bighutch917
New Member
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.
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.