szpond
New Member
I'll have to direct all questions towards the owner, for this is not my chameleon. I work at a pet store, a customer went through my store to seek my help, and I'm honestly not sure on this one. There are a few things of the care that I would change, but for the most part, I have given her many tips and how-to on lighting/supplementation/etc. Recently I helped her pick out a screen cage and a digital thermometer and also supplied her with the correct temperatures for veiled chameleons (branching off to male and female) for all different ages of life.
I had her fill out the form:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
VEILED CHAMELEON, FEMALE, APPROXIMATELY 4 1/2 MONTHS, 1 MONTH
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
ON AVERAGE TWICE A WEEK. ONCE TO CLEAN THE CAGE AND EVERY-NOW-AND-AGAIN TO SOCIALIZE WITH HER
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham?CRICKETS/MEALWORMS What amount?WE OFFER HER 10-15(CRICKETS)/DAY AND A MEALWORM TREAT EVERY OTHER WEEK What is the schedule?ONCE A DAY IN THE A.M. How are you gut-loading your feeders?WITH FRESH CARROTS, ORANGES, COLLARD GREENS, MULTIVITAMIN AND H2O
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?REPTO LIFE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT; TWICE A MONTH ALTERNATING WITH REPTO CAL CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT TWICE A MONTH.ALSO A DAILY DUSTING OF CALCIUM W/O VITAMIN D3
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? HOMEMADE DRIPPER How often and how long to you mist?OFTEN!! MAYBE 4-5 TIMES OR MORE/DAY Do you see your chameleon drinking? NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE...SHE WILL OPEN HER MOUTH A BIT AND PUFF OUT HER THROAT...I ASSUME SHE IS.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. SEVERAL WHITE DROPPINGS SIMILAR TO A FIRM BIRD POOP AND USUALLY A BLACK DROPPING ATTATCHED TO IT, HOWEVER THE BLACK DROPPING IS NOT AS FREQUENT AS THE WHITE ONE SOMETIMES WITH A PALE YELLOW COLOR Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?NO
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.NO. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND SHE WAS HEALTHY WHEN I BOUGHT HER.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?SCREEN 16X16X20
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using?REPTI GLO 5.0 UVB 26 W AND A 75 WATT UVA BASKING BULB What is your daily lighting schedule? BOTH LIGHTS FROM 7AM-8PM
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)?CAGE FLOOR APROX. 69 DEGREES AND BASKING SPOT 75-80 DEGREES Lowest overnight temp?NO LOWER THAN 69 DEGREES How do you measure these temps?DIGITAL THERMOMETER
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? SINCE I BOUGHT THE SCREEN CAGE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GAGE AN ACCURATE READING How are you creating and maintaining these levels? THROUGH MISTING AND THE DRIPPER THE PAPER TOWEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE IS DAMP AND THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHTS IN COMBINATION WITH THREE OF THE FOUR SIDES BEING COVERED WITH A THIN SHEET What do you use to measure humidity?N/A
Plants - Are you using live plants?YES If so, what kind? POTHOS PLANT
Placement - Where is your cage located?IN MY SONS BEDROOM ON TOP OF HIS DRESSER Is it near any fans,NO air vents, YES A HEATER VENT IS BELOW AND TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE CAGE or high traffic areas NO? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? FIVE FEET
Location - Where are you geographically located?DETROIT MI
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW OUR CHAMELEON "CAMILLE" KEEPS HER EYES CLOSED EVEN IN THE DAY TIME. SHE DID HAVE A BULGING EYE AT ONE POINT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT THAT WAS ALARMING BUT WE WERE INFORMED THAT IS THE WAY CHAMELEONS SCRATCH, AN ITCH.
