, and putting much more water in his drip system so that he always has water, and get him hydrated. I've been keeping my eye out for future fecals, but so far I haven't seen any. He's in a large cage, so there could be one on a leaf somewhere I'm not finding, I'm not sure. Like I said, he hasn't been eating a lot, so a lack of a fecal isn't surprising me too much.
However, it's the bit of matter in his vent which is causing me to post now. I noticed yesterday that the side of his vent that had the particle stuck in it is a little swollen and little bit red now. It doesn't look horrible but it does look worse.
My thoughts were that tonight I'd take him out and soak his vent in some warm water for 10-20 minutes and try to loosen it so the particle can come out. Afterwards I was pondering the wisdom of attempting to remove the bit of matter in his vent or not. I'm hoping it won't get to that point, and the water will soften it and it will come out on its own.
Any other advice other than "take him to the vet"? I don't think it's to that point yet, but I certainly am going to do that if it doesn't improve.
I'm also making an investment in a Mist King system so that he'll get water more regularly while I'm at work. I just bought an engagement ring and we're buying a house, so finances have been tight and I've been putting it off a couple months
