Weird poop

[Amadamarie2555]

is this a normal poop for my 8 month cham

?? He seems to have slowed down on eating this week. I was on vacation for about 5 days so had to take him to my sister a house. Could he be stressed about the ride over & everything else that went with it? She said he refused to say worms from her the whole time he was there which is weird because he loves worms! He came home ate about 7 crickets but has only ate about 3 a day for the past 3 days. He will eat as many worms as we offer him though. I’ve given him no more than 3 at a time because I don’t want him hooked. The dark poop next to the lighter colored one is from when he came home 3 days ago. I laid the paper towel down to see what his poop liked like & this is what I got today.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Check out this thread: Poop 101
It might give you better answer than we can.

 

[timw1]

Brown=poo, white=urate

 

[Brodybreaux25]

No. That is not “normal.” I’m sure the stress is a factor but who knows how much of a factor. I’d say let him fill up on worms just this one time so you can get another sample from him. If that one doesn’t look like the ones in the article Camryn posted it’s time to see a vet.

 

[Amadamarie2555]

No. That is not “normal.” I’m sure the stress is a factor but who knows how much of a factor. I’d say let him fill up on worms just this one time so you can get another sample from him. If that one doesn’t look like the ones in the article Camryn posted it’s time to see a vet.

I had recently caught him trying to eat rocks & he actually pooped one out. I thought every thing was good. Was just hoping that was the only one he ate. He stopped pooping for 2 days so on day 3 I laid a paper towel down because for some reason it makes him go down low & poop. I went to work & then my boyfriend sent me a picture of that. When I got home I messed with it a little & it was actually another rock. The next day (day 4) he pooped this out. There was urate with it that was white but it’s soo big. No poops yet on day 5 though! He hasn’t wanted to eat in 2 days (going on 3) Willing to eat supers but refuses crickets. I’m buying some Dubai’s & hopefully silkworms but what do I do for the time being?

 

[Brodybreaux25]

If you are sure that your cham ate rocks the only thing you need to be doing right now is driving him to the vet ASAP. Not a joke.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

How did he get a rock? This is why most people do not keep substrate in their chams enclosure, They can ingest it causing a blockage in their digestive system. Over time feces will build in his system and send him into toxic shock. Guaranteed to kill him.

 

[Amadamarie2555]

If you are sure that your cham ate rocks the only thing you need to be doing right now is driving him to the vet ASAP. Not a joke.

I’ve heard from many other people their Younger Chams have ate & passed rocks fine. They were in a plant so he couldn’t get the dirt. As soon as I saw him doing it I took the plant out.

 

[Graves923]

Most keepers will lay larger river rocks on the soil to keep the chams from eating substrate. If he is eating the rocks/pebbles, then they are too small...

Just because one cham eats and passes rocks doesn't mean every cham will. Something is definitely not right. I'd bag the stools and get a fresh sample to bring to the vet.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I’ve heard from many other people their Younger Chams have ate & passed rocks fine. They were in a plant so he couldn’t get the dirt. As soon as I saw him doing it I took the plant out.

You had the right idea by covering the dirt with rocks so your cham couldn't ingest it but you got off track a bit by putting small rocks. Any rocks use for this purpose should be the same size as, or larger, than your chams head.

Lets be honest here, you don't know how many rocks your cham ate. I'm sure it is technically possible for a cham to survive ingesting rocks but I guarantee you it is not the majority. Your cham is already showing signs of trouble in its digestive system so based on the little bit of information we have to go off of it looks like your cham is trending more towards the group of chams that do not survive ingesting rocks. Deep down you know something is wrong here, is that not why you made your original post?

 

[jamest0o0]

Dirt is no more likely to cause a blockage in a health cham than an insect's chitin. That said, rocks are definitely not good, I'd get it checked out. A tiny rock, like perlite size, could probably be passed, but it's not something you want to risk. Especially if it's multiple rocks and not just one.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

How big of a rock are we talking about here?

Since he feels the need to eat rocks or dirt that makes me tend to think that maybe his nutritional needs are not being met. you may want to take a look at your gut loads and supplements to make sure you are meeting the minimum standards .

 

[Mary Blake Sullivan]

Hey! I do not know how to post my own. But my two year old veiled chameleon is a female. She has never laid eggs or had any issues eating. However, she barley eats anymore maybe 2 crickets if I am lucky maybe once a week. She has not passed any poop lately either, she used to daily and I would wipe it up. However, I came home to check her as usual and she is hanging but cant seem to engage her back legs. It is like she tries to grab with them but cant pinch so hooks her legs. I am so worried!! I have her is a 2x2x4 ft cage with three pothos in organic soil. and it has a UVB light and a warm lamp. I put calcium on the crickets and the plus occasionally but she wont eat a thing. Her vent does seem to be a bit swollen, when before it was barley noticeable.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Hey! I do not know how to post my own. But my two year old veiled chameleon is a female. She has never laid eggs or had any issues eating. However, she barley eats anymore maybe 2 crickets if I am lucky maybe once a week. She has not passed any poop lately either, she used to daily and I would wipe it up. However, I came home to check her as usual and she is hanging but cant seem to engage her back legs. It is like she tries to grab with them but cant pinch so hooks her legs. I am so worried!! I have her is a 2x2x4 ft cage with three pothos in organic soil. and it has a UVB light and a warm lamp. I put calcium on the crickets and the plus occasionally but she wont eat a thing. Her vent does seem to be a bit swollen, when before it was barley noticeable.

Go to the main menu at the top left of your screen click on the forums tab then click on the health clinic tab that will bring you to the health forum at the top of the health form there will be a button to start your own thread, push that button and answer all the questions I’m about to paste below the more pictures and details you provide the better.

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.

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?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[Amadamarie2555]

How big of a rock are we talking about here?

Since he feels the need to eat rocks or dirt that makes me tend to think that maybe his nutritional needs are not being met. you may want to take a look at your gut loads and supplements to make sure you are meeting the minimum standards .

A little bigger than the size of a Lima bean. I also thought the same thing about nutritional needs not being met. He has an Arcadia 10% ubv light along with his basking bulb. Humidity between 35-50% throughout the day before misted. Temps are around 85 up too, 78 in the middle 72 at the bottom. I just started gutloading with new fruits & veggies. (Do I need to be adding supplements or anything special to my feeders?) I give calcium without D3 five days a week, calcium with D3 every two weeks, & repashy calcium plus LOd on the opposite two weeks. He had a normal poop today & ate about 10 crickets with no problem so I am stumped. He’s seemed completely throughout this whole situation. Should I still set up a vet appointment?