THIS MORNING HOWEVER WAS VERY FRIGHTENING!!! WHEN WE TURNED THE LIGHTS ON SHE WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE ON HER SIDE IN A FETAL POSITION AND HER COLOR WAS VERY DARK. WE THOUGHT SHE HAD DIED! WHEN I PICKED HER UP SHE WAS COLD BUT NOT STIFF AS I HAD EXPECTED. SHE THEM OPENED HER MOUTH TO TAKE WHAT LOOKED LIKE A FINAL BREATH OF AIR AND I WAS SURE SHE WAS GONE. HOWEVER WHEN I STROKED THE SIDE OF HER BODY DOWN TO HER TAIL IT MOVED. SO I PLACED HER ON A PAPER TOWEL CREATING A HAMMOCK BETWEEN TWO VINES CLOSER TO THE LIGHTS. SHE CONTINUED TO OPEN HER MOUTH "GASPING" OFF AND ON. I REACHED IN AND TOUCHED HER FEELING SO HELPLESS THINKING I WAS WATCHING HER DIE. SHE THEN BEGAN TO MOVE HER FOREARMS AND PROPPED HERSELF UP; ALL THE WHILE HER EYES STILL CLOSED. AFTER DROPPING TWO VERY SAD AND HEARTSICK BOYS OFF AT SCHOOL I RETURNED TO FIND HER ON ALL FOURS IN THE PAPER TOWEL AND A BEAUTIFUL GREEN WITH DARK GREEN/BLUE PATTERN. I THEN OPENED THE CAGE TO FEED HER AT WHICH POINT SHE SEEMED STARTLED, OPENED HER EYES AND CLIMBED ONTO A NEARBY BRANCH SLOWLY BUT WITH NO ISSUE. SHE IS CURRENTLY PERCHED THERE EYES TIGHTLY SHUT AND HASN'T EATEN TODAY AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. SHE IS SO SMALL AND I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT A VET CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP. AS A SINGLE MOM OF THREE I'M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD A VISIT IF THERE IS NO OBVIOUS SOLUTION EITHER. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK YOU CAN GIVE!!! THANK YOU!
Additional info from me (szpond, not the chameleon owner): From what I understand, the chameleon had eaten more mealworms than a baby should. I am suspicious if this is indeed an impaction (from seeing many urates but only few feces droppings) -- what do you guys think?
Picture in next post.
I had her fill out the form:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
VEILED CHAMELEON, FEMALE, APPROXIMATELY 4 1/2 MONTHS, 1 MONTH
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
ON AVERAGE TWICE A WEEK. ONCE TO CLEAN THE CAGE AND EVERY-NOW-AND-AGAIN TO SOCIALIZE WITH HER
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham?CRICKETS/MEALWORMS What amount?WE OFFER HER 10-15(CRICKETS)/DAY AND A MEALWORM TREAT EVERY OTHER WEEK What is the schedule?ONCE A DAY IN THE A.M. How are you gut-loading your feeders?WITH FRESH CARROTS, ORANGES, COLLARD GREENS, MULTIVITAMIN AND H2O
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?REPTO LIFE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT; TWICE A MONTH ALTERNATING WITH REPTO CAL CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT TWICE A MONTH.ALSO A DAILY DUSTING OF CALCIUM W/O VITAMIN D3
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? HOMEMADE DRIPPER How often and how long to you mist?OFTEN!! MAYBE 4-5 TIMES OR MORE/DAY Do you see your chameleon drinking? NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE...SHE WILL OPEN HER MOUTH A BIT AND PUFF OUT HER THROAT...I ASSUME SHE IS.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. SEVERAL WHITE DROPPINGS SIMILAR TO A FIRM BIRD POOP AND USUALLY A BLACK DROPPING ATTATCHED TO IT, HOWEVER THE BLACK DROPPING IS NOT AS FREQUENT AS THE WHITE ONE SOMETIMES WITH A PALE YELLOW COLOR Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?NO
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.NO. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND SHE WAS HEALTHY WHEN I BOUGHT HER.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?SCREEN 16X16X20
