gaping for air

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Chamster

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my chameleon was fighting with some bark yesterday so i took that piece of wood out. He is opening his mouth wide open every now and then its like hes gasping for air or something.......... whats the problem with him im kind of worried now......i gave him a worm so hes able to flush w.e. is bothering him down but......lets wait and see....

anyone know why hes gaping???????
 
my chameleon does this some times also once and awhile although i do believe yours may have a different problem can you post some pictures? how old is the chameleon? how long have you been taking care of it? did it eat the bark? a few questions you could awnser and i could probably have a better chance at helping you
 
basking 82
ambiant 71

about 4-5 months old, had him for about a week, i think it ate some bark.

cant take any pictures because he stopped doing it since about half hour ago.
 
Maybe the worm moved it along. He may have been trying to work it down his throat. I would bring him to a vet to get an xray to make sure it is traveling well and he will not perforate or become impacted. Watch him closely for to make sure he is going to the bathroom properly.
 
well i hope you the best of luck if he seems to do bad make sure you take him to the vet.... watch to make shure ur cage doesnt drop below like 67 at night because then hell get sick from being to cold i live in michigan and i have to have a night light.... you may want to move his basking branch slightly closer to the light so he can get about 90....make shure you have uvb bulb and all the right equipment for him to survive also like a dripping system every thing like that.....chameleons are a pain in the ass to take care of :)
 
well i hope you the best of luck if he seems to do bad make sure you take him to the vet.... watch to make shure ur cage doesnt drop below like 67 at night because then hell get sick from being to cold i live in michigan and i have to have a night light.... you may want to move his basking branch slightly closer to the light so he can get about 90....make shure you have uvb bulb and all the right equipment for him to survive also like a dripping system every thing like that.....chameleons are a pain in the ass to take care of :)

No your basking temps are fine, you don't want to cook him! Until he gets older do not raise your temps. If it is a veiled chameleon they do not need a night heat source as long as the temps do not go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Dakotakleiner, you should not use a night light as it will probably keep your chameleon up at night.
 
i dont have a veiled...i have a panther chameleon so are my temperatures right???? i am confused.................someone tells me i need more heat others tell me i need less heat...

please i will take advice ONLY FROM SENIOR MEMBERS.......


THESE ARE THE FACTS

basking 82
ambiant 71

about 4-5 months old,




what shall i do???????
 
i just took a look at the temp with uvb off and heat off. temp is 61-62.....i think thats perfect......
 
Ok the temps are fine at that age (its a veiled right?).
If you can, carefully remove any bark from the cage so he cant munch on it again.
Since it ate the worm, its not gaping anymore right? So just keep an eye on him, keep up the misting or dripper, we you have and check carefully for fresh poo over the next few days/a week.
If it ate a small peice, it might pass it ok with luck. (somebody else lizard choked to death on bark a month or two ago).
Probly you are l;ucky, and there wont be an issue, but personally Id refrain from feeding the little guy for a day or two. If he has swallowed some bark, itll be easier to digest with less in his stomach. Do keep up the water though.

If he poos as normal (more than once, remember there was one on the way before it ate bark) in the next week and half, and there are no other problems, then you can consider him out of the woods.

Should something suddenly happen, aka he becomes weak, or cant use his hind legs right, or something dosent seem quitye right, then dont delay, get it to a vet as quck as possible.
Best wishes :)
 
Last edited:
Panthers and veileds need the same temps as babies. Veilds can handle about 5 degrees older as adults. What you have now is fine. When he is older make it about 85-90 for his basking.

Just so you know, not all senior members are as smart as you think...
 
Yes the status just means how long they have been on the forum. I have only been on since I got Molly but from reading many other posts I have gained much of the experienced keepers knowledge.
 
Also, I am studying to be a herpetologist/reptile veterinarian and I work at a vets office so I DO know what I am talking about for the most part.
 
Awww, dont be a spoilsport Trace! :D
Actually I hadn't noticed it, Had to go look! I must be growing up. :)

Say, do tell, what on earth is your signature about anyway, has me baffled whenever I see it.?
Seems a little 'highschool girls chat' to me, dare I say, 'adolescent' :p

You dont find my sig the same?
 
Ok. Here's some advice; I find your avatar adolescent and unsophisticated. Please change it to something a little less offensive to some of our members.

Thank you.

come one......please tell me you think thats funny....
 
Awww, dont be a spoilsport Trace! :D
Actually I hadn't noticed it, Had to go look! I must be growing up. :)

Say, do tell, what on earth is your signature about anyway, has me baffled whenever I see it.?
Seems a little 'highschool girls chat' to me, dare I say, 'adolescent' :p

You dont find my sig the same?

i think me and you like the same kind of avatars ...... :)
 
now he is 4-5 months old so he needs 80-83......when he gets older 85-90..but what age is older????? 1 year? or maybe 9 months??? whats your idea.???
 
Ok the temps are fine at that age (its a veiled right?).
If you can, carefully remove any bark from the cage so he cant munch on it again.
Since it ate the worm, its not gaping anymore right? So just keep an eye on him, keep up the misting or dripper, we you have and check carefully for fresh poo over the next few days/a week.
If it ate a small peice, it might pass it ok with luck. (somebody else lizard choked to death on bark a month or two ago).
Probly you are l;ucky, and there wont be an issue, but personally Id refrain from feeding the little guy for a day or two. If he has swallowed some bark, itll be easier to digest with less in his stomach. Do keep up the water though.

If he poos as normal (more than once, remember there was one on the way before it ate bark) in the next week and half, and there are no other problems, then you can consider him out of the woods.

Should something suddenly happen, aka he becomes weak, or cant use his hind legs right, or something dosent seem quitye right, then dont delay, get it to a vet as quck as possible.
Best wishes :)

panther chameleon, alright so he should poop tomorrow....lets see what happens because now hes asleep.
 
Ok the temps are fine at that age (its a veiled right?).
If you can, carefully remove any bark from the cage so he cant munch on it again.
Since it ate the worm, its not gaping anymore right? So just keep an eye on him, keep up the misting or dripper, we you have and check carefully for fresh poo over the next few days/a week.
If it ate a small peice, it might pass it ok with luck. (somebody else lizard choked to death on bark a month or two ago).
Probly you are l;ucky, and there wont be an issue, but personally Id refrain from feeding the little guy for a day or two. If he has swallowed some bark, itll be easier to digest with less in his stomach. Do keep up the water though.

If he poos as normal (more than once, remember there was one on the way before it ate bark) in the next week and half, and there are no other problems, then you can consider him out of the woods.

Should something suddenly happen, aka he becomes weak, or cant use his hind legs right, or something dosent seem quitye right, then dont delay, get it to a vet as quck as possible.
Best wishes :)

panther chameleon, alright so he should poop tomorrow....lets see what happens because now hes asleep.

thanks a million JoJackson
 
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