Vinny's Eyes closed

[Spene]

All- any advice or experience would be really helpful, I'm pretty worried about Vinny.

He's about 1.5 years old, never had any health problems, nothing has changed in his environment (several reptisun 18" bulbs, halogen heat lamps, no toxic plants, 175 gallon reptarium, feeding on superworms and dubai roaches).

For the last 4 days he hasn't been getting up in the morning, and staying on his bed branch until later in the day. One of his eyes is closed in the morning, the other is barely open. By the end of the day they've both opened slightly more, but he still doesn't seem right. He's been eating, isn't dehydrated (just sprayed water in his mouth yesterday). I really don't know what the deal is, he shed a bit on his head last week, but other than that I'm at a loss.

Any ideas? I really can't take him to the vet for a while, I'm in the middle of exams and the closest vet who knows anything about reptiles is an hour away.

 

[Sang]

OK, well first, lets get this filled out.
second you mentioned your keeping several UVB lights on him?


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[Spene]

Cage Type- 175 Gallon Reptarium (screen)

Lighting- 2 reptisun 18" bulbs, 4 30 watt florescents, 60 watt heat / florescent, 100 watt halogen basking light

Temp- around 80' ambient, 90' in basking area

Humidity- around 40-50%

Plants- pothos, ficus

Placement- corner of a room

Location- Oregon, U.S.


Chameleon- 1.5 year old male veiled

Handling- rarely

Feeding- 2 superworms and 2 medium dubais every other day

Supps- MinerAll, dusting a few times a week

Watering- spraying plants, I've also got him trained so I can squirt it into his mouth.

Not sure on feces, look pretty normal

History- I've had him since he was a few months old, always been a big eater, he's probably fully grown by now, no other health issues.

Current Problem- he's not getting up in the morning (very odd, usually up under his heatlamp before I get up). One Eye is closed in the morning, the other is barely open. Later in the day the one eye opens a bit, and the other one looks a bit better.

Thanks, I appreciate any advice or experience with this.

 

[beeze]

I would recommend a vet visit. Here's a list of vets in your area if you don't already have one:
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/oregon.shtml

 

[Spene]

Yeah, I'd like to- but like I said it's not possible for a few weeks- closest reptile specialist is an hour away, and I'm right in the middle of exams that require me to study all day until they are over.

Now, he seems to have both eyes open- it seems like just a morning situation, really weird.

 

[beeze]

Try a shower each day till you can take him to the vet

 

[Spene]

Yeah, I've read about the showering but I doubt there's any way I could get him near a shower, he would probably have a heart attack

 

[Syn]

See if there isn't someone who can't take him for you. A "few" weeks seems like a long time for him to go without help..

Can you post a picture of your setup please?

 

[SliK JiM]

If you could get a picture up it'd be really helpful (a close up of the eyes would also be very good!) Just because they're open now doesn't mean the problem has gone so it's best to be safe!

 

[Syn]

I hope you aren't just using minerall.

 

[Spene]

Here are some pics- I am just using minerall- what else do I need? Eyes are looking better now, again it seems like just a morning time affliciton, really strange.

 

[Spene]

Here's a pic from a few weeks ago- he's been in great health thus far.

 

[SliK JiM]

Yeah, there's definitely something up with his eyes. When you say 4 30w fluorescent bulbs which do you mean? Also, your 60w heat/fluorescent bulb, which is it? If these are all emitting UVB then that may be you problem. He'll be getting a massive over dose and could have photo-kerato-conjunctivitis. If this is the setup you've always used (with these bulbs and stuff), then it's odd that its just surfaced now and may not be it!

I can't help with the supplements (as we get different ones over here in the UK) but do you use a multi-vit and a calcium one?

Also, do you treat the water to remove chlorine and stuff?

 

[summoner12]

Cage Type- 175 Gallon Reptarium (screen)

Lighting- 2 reptisun 18" bulbs, 4 30 watt florescents, 60 watt heat / florescent, 100 watt halogen basking light

Temp- around 80' ambient, 90' in basking area

Humidity- around 40-50%

Plants- pothos, ficus

Placement- corner of a room

Location- Oregon, U.S.


Chameleon- 1.5 year old male veiled

Handling- rarely

Feeding- 2 superworms and 2 medium dubais every other day

Supps- MinerAll, dusting a few times a week

Watering- spraying plants, I've also got him trained so I can squirt it into his mouth.

Not sure on feces, look pretty normal

History- I've had him since he was a few months old, always been a big eater, he's probably fully grown by now, no other health issues.

Current Problem- he's not getting up in the morning (very odd, usually up under his heatlamp before I get up). One Eye is closed in the morning, the other is barely open. Later in the day the one eye opens a bit, and the other one looks a bit better.

Thanks, I appreciate any advice or experience with this.

What kind of UVB lamps are you using? 5.0 or 10.0?

what is a "60 watt heat / florescent"?

and why the "4 30 watt florescents"?

 

[SliK JiM]

What kind of UVB lamps are you using? 5.0 or 10.0?

what is a "60 watt heat / florescent"?

and why the "4 30 watt florescents"?

Beat you to those questions!

 

[Spene]

So, I have 2 hoods that have space for an 18" bulb, then space for 2 smaller bulbs.

The 18" are Exo Terra repti glo 5.0

The 4 15 watt bulbs (I was wrong on 30) are Exoterra sun glo
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752573

The "60 watt heat/florescent" is a Zoo Med Daylight Blue Reptile Bulb 60 Watt.

 

[summoner12]

Beat you to those questions!

You are slik

 

[summoner12]

So, I have 2 hoods that have space for an 18" bulb, then space for 2 smaller bulbs.

The 18" are Exo Terra repti glo 5.0

The 4 15 watt bulbs (I was wrong on 30) are Exoterra sun glo
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752573

The "60 watt heat/florescent" is a Zoo Med Daylight Blue Reptile Bulb 60 Watt.

Sounds like a lot of overkill...

To keep things simple you really only need two lamps, heat/UVA and UVB.

The linear tube lamps from ZooMed are normally recommended over the ExoTerra lamps. How long have you had the Exo Terra lamps in use? If your up for renewal I would buy the ZooMed lamps.

The Exo Terra day lamps and such you are using are not needed. They do give off UVA and heat. You can get all that from one heat lamp. A normal spot or flood lamp from Home Depot or a spot lamp from Zoo Med will work. It will provide the heat and UVA the chameleon needs. If you feel the cage is too dark install a normal household tube lamp into the second fixture you have.

 

[Spene]

Ok, so scrap the 15 w bulbs and just put some regular house bulbs in place of them? How about the Zoo med 60 watt? I have the Zoo med 60 watt close to the halogen.

 

[SliK JiM]

Dam, you beat me this time!

Yeah, as said, ditch all the little bulbs as they're not really worth it (and will be adding a lot more UVA/UVB). Spread the 2 tubes out over the top of your enclosure (as they look pretty close together on top of your flexi) and swap the 60W out for just an incandescent bulb (to keep the temps accetptable). See if this makes a change to his eyes (make take a few days to completely pick up) but you should see a change immediately if this is the cause! If not, take him to a vet ASAP!