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using?REPTI GLO 5.0 UVB 26 W AND A 75 WATT UVA BASKING BULB What is your daily lighting schedule? BOTH LIGHTS FROM 7AM-8PM
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)?CAGE FLOOR APROX. 69 DEGREES AND BASKING SPOT 75-80 DEGREES Lowest overnight temp?NO LOWER THAN 69 DEGREES How do you measure these temps?DIGITAL THERMOMETER
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? SINCE I BOUGHT THE SCREEN CAGE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GAGE AN ACCURATE READING How are you creating and maintaining these levels? THROUGH MISTING AND THE DRIPPER THE PAPER TOWEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE IS DAMP AND THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHTS IN COMBINATION WITH THREE OF THE FOUR SIDES BEING COVERED WITH A THIN SHEET What do you use to measure humidity?N/A
Plants - Are you using live plants?YES If so, what kind? POTHOS PLANT
Placement - Where is your cage located?IN MY SONS BEDROOM ON TOP OF HIS DRESSER Is it near any fans,NO air vents, YES A HEATER VENT IS BELOW AND TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE CAGE or high traffic areas NO? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? FIVE FEET
Location - Where are you geographically located?DETROIT MI
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW OUR CHAMELEON "CAMILLE" KEEPS HER EYES CLOSED EVEN IN THE DAY TIME. SHE DID HAVE A BULGING EYE AT ONE POINT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT THAT WAS ALARMING BUT WE WERE INFORMED THAT IS THE WAY CHAMELEONS SCRATCH, AN ITCH.
THIS MORNING HOWEVER WAS VERY FRIGHTENING!!! WHEN WE TURNED THE LIGHTS ON SHE WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE ON HER SIDE IN A FETAL POSITION AND HER COLOR WAS VERY DARK. WE THOUGHT SHE HAD DIED! WHEN I PICKED HER UP SHE WAS COLD BUT NOT STIFF AS I HAD EXPECTED. SHE THEM OPENED HER MOUTH TO TAKE WHAT LOOKED LIKE A FINAL BREATH OF AIR AND I WAS SURE SHE WAS GONE. HOWEVER WHEN I STROKED THE SIDE OF HER BODY DOWN TO HER TAIL IT MOVED. SO I PLACED HER ON A PAPER TOWEL CREATING A HAMMOCK BETWEEN TWO VINES CLOSER TO THE LIGHTS. SHE CONTINUED TO OPEN HER MOUTH "GASPING" OFF AND ON. I REACHED IN AND TOUCHED HER FEELING SO HELPLESS THINKING I WAS WATCHING HER DIE. SHE THEN BEGAN TO MOVE HER FOREARMS AND PROPPED HERSELF UP; ALL THE WHILE HER EYES STILL CLOSED. AFTER DROPPING TWO VERY SAD AND HEARTSICK BOYS OFF AT SCHOOL I RETURNED TO FIND HER ON ALL FOURS IN THE PAPER TOWEL AND A BEAUTIFUL GREEN WITH DARK GREEN/BLUE PATTERN. I THEN OPENED THE CAGE TO FEED HER AT WHICH POINT SHE SEEMED STARTLED, OPENED HER EYES AND CLIMBED ONTO A NEARBY BRANCH SLOWLY BUT WITH NO ISSUE. SHE IS CURRENTLY PERCHED THERE EYES TIGHTLY SHUT AND HASN'T EATEN TODAY AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. SHE IS SO SMALL AND I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT A VET CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP. AS A SINGLE MOM OF THREE I'M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD A VISIT IF THERE IS NO OBVIOUS SOLUTION EITHER. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK YOU CAN GIVE!!! THANK YOU!
Additional info from me (szpond, not the chameleon owner): From what I understand, the chameleon had eaten more mealworms than a baby should. I am suspicious if this is indeed an impaction (from seeing many urates but only few feces droppings) -- what do you guys think?
Picture in next post.
