Lethargic Panther - Needing help!

Hello,

First - I apologize for the book.

I purchased a male 3 mos old Ambanja Cham (Sire: Brantley) about a month ago from FlChams. It arrived in excellent condition (healthy & alert) but it's condition has been slowly deteriorating. Some days are better than others. Initially, he wouldn't eat for the first two days but then slowly began consuming gut loaded 1/4 inch crickets from a cup. His eating has been sporadic. I've offered crickets, fruit flies, wax worms, meal worms, silk worms, phoenix worms and horned worms. He prefers crickets, small wax or phoenix worms and silk worms on occasion. He displayed no interest in horned worms as I believe they were too big for him. He also eats the occasional plant fly (gnat) found lingering around the enclosure. I telephoned Mike at FlChams and he believed my issue was due to cup feeding. He stated that he free range feeds his animals. Taking his advice I placed the cham in a smaller screened enclosure (12x18x20) with free range crickets but didn't see much improvement. He actually appeared uncomfortable with there presence. He prefers to eat first thing in the morning. I hand mist 2 -3 times a day for 5 minutes. As of last week, his appetite appeared to be picking up along with his daytime activity so I assumed he was on the road to recovery. His condition has worsened since Wednesday. His eyes are sunken and stool is brown and runny. He remains perched on a vine with his eyes clothes. I gave him a 30 minute shower on Friday which resulted in little improvement. Cage and animal info is below. All advice is welcome. I don't have a digital camera so I'm unable to post pics but I hope my description helps. Thanks in advance!

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen cage (main) 18x30x36 / (secondary) Zilla Fresh Air habitat 12x18x20
Lighting - Reptisun 5.0 (one for each cage) / basking lamp with 75 w Zoo Med basking bulb.
Temperature - Temp ranges from cage floor are 76 - 78 degrees to basking area temps of 90 - 92 degrees. Night time ambient temps are 72 - 74 degrees. Measured via analog thermometer.
Humidity - Ambient humidity levels are 50%. Spraying normally increases humidity to 70% for about 3 - 4 hours. I hand mist 2 -3 times a day for 5 minute intervals. I use an analog hygrometer to measure the levels.
Plants - I use a mixture of live and fake plants (1 umbrella tree, 3 pothos all replanted with organic soil). I have a variety of silk/plastic plants, vines and driftwood as well.
Location - The enclosure is located in a VERY low traffic area. The nearest vent is about 10 feet above and 8 feet away from the cage. The top of the cage is 5' from the floor. The nearest window is 18' away.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - My cham is a 3 - 4 mos old Male captive bred Ambanja purchased from FlChams, Sire Brantley. The cham has been in my care for 1 mos.
Handling - There is minimum handling of the cham even though he doesn't appear to be bothered by my presence. Will readily eat worms from my palm. He never flares up when handled. Has a great temperament.
Feeding - I am feeding gut loaded crickets, wax worms, phoenix worms, fruit flies and silk worms (kept in a pod). He normally consumes 2 -3 1/4 crickets or small worms a day. Feeder crickets are gut loaded with fresh fruits, mustard greens, carrots and Flukers commercial cricket gut load.
Supplements - Using Herptivite (1x a month) , Reptivite w/ D3 (2x a month) and Minerall - O (1x a month)
Watering - I hand mist 2 -3 times a day for 5 minute intervals. Cham consumes a lot of water via droplets from plant leaves.
Fecal Description - Recent droppings are brown and runny. I didn't think parasite testing was necessary due to his breeder (FlChams).
History - See above.
Current Problem - Animal appears lethargic. Eyes are closed and slightly sunken. Activity is low. He has been perched on a vine and sleeping for most of the day.

After visiting Pet Smart today and viewing a highly active/alert baby veiled I knew that I needed serious help if I intend on saving him. If anyone can recommend a good vet in the Dallas, TX area please do so. All help and advice is GREATLY appreciated.

i really dont see anything that you are doing wrong at the moment. He may need a bigger cage when he gets loder but it seems fine for his age.

The only thing i noticed that may be wrong is his poop being runny. He may have some kind of parasite like coccidia so i'd suggest getting a sample and taking it to the vet and have them run a few tests. He may need something to get rid of internal parasites/worms.\

edit: i just noticed you said he was sleeping most of the day. He probably needs to goto the vet.

The temperature could be a little lower in the basking area.

You said..." Using Herptivite (1x a month) , Reptivite w/ D3 (2x a month) and Minerall - O (1x a month)"...IMHO you should be using the calcium at most feedings. Does your chameleon show any signs of MBD?

Try this link to find a vet in your area. I think he needs one ASAP. Jann
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

No signs of MBD. His bones appear to fine. I'll search for a vet and keep the forum updated. Thanks for the help.

Re the supplementation, Mike told me that he dust his feeders with RepCal twice a month so I was following his guidelines. Oops, I meant that I dust with RepCal w/ Calcium not Reptivite.

Bighutch917 - I am so sorry to hear about your baby - I have one of his brothers from Brantley. I posted some pics about a month ago, because he did not seem to be growing. October the 6th I will have had him 2 months and he was 3 mos. when I got him, but he still is very tiny. He seems to eat and drink well. I have him outside in the fresh air and sun most everyday, but he still does not seem to be growing. Other than that though -he seems to be in good health? I think I may have the first pygmy Panther cham! Please keep us informed of how things are going and good luck!

Go to an exotics vet ASAP. Is your cage in a high traffic area? Also, you are not giving your cham enough calcium. A 3 month old panther needs much more calcium than Cal w D3 2times a month. I would definitely give Cal w D3 twice a week and then supplement calcium without D3 twice a week. Calcium does not only effect bones but almost all activity...I would bet that is the problem. If he is sleeping during the day you don't have much time at all, the vet may give him a calcium injection.

-chris

Did you take the plastic covering the UV bulb off? Put him outside in his cage if its safe in your area and if the temps are right.

Thanks ReptiMom and Chris!! I appreciate all of the responses. As for his size, I would call him modest at best. He has lost weight but again with his recent increase in food intake I figured this would be cured in a couple of weeks. Chris...I will take heed to your Calcium suggestion.

Reptimom - I take him outside on the weekends for 6-8 hours. He always appears to be more alert after sun bathing. I found a nearby vet (thanks for the link JannB) who works with reptiles and owns a veiled so I will give him a call tomorrow. He didn't have any interest in eating today but I will try something in the morning and supplement the feeders with RepCal. BTW.....i'm glad that I have located one of his family members. I'm going to remain positive as I am determined to nurse him back to health.

I'll keep all informed of his progress.

Did you take the plastic covering the UV bulb off? Put him outside in his cage if its safe in your area and if the temps are right

Plastic coverings? If you mean the plastic screen that comes with fixtures such as the Slimline brands "yes" I did remove it. There is nothing between the
Cham and light source except the screen mesh. Daytime temps here in Dallas are about 82-88, so yes I can leave him outside.