Is this normal? please help!!!
- Thread starter marissamarie
- Start date
DavidBuchan
New Member
That's not normal I'm afraid....could you fill out the 'how to ask for help' form so we can get better info that might help?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
No it's not, that a really pronounced spinal malformation. Did you get him like this? Or did it develop while you've been caring for him?
Because of the severity of the curvature while all other limbs look good and straight, if you got him like this I would say it's a birth defect. That's my guess anyway, I don't really jump at the possibility of metabolic bone disease. But give us all the info we can, and we'll see if we can give you a better idea of what it may be.
I'm glad to see it is a male, if you had a female I would have been worried about her and laying eggs down the road, that pelvis the way it is might not pass eggs easily, if at all.
Because of the severity of the curvature while all other limbs look good and straight, if you got him like this I would say it's a birth defect. That's my guess anyway, I don't really jump at the possibility of metabolic bone disease. But give us all the info we can, and we'll see if we can give you a better idea of what it may be.
I'm glad to see it is a male, if you had a female I would have been worried about her and laying eggs down the road, that pelvis the way it is might not pass eggs easily, if at all.
marissamarie
New Member
i am not to sure about him but i know when i got him from petco his tail was already like that
my chameleon: vieled chameleon, male, not sure the age i got it on 10/19/11
handling: i try to only handle him once a day
feeding: i am feeding him mealworms,waxworm,crickets 4or more depending on how much he eats i put it in his cage ever morning
supplement:repti calcuim with d3 i have done it once since i had him
watering:he has a water bowl, i spay him, i use a spay bottle to mist the him and the cage down to make sure the hudmity is right, i watch him drink water drops off the side of the cage
fecal decription: its a darker brow and white he pooped a day or two ago i am not to sure, i am not sure if it has been tested for parasites
History: i just got his from pecto and they did not tell me anything about him
Cage info
Cage type: glass with sreen on top (normal lizards cage) it is a 20 gallon tank
lighting: i am not sure it is uvb linere tube light his schedule is 11:30am 11:30pm
tempurature: i dont have one but the house stay around 70-75
hudmity:i try to keep it between 70 to 90 percent, i am misting the cage evertime it starts to get lower than 70, i have a humidty gage
Plants: i have artifical trees in his cage
placement: its right on my dresser next to my bed, we have a ceiling fan but is not being use not much traffic go in there, the top of the cage is about 4 feet from the floor
location: victorville ca
current problem: the top of his tail has a curve in it
my chameleon: vieled chameleon, male, not sure the age i got it on 10/19/11
handling: i try to only handle him once a day
feeding: i am feeding him mealworms,waxworm,crickets 4or more depending on how much he eats i put it in his cage ever morning
supplement:repti calcuim with d3 i have done it once since i had him
watering:he has a water bowl, i spay him, i use a spay bottle to mist the him and the cage down to make sure the hudmity is right, i watch him drink water drops off the side of the cage
fecal decription: its a darker brow and white he pooped a day or two ago i am not to sure, i am not sure if it has been tested for parasites
History: i just got his from pecto and they did not tell me anything about him
Cage info
Cage type: glass with sreen on top (normal lizards cage) it is a 20 gallon tank
lighting: i am not sure it is uvb linere tube light his schedule is 11:30am 11:30pm
tempurature: i dont have one but the house stay around 70-75
hudmity:i try to keep it between 70 to 90 percent, i am misting the cage evertime it starts to get lower than 70, i have a humidty gage
Plants: i have artifical trees in his cage
placement: its right on my dresser next to my bed, we have a ceiling fan but is not being use not much traffic go in there, the top of the cage is about 4 feet from the floor
location: victorville ca
current problem: the top of his tail has a curve in it
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Okay, there are a few things wrong with your husbandry. First of all, They do NOT use normal lizard cages, they need a cage specifically for chameleons, a tall (usually mostly screen cage). Water bowl should be taken out, they poop in it and it's useless. You need a basking light (household bulb will do) and a UVB bulb (reptisun 5.0). You need the suppliments to be calcium without d3 EVERY day, calcium WITH d3 twice a month and multivitamins 2x a month. The worms are a treat, not a staple food.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
You also need to get a temp and humidity thermometer. Knowing the humidity and temp is important.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Aquariums are not appropriate cages for chameleons. They lack ventilation and the heighth your chameleon needs and feels comfortable with. You have to know what kind of UVB light you are using. You could be using a uvb light that is made for desert animals and that would be wrong. You will need a basking light as your chameleon needs to be able to warm up to digest his food. Using the tank you have, you have to be careful of the wattage of the basking light and a glass tank will heat up and cook him in a short peroid of time.Just buy a cheap aluminum dome at home depot and use a 40-60 when you get the screen cage. For now, I would try a 20 watt to one side of the cage. He needs a warm spot in the cage for basking. Get a screen cage. A 24 X 24 X 48 will be appropriate size. You could get smaller but he will need that cage soon so you might as well get the adult size cage now.Get the Reptisun 5.0 tube light(if you don't already have it) Get a dripper for your cage in addition to the misitings. Get rid of the water bowl as the other member said. Most chameleons do not drink out of bowls or recognize standing water. Following the supplement schedule you were given. You live in California, and if weather permits, get your chameleon outside as much as possible for natural sunlight. Nothing can every replicate the sun. What are you feeding your crickets? They should be fed a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you purchased your chameleon like that, then your incorrect husbandry has not caused any of his issues. How many feeders altogether are you feeding a day then?
