Veiled hasn't eaten for 3 days and Im a NEWBIE at this

[Makinjal]

Hi there. I bought a Veiled Chameleon last month. Back then when I first acquired him, he was about 3-4 months old. His specifications are as follows:

Habitat type: Exo-terra Flexarium 50 gallon (with fake vines and leaves) lined with kitchen towel and changed everyday. I do not know what kind of potted plant that I should get that is safe considering the country Im in.

Lighting: Exo-terra UVB 25w coiled bulb. I put it about 6 inches above his flexarium. 12 hours a day.

Basking spot: Exo-terra daylight basking lamp 50w. I put it about 7 inches above his basking spot. Thermometer reads about 38-40 degrees celcius. 12 hours a day.

Feeding: Due to the limitation of getting varieties of feeders in my country, I have been feeding my veiled small sized crickets as a main, superworms about two times in a few weeks, Dubia roaches once in every blue moon and I also bought brown roaches to add to his diet but I haven't tried feeding him those as of yet. He would eat about 7-8 crickets per day. And sometimes 3-4 superworms plus a few crickets or a couple of Dubias with crickets.

Method of feeding: I put the feeders on the wall of the flexarium and monitor my veiled or I sometimes put them in a feeder bowl. I never leave feeders overight in the flexarium. I gutload my feeders with dry oats.

Water: I spray the leaves with lukewarm water for about 20 second and sometimes I spray right above my chameleon and will always see him gulping the water. I do this 2-3 times a day.

Supplements: Vitamin without D3 (Exo-Terra) Dusted to all feeders for 4-5 times a week. Vitamin with D3 (Tetra Reptile) dusted to all feeders for 1-2 times a week. Multi-vitamin (Exo-Terra) dusted to all feeders for 1-2 times a week.

Brief description: My veiled will eat normally, drinks normally, excrete waste properly, he has shed his skin once and with no problem. He walks okay, no sign of MBD. He's always hydrated, no sign of droopy eyes or sagged skin. I only handle my veiled only when I clean his cage.

Problem: He hasn't been eating for the last 3 days! I tried giving him different insects for the last 3 days and no response up to now! And he sometimes sleeps during the day! HELP!!

 

[Cait0420]

Hi and welcome! You should only be dusting with d3 two times a month and same for multi vitamin. Post some pics of him if you can we would love to see him!

 

[sharp229]

Yes, if you could also post pictures of the cage that would be great. That basking temp is too high, you want something in the range of 30-32c for that age. Highest you should have is 35c. If the temp is too high he might not be able to bask properly and have trouble digesting.

What type of UVB bulb is that? UVB100 or UVB150? It should be right on top of the cage and 5-7 inches from his basking spot.

Do you see any other symptoms, such as holding his head up, popping sounds, strange behavior, etc?

 

[Makinjal]

Hi guys. Thank you for your concerns. I apologize for the delay as I was too busy and too worried about my veiled. His name is Fidel btw, and he just passed a few hours ago.

(I apologize as I seemed to have weird problems when trying to upload a picture)

I am so sad that I actually took two days off of work to care for him. Just want to share my experience with you guys. I went to my nearest veterinary clinic which is 5 hours away and in a different country (as the closest was closed that day).

He seemed okay while I sit closest to the window and tried to get the sunrays on him. He even opened up his eyes and wanting to be held at all times. His color that time was pale green but his lines and stripes showed well.

When I reached the clinic, the vet said to me that it was a respiratory infection had affected him and most likely this already happened when I first bought it! But it didn't even show the slightest sign! And I remembered that chams are the best sickness concealer!

The vet actually prescribed me with baytril and an eye antibiotic. He also mentioned that the UVB 100 Exo-Terra Coiled Bulb that im using had caused a lot of cases that leads to blindness. But then again, he also said that Fidel probably had an eye infection already way before I got him. I also bought Reptaid just to be safe.

After the vet had administered Fidel the baytril, this is when he heaved and breathe kind of profusely.

I know im stressing him out with the long drives but this is the best I could do for him. There aren't any alternatives as I knew he was in pain.

When I got home, I decided to put his Flexarium outside of the house so he may get direct sunlight. He started turning dark brown with black spots so I believe that he was turning to that color to absorb as much heat as he can. But apparently, that wasn't the case. After some warm misting and when the sun goes out, he is still staying in that color and he got a lot weaker.

I didn't sleep and I stayed up all night to monitor him from a distance. And the n he started to lose balance in his small container lined with damp paper towels of 70% humidity and I knew I couldn't do much more.

I actually watched him die and I feel that I could have done a lot more for him.

Rest in Peace Fidel C.

 

[Cait0420]

Rip Fidel, so sorry your little guy passed away.

 

[GTSLOW]

Was there any area for him to get shade while outside? He could have been dehydrated and all the sun you've been giving him + the last bit outside may have done him over.

 

[Tonystandman]

That's a clear account of what happend ,

 

[Makinjal]

Was there any area for him to get shade while outside? He could have been dehydrated and all the sun you've been giving him + the last bit outside may have done him over.

Hi. Yes there is a shade. the warmer area according to my temperature was about 34 degrees Celsius. The cooler side was about 30 degrees Celsius.

I was closely monitoring him, spraying him with luke-warm water and the sun was out for a couple of hours only.

And he was drinking the water that I misted.

 

[sharp229]

Hi Makinjal,

I am very sorry to hear that Fidel passed. From your description of your enclosure I think it is very unlikely he contracted a respiratory infection from anything you did. So if it was RI, your vet is probably right and he had it when you got him.

Although the symptoms can be subtle, you can usually detect an RI by popping sounds, constantly holding head up, labored breathing, extra mucous, gaping, and bubbles from the mouth. So if you get another chameleon you can look for those signs to maybe catch the problem sooner.

If he was breathing heavily right after being administered the Baytril, it is possible that he aspirated some of it. But hard to say.

Since your vet diagnosed RI and your environment was mostly spot on I think you did everything you could. Depending on where you got Fidel you may be able to negotiate to get compensation or another chameleon.