Doctor's Diagnosis!:O

Okay, so we just got home from Waldo's vet visit. The doc said that I'm doing everything fine, and he shouldn't be having problems, it's just the natural conditions around here are making him sick.(South Bend, Indiana) Yes, the weather is annual and it is sorta crappy. He said the longest life he's seen in a cham around here was only 5 years, the average around here is 2. He gave me a powder food because he hasn't been eating, but I think that is because both of his eyes were shut. When we got there he had opened one of his eyes and then the other. I was a bit happy. Now, we are home and he is eating crickets. He is already showing sign of improvement and I'm a bit glad! The doc said there is really nothing I can do. Just hope for the best. Currently he is perched on the cricket cage eating away. One eye is open and so is the other but the other is a little bit more closed. He's looking better.

Did it turn out to be an eye infection? What else did he give you other than powdered food? Glad you decided to go to a vet.

Jakedn said:

Did it turn out to be an eye infection? What else did he give you other than powdered food? Glad you decided to go to a vet.

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It was neither an eye infection(no discharge) nor a deficiency. He said it was because of our weather. I'm not able to create his exact natural conditions. Notice how a lot of you live in hot humid places. California, Florida, etc.x.x

What is it that is lacking in his habitat? Maybe there are ways to replicate the desired environment and you just haven't heard of it yet .

I dont think that because you dont live in Ca or Fl. your animals should not be as happy as a cham who does live in the ideal place. It's our responsibilty as pet owners to give them the best living conditions. If it's not naturally then we have to buy heaters or coolers or humdifiers etc. to make our chams happy. I live in Ca. but yet where I live its too hot in the summer and to cold in the winter for them to survive on their own. I have invested a small fortune to create the best possible homes for my animals and have been rewarded with many babies and happy animals.

Huh, I know, I've tried to replicate it as best as I can. The doctor as well used to raise chameleons but they could only live so long with the natural conditions. Lack of humidity during winter, weird weather, not having sunlight all year long, etc. It's things you would think you can replicate but... The hot natural conditions really do help, and I can't move yet. I will when I get the chance, trust me.;D

What exactly can't you replicate?

Omg never mind. Anyone from Indiana want to step in and help me explain?lol

all I have to say is good luck....

Thanks Lizardlover!

Comeon FooL111394

Fight the Good fight.

Don't Quit. Your cham deserves better.

Think of what you haven't thought of and make it better.

I'm fighting!lol I'm getting his free range habitat set up right now.

I Live in michigan and my chams do fine in my basement in the winter. It is always very humid from the humidifier and i have 2 big windows that i can take the glass out to give them natural sunlinght. I rotate them there. 2 different chams get 6 hrs sun each day + there own uvb of course. And because i have a ceramic heater the cold doesn't affect them. You can recreate everything except the natural sunlight just about anywhere with the right tools. but uvb lights do enough to sustain mine well enough til spring when they can go back outside. Good luck.



Justin

I guess I am confused about just why Indiana is so toxic to chams. Is it because Indiana has the same atmosphere as Mars not the Earth? Because it is politically conservative?

Many of us keep chams successfully in all sorts of places that aren't East African rainforests. I've had montane chams at 9200 ft elevation in bone dry Colorado. THAT'S not easy but you can do it! If you could explain just why your vet blames cham death on Indiana it would help us help you. For example:

You can't keep it outdoors.
Cure: Use ReptiSun 5.0 lighting and rotate the bulbs every 6 months. Use a calcium supplement with added D3. Don't overdo the vitamin dusts and gutload your feeders well.

Winter....it's too cold and your house needs to be heated for months. It will be dry. Cure: a basking spot and a good misting system or combination of live cage plants, lots of hand misting, and/or an ultrasonic humidifier cycling on a timer. Measure the cage climate with a good quality humidity gauge always.

Summer...it's too hot and humid and you have to cool the house with an AC. It will be dry. Cure: Again, more live cage plants, hand misting and maybe the humidifier. Use a good humidity gauge always.

You can't keep a cage humid enough.
Cure: Try a partially enclosed terrarium or cover your cage screen with plastic sheeting.

These are the kinds of fixes we mean.

You just don't have the time to keep up with this particular pet.
Cure: Find a new caring home for him and go visit instead.

Tell us more!

That's exactly what I do Carlton. Please don't be sarcastic, it makes me feel bad.XD

You also haven't explained the problem other than something is wrong with his eyes and it's because of indiana. What is wrong with his eyes? Just tell me what in indiana makes it so that you can't replicate the desired environment. Just tell me what specifically is missing. Is it too humid? Too dry? Too hot? Too cold? Or is it something else that I didn't mention? If it is, what exactly is wrong?

He said his eyes were closed because of the fact he was sick. He said that was him telling us he was sick. Look, he said I was doing everything exactly right. You want to ask him yourself why?

So he tells you your chameleon is sick, gives you powdered food, blames the sickness on Indiana, and says you do everything right. I have to say, I do question if he is a qualified vet or not. You still haven't explained what in Indiana makes them sick either.

Ryan, You may have wasted your money on this vet. I would advise you to get a second opinion. Jann

FooL111394 said:

It was neither an eye infection(no discharge) nor a deficiency. He said it was because of our weather. I'm not able to create his exact natural conditions. Notice how a lot of you live in hot humid places. California, Florida, etc.x.x

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You and I need to talk. I live in Montana 30 miles south of Canada. It doesn't get much colder or drier in the US except Alaska. I have a whole room full of chams. Pm me and we will work something out.