Help with a sick chameleon?

Cicada · #1 05-30-2008, 07:43 PM

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Glass with a wire screen on top. Not sure about the size.
* Lighting - UV, I keep it on from about 7 in the morning to 10 at night.
* Temperature - I'm not sure about the range, but it's pretty warm. The temperature at night isn't much cooler.
* Humidity - It's pretty humid- I can stick my hand in the cage and you can clearly feel it. I spray the cage down 2-3 times a day.
* Plants - A small bonsai is in there.
* Location - His cage is in my room near a door that's used around 3 times a day.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - He's a male veiled chameleon, under a year old- not sure of the age.
* Feeding - I feed him 6-8 crickets a day, but he hasn't been eating much lately. 3 or 4 in the morning and afternoon.
* Supplements - I dust them with a vitamin/calcium supplement- the pet store sells them in small unlabeled containers, so it's not exact. I usually put 2 or 3 pinches of the dust into the crickets' bag when I get them and shake it up.
* Watering - I spray the wire on the top of his cage for him to drink- I see him drink the water droplets.
* Fecal Description - White-yellow colored and watery around a harder-looking dark center.
* History - None, really.
* Current Problem - (see below)

My chameleon, Basil, is sick, but I'm not sure what's wrong with him...
His tongue seems to be a bit swollen and it looks too sticky, and he can't stick it out far at all. When he presses it against something, the tip reacts to pressure like a balloon with not much air inside. To get water off the top of his cage he has to stick out his tongue a little and press it right to the water. He hasn't eaten all day. I tried feeding him a worm, but he was unable to chew it so he gave up on eating it. Every once in a while he'll open his mouth and stick his tongue out a little.
He's also weak and has even fallen off a branch- I found him with his eyes closed on the floor of his cage and I've seen him stumble a few times while climbing.
Could someone please help? This is my first reptile so I don't have any experince, and our vet doesn't accept reptiles.

dodolah · #2 05-30-2008, 07:52 PM

Hello, cicada:
to help you better, please answer the Qs:

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size?
* Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?
* Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas?

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

If you can, please take a pic of your cham and the enclosure and post it here.

Cicada · #3 05-30-2008, 08:05 PM

Ok, I've added the information.

mika · #4 05-30-2008, 08:18 PM

He could have hurt his tongue since you have him in a glass enclosure which is the reason why we recommend screen enclosures.

If he hit his tongue on the glass it could have bruised it & hurt him.

Do you have pics of him?

Where are you located? There are no other vets in your area?

How many inches is your cham from snout to vent (not including tail)?

dodolah · #5 05-30-2008, 08:19 PM

See my thoughts in the box.
I will first address the husbandry problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicada

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Glass with a wire screen on top. Not sure about the size.
are you using exo terra aquarium? your setup sounds like a petsmart/ petco staff advice. Do you happen to buy the chameleon over there? the glass is generally not a good enclosure for adult veiled chameleon. For now, try to get a screen cage asap

* Lighting - UV, I keep it on from about 7 in the morning to 10 at night.
what kind of UV is it? can you tell me the exact brand you buy. from today and now on, turned off the the light at 7 pm instead of 10 pm. 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nightlight is recommended for chameleon

* Temperature - I'm not sure about the range, but it's pretty warm. The temperature at night isn't much cooler.
this is not ok. You need to know the exact temp to see whether the temp in the cage is too hot, too cold, or just right. there is a cheap digital thermometer include hygrometer that you can get at walmart.

* Humidity - It's pretty humid- I can stick my hand in the cage and you can clearly feel it. I spray the cage down 2-3 times a day.
also, you need to know that veiled do best in 50% humidity. too humid or not humid enough can make your chameleon sick

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - He's a male veiled chameleon, under a year old- not sure of the age.
* Feeding - I feed him 6-8 crickets a day, but he hasn't been eating much lately. 3 or 4 in the morning and afternoon.

* Supplements - I dust them with a vitamin/calcium supplement- the pet store sells them in small unlabeled containers, so it's not exact. I usually put 2 or 3 pinches of the dust into the crickets' bag when I get them and shake it up.
Did you supplement him with calcium that contains vit D3?

He's also weak and has even fallen off a branch- I found him with his eyes closed on the floor of his cage and I've seen him stumble a few times while climbing.
Could someone please help? This is my first reptile so I don't have any experince, and our vet doesn't accept reptiles.
Your chameleon needs a vet ASAP. what area are you living in? try this link to find a vet nearby:
http://www.arav.org/USMembers.htm

Your chameleon seems to be in dire emergency. Please post a picture, especially a clear picture of your chameleon's legs and joints.

Cicada · #6 05-30-2008, 08:30 PM

Sorry- my answers will have to wait, because my mom knows more about the brands and temperatures and such than I do and she's not available...hopefully she can help me answer (I'm 14)

mika · #7 05-30-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicada

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Glass with a wire screen on top. Not sure about the size.

You need to get a screen cage, unless the cham is a baby which I'm assuming it isn't

Can you get a tape measure & measure the dimension?

Quote:

* Lighting - UV, I keep it on from about 7 in the morning to 10 at night.

You need to be specific on the bulbs that you use.

Is it a coil, tube? What brand?

Quote:

* Temperature - I'm not sure about the range, but it's pretty warm. The temperature at night isn't much cooler.

How warm is pretty warm?

Thermometers are pretty cheap, I would advise you to get one.

You need to have the correct temps. Do not guesstimate.

If that cham is in a glass enclosure that's about 10 gallons & has a basking bulb in there, I'm assuming it's hot & very humid in that tank. It's hard to get a good gradient in a glass enclosure.

Quote:

* Humidity - It's pretty humid- I can stick my hand in the cage and you can clearly feel it. I spray the cage down 2-3 times a day.

I'm guessing the humidity is high because the cham is in a glass cage

Quote:

* Plants - A small bonsai is in there.

Chams live up in the trees. Bonsai's are small. You need more foliage & a better plant with branches.

Quote:

* Location - His cage is in my room near a door that's used around 3 times a day.

Is the enclosure on top of a table, etc..?

mika · #8 05-30-2008, 08:36 PM

Can you at least take a pic of him & his cage & post it?

dodolah · #9 05-30-2008, 08:37 PM

the pics will help a ton.
I have some inklings.. but, i will refrain b4 i see the pics.
i don't want to speculate too much.

mika · #10 05-30-2008, 08:43 PM

I'm thinking mbd & bruised tongue..

but I'll wait for the pics

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