marissamarie
New Member
Thank you guys for your help now i know that his husbandry is wrong and i will fix that as soon as i can, but i was also wondering if his back problem is something very serious considering on how bad it has increased within the past few days of me having him i still have a few days to return him if i have to but if he can get better with the proper environment then i would like to keep him what do you guys think i should do?
lindawaz
New Member
hello, Welcome to the forums!
fixing his cage will certainly be well worth it for a happy healthy Cham! Others have told you what to do on that. That poo he did is a good poo! The white needs to be white not yellow or orange. White means he is hydrated! Good job on that.
The question I have on his tail/butt/hips.
Has it really gotten worse or is he relaxing since he has been there a few days and not being on his Guard as much. This would let the muscles relax a little and go to where it normally falls.
Lets face it the store is not the most perfect place for a baby and now he is getting happier and relaxed.
Did you see it in the store? just asking because if it was not that noticeable there it could be him relaxing at his new home where he is not considered a side show freak tap my glass!- but do not quote me!
He is eating, hydrated and able to move about without any issues all of these are GOOD things.
I missed his name if you posted it and can't go look from this screen ! So Good Luck Baby Cham
The other thing you could do is call the store tell them or bring a picture of him in. Let them know you are taking him for a wellness check because of this deformity. Tell them if it is going to prevent him from being a healthy cham You will be asking for reinbersiment for the visit! then get to a vet an exoctic/reptile one and see what they say. Then you also have a Vet for you little guy if anything else goes wrong without ER fees because he is already their Patient!
fixing his cage will certainly be well worth it for a happy healthy Cham! Others have told you what to do on that. That poo he did is a good poo! The white needs to be white not yellow or orange. White means he is hydrated! Good job on that.
The question I have on his tail/butt/hips.
Has it really gotten worse or is he relaxing since he has been there a few days and not being on his Guard as much. This would let the muscles relax a little and go to where it normally falls.
Lets face it the store is not the most perfect place for a baby and now he is getting happier and relaxed.
Did you see it in the store? just asking because if it was not that noticeable there it could be him relaxing at his new home where he is not considered a side show freak tap my glass!- but do not quote me!
He is eating, hydrated and able to move about without any issues all of these are GOOD things.
I missed his name if you posted it and can't go look from this screen ! So Good Luck Baby Cham
The other thing you could do is call the store tell them or bring a picture of him in. Let them know you are taking him for a wellness check because of this deformity. Tell them if it is going to prevent him from being a healthy cham You will be asking for reinbersiment for the visit! then get to a vet an exoctic/reptile one and see what they say. Then you also have a Vet for you little guy if anything else goes wrong without ER fees because he is already their Patient!
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
If it is getting worse then I would maybe consider returing him(unless of course you have attached yourself to him already which I wouldnt be surpised) I wish I knew what it was, then I would be able to say that maybe getting him the correct lighting, supplements, etc would reverse his issue. hopefully someone else on here(Ferrit, Kinyonga?) have seen this or know what it is and can guide you on what to do. Good luck with him anyways, and if you do decide to return him and get another, we can help you get the correct set up so you can raise a healthy chameleon. I hope everything works out for you!
DavidBuchan
New Member
It looks like my first Chameleons back end.....the shop gave me a 66% discount on her, and she lived ok for a while but always had problems moving. If you keep him then this will give you all the info you need to keep him from getting worse - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
If you were sold him like this at full price though, you really should complain..............
If you were sold him like this at full price though, you really should complain..............
Last edited:
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
He will never be normal, that back end will never look like it is supposed to. However, how is he moving around? If it's good- he can catch his crickets, gets to and from the heat spot just fine - then I don't necessarily think you should return him. It's up to you, but I had a crested gecko with a hump/twisted back and she did just great.
His cage may need modifications, like paying closer attention to WHERE he needs branches and such so he can move around easily, and that kind of thing but he should live a fairly normal life.
If you do decide to keep him, be very diligent with his calcium. You want to make sure that as he continues to grow, any worse it gets is not from calcium deficiency, but from the actual pelvis growing as it can. I really couldn't tell you if it will get worse with age, but for right now I think he might be able to live a pretty normal life.
His cage may need modifications, like paying closer attention to WHERE he needs branches and such so he can move around easily, and that kind of thing but he should live a fairly normal life.
If you do decide to keep him, be very diligent with his calcium. You want to make sure that as he continues to grow, any worse it gets is not from calcium deficiency, but from the actual pelvis growing as it can. I really couldn't tell you if it will get worse with age, but for right now I think he might be able to live a pretty normal life.
