eddlott
Member
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem -
Described how we got him in the history section above. A few more points.. He’s got strong grip, but seems to have weak muscles - also seems to be getting weaker.
We have NO idea of his history, age, or anything. Pics provided… he looks pretty healthy as far as I can tell EXCEPT I found him “gaping” yesterday, and he doesn’t seem to be as strong as he should be.
We think he might be starting a URI.. or have a pretty good one. Although from what I’ve read, he doesn’t seem too severe - no regurge, little mucus, with no poop and no eating however.. He’s def. Not 100% healthy.
Saying that the family that brought him to PC found him in a park.. That was their story… it’s also completely possible that he got sick and they just wanted to dump him.
The flip side of that possibility is that he was released by someone, sometime and he was honestly found. There’s just no way for us to tell. But we are going to try to get this guy healthy as he is surely beautiful when he’s all fired up!
I also suppose he could be a wild South Florida Veiled. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t think a healthy one would be easily caught by a family in a park.. Hmmm…
Another thought is that he may just be OLD. From his size and his casque.. He’s got a few years on him.. If he’s in his twilight days, I’ll simply try to make him comfortable.
My main reason for joining here is for some advice. We are planning on starting a Baytril course tomorrow and hope it’ll clear up any URI.
He seems to have trouble releasing his grip on the fake vine and he also seems to have trouble locating a good new foothold.
His eyes are moving and alert. He’s aware when we come near the cage - and he only hissed at me once (although he may have just been wheezing). He doesn’t seem to mind being handled as he’s been handled a lot over the past week.. He does darken when handled which is stress (i’ve been reading).
Going to continue to offer food (crickets and meal worms - both loose in cage and on feeder tongs) and will also continue to “force” some crickets and worms if he’s not taking them on his own.
Any help, thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated. We’d love to be able to get him healthy and happy soon, but in all honesty without knowing a thing about his history, we are worried about big vet bills for an imminent lost cause.
Also concerned about his enclosure… the Reptibreeze is nice, but seems really small for this guy. If the too small enclosure is also stressing him out.. Then it’s going to be tough to get his URI cleared.
Finally - everyone is talking about MBD.. he doesn’t seem to have any leg deformities or breaks. His casque is a little “twisted” but from my reading to date, I’d bet more on the URI than MBD.. but again.. Without any info on history.. It’s all just really a guess.
Photos of our “Patient” attached. Thanks for your help new friends!
E
PS - wifey calls him George (as in “Boy George” an homage to Karma Chameleon)
- Your Chameleon - Veiled. Male. Age : NO IDEA. In my care 4 days.
- Handling - very little these past 2 days. Aside from trying to help him get on his vines or coaxing his mouth open to eat.
- Feeding - Crickets and Meal Worms. Dusted. Day 1 he nabbed a few on his own. Hasn’t eaten on his own in 2 days but fed 5 MW’s yesterday and 5 Medium Crickets today. All dusted. Crickets are fed carrots and kale.
- Supplements - ZooMed ReptiCalcium (no D3). ZooMed’s Reptivite with D3. Alternate now with each feeding.
- Watering - Mist in morning and evening.
- Fecal Description - No droppings in 4 days. Parasite check : N/A.
- History - he was found in a tree in a park in Sarasota, FL(?). The family brought him to the local PetCo. The manager is a friend so she contacted my wife and I. He seemed mostly healthy and wasn’t “cranky”. Stayed at PC 1st night, friends garage 2nd night, my house 3rd night inside. 4th night outside and he’s been outside since. We keep our temp at 77-78 inside, outside goes 88-95 days, 75-80 night with 60-96% ambient humidity… so seemed wiser to keep him in a “natural” environment.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Reptibreeze 16"x16"x30"
- Lighting - uva/uvb bulb and 100w basking bulb / 50W halogen red at night. Try to mimic natural conditions. Sun up / Sun down we follow nature closely.
- Temperature - Tampa, Florida summertime. 88-95 days, 75-80 night
Basking spot slightly higher, but not over 91-92 day. 87-88 night. Have a digital therm near basking spot. - Humidity - Tampa, Florida. Summertime. 60-96% daily. Have hygrometer on cage and also mist 2x day.
- Plants - So far, all fake. Vines to climb, leaves for shade.
- Placement - Outside on our West facing balcony. Gets sun from mid-day till slightly before sunset.
- Location - Tampa, FL. Super tropical this time of year.
Current Problem -
Described how we got him in the history section above. A few more points.. He’s got strong grip, but seems to have weak muscles - also seems to be getting weaker.
We have NO idea of his history, age, or anything. Pics provided… he looks pretty healthy as far as I can tell EXCEPT I found him “gaping” yesterday, and he doesn’t seem to be as strong as he should be.
We think he might be starting a URI.. or have a pretty good one. Although from what I’ve read, he doesn’t seem too severe - no regurge, little mucus, with no poop and no eating however.. He’s def. Not 100% healthy.
Saying that the family that brought him to PC found him in a park.. That was their story… it’s also completely possible that he got sick and they just wanted to dump him.
The flip side of that possibility is that he was released by someone, sometime and he was honestly found. There’s just no way for us to tell. But we are going to try to get this guy healthy as he is surely beautiful when he’s all fired up!
I also suppose he could be a wild South Florida Veiled. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t think a healthy one would be easily caught by a family in a park.. Hmmm…
Another thought is that he may just be OLD. From his size and his casque.. He’s got a few years on him.. If he’s in his twilight days, I’ll simply try to make him comfortable.
My main reason for joining here is for some advice. We are planning on starting a Baytril course tomorrow and hope it’ll clear up any URI.
He seems to have trouble releasing his grip on the fake vine and he also seems to have trouble locating a good new foothold.
His eyes are moving and alert. He’s aware when we come near the cage - and he only hissed at me once (although he may have just been wheezing). He doesn’t seem to mind being handled as he’s been handled a lot over the past week.. He does darken when handled which is stress (i’ve been reading).
Going to continue to offer food (crickets and meal worms - both loose in cage and on feeder tongs) and will also continue to “force” some crickets and worms if he’s not taking them on his own.
Any help, thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated. We’d love to be able to get him healthy and happy soon, but in all honesty without knowing a thing about his history, we are worried about big vet bills for an imminent lost cause.
Also concerned about his enclosure… the Reptibreeze is nice, but seems really small for this guy. If the too small enclosure is also stressing him out.. Then it’s going to be tough to get his URI cleared.
Finally - everyone is talking about MBD.. he doesn’t seem to have any leg deformities or breaks. His casque is a little “twisted” but from my reading to date, I’d bet more on the URI than MBD.. but again.. Without any info on history.. It’s all just really a guess.
Photos of our “Patient” attached. Thanks for your help new friends!
E
PS - wifey calls him George (as in “Boy George” an homage to Karma Chameleon)
