Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem -
I recently found a baby veiled chameleon in bad shape and took him off his owner. They say he's about 4 months old but he is clearly younger. The little guy has trouble walking and climbing as well as holding himself up. I've already done lots of research online and also took him into a vet today but would like any extra insight I can get. From what it seems he has a clear calcium deficiency and likely has MBD. The vet identified multiple fractures in his bones already as well as a soft jaw. They say there's a chance he might pass away and its up to me if I want to euthanize him but he appears to be trying his best to keep active and has not given up even with his frail legs so I am choosing not to give up on him either. They've already prescribed me to keep doing what I'm doing by gut feeding my small crickets fresh collard greens and dusting them with calcium powder (with no d3) as well as reptile vitamins. He is currently contempt and happy with eating crickets but I was also prescribed with feeding syringes to force feed him in the case he begins to reject eating.
My current questions are: if in the case I have to force feed him, the vet gave me canned feline food to feed him but I'm not too sure about this, do you have any other recommendations I can syringe if worse comes to worse? How many crickets a day do you think he should eat? I leave small collard greens leaves in the crickets pen, are they considered gut loaded right after eating the greens or should I wait a while before feeding the Chameleon? I ordered a smaller cage to give to try to give him an easier time hunting and since he cant climb too well he wont be as far away from his lamp all the time, is this okay? Also the cage is aluminum screened which the vet informed me that might be a threat to him if he tries to climb it, should I be worried about this, he currently isn't too much of a climber regardless. Also this cage is screened on all sides (except bottom), I recognize that his glass sided cage can cause respiratory issues but I'm also concerned that this new cage wont be able to maintain a good temperature and humidity. Any other insight to help me out? Sorry for the long text and thank you for your time!
- Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Male, past owner said 4 months old but he clearly looks ~2 months. Been in my care for a couple days.
- Handling - He has been handled so far a few times a day to help feeding or help him move when he falls
- Feeding - Feeding him small crickets. The first night he ate one small cricket, the second day he ate 4 medium ones. Fed mostly in afternoon and night when he seems interested, going to try to feed him in the morning tomorrow. I leave small collard green leaves in the crickets' pen.
- Supplements - I am so far dusting every single cricket with calcium (no d3) he eats and mixing reptile vitamin powder in with every other cricket
- Watering - Currently manually spraying his terrarium, keeping his humidity level at a consistent 50-60%
- Fecal Description - Brown, slightly watery fecal, with a little yellow spot in it.
- History - Took him off a breeder that was housed with other baby chams, he seemed to not be getting food against the other chameleons due to his severe state.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Currently in a 20 inch by 10 inch by 12 inch terrarium. Glass sides and screen top. Ordered a smaller cage online that is coming in tomorrow that is 10 inch by 10 inch by 10 inch all aluminum screened cage to better fit his small body and was recommended only low hanging decor since he likely falls off high heights.
- Lighting - Have two brand new UVA and heat bulbs over his cage. Try to have it on 12 hours a day off 12 hours at night.
- Temperature - Temperature sits around 75 at the bottom to 90 at the top, however because he cant climb too high he cant bask in the higher temperatures. Night time drops to as low as 65 degrees. Have two thermometers in his terrarium to measure.
- Humidity - Using a humidity gauge to measure. Keeping his terrarium around 50-60% humidity by manually spraying.
- Plants - No. I have left small pieces of collard greens in front of him in hopes he'll eat one but no luck yet. No other real vegetation/plants.
- Placement - Cage is located on top of a general table. Around 3 feet off the floor. No fans generally near his cage.
- Location - Living in Toronto, Canada
Current Problem -
I recently found a baby veiled chameleon in bad shape and took him off his owner. They say he's about 4 months old but he is clearly younger. The little guy has trouble walking and climbing as well as holding himself up. I've already done lots of research online and also took him into a vet today but would like any extra insight I can get. From what it seems he has a clear calcium deficiency and likely has MBD. The vet identified multiple fractures in his bones already as well as a soft jaw. They say there's a chance he might pass away and its up to me if I want to euthanize him but he appears to be trying his best to keep active and has not given up even with his frail legs so I am choosing not to give up on him either. They've already prescribed me to keep doing what I'm doing by gut feeding my small crickets fresh collard greens and dusting them with calcium powder (with no d3) as well as reptile vitamins. He is currently contempt and happy with eating crickets but I was also prescribed with feeding syringes to force feed him in the case he begins to reject eating.
My current questions are: if in the case I have to force feed him, the vet gave me canned feline food to feed him but I'm not too sure about this, do you have any other recommendations I can syringe if worse comes to worse? How many crickets a day do you think he should eat? I leave small collard greens leaves in the crickets pen, are they considered gut loaded right after eating the greens or should I wait a while before feeding the Chameleon? I ordered a smaller cage to give to try to give him an easier time hunting and since he cant climb too well he wont be as far away from his lamp all the time, is this okay? Also the cage is aluminum screened which the vet informed me that might be a threat to him if he tries to climb it, should I be worried about this, he currently isn't too much of a climber regardless. Also this cage is screened on all sides (except bottom), I recognize that his glass sided cage can cause respiratory issues but I'm also concerned that this new cage wont be able to maintain a good temperature and humidity. Any other insight to help me out? Sorry for the long text and thank you for your time!
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