10,9,8...I dont want to wait for 0 - new cham not eating

[little leaf]

how do I remove a post ?
no one answered my questions and I fear it is now to late anyway - but I dont know how to remove this post - she is now falling off her branches =(

 

[Randi]

It looks like you've edited your post because I don't see any questions and this is your first post. Can you post more info so we can try to help?

 

[nimmitz]

Aye we can help But we need to know what is wrong

Filling out this form can help us out even more, How to ask for help

 

[little leaf]

new cham wont eat -

i adopted a new cham, but she has "issues" this is the 2nd one I have tried to have/help, the first one died in 5 days, this one only has one eye- I have had her 3 days, and she has not eaten at all, and is getting weak and light - she has only been a gray color- so I know she is not happy in her new home- and she has had 3 homes in 1 week- so a lot of stress I am sure- but I dont think she has eaten at all - and I dont know how good her site it, or how to help her- she strikes at food- but missed it every time, and if i try to hold it by her face, she gets black - I am worried
I hope i am even posting this correct- I did edit the info off trying to remove the post -I did fill out the little help link- but I will do again -

 

[little leaf]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Graceful – I was told was female (?) aprx 10 mo - I have only had her 3 days, she came from a friend who got her at a show a week ago - she only has one eye- an infection @ 4 mo took her other (L) eye - the eye is there, but she keeps the eye closed, but you can see it move under the lids- but it is not round anymore- that is healed, and not an issue as far as health, no seeping, or swelling- just kinda odd shaped

Handling - not at all other than to put her in the cage

Feeding - I have 4 feeding stations - each has 2 meal worms, and 1 cricket 3 are 2 oz cups, the other is a clear shoe box on the floor of the cage with a branch over it so she can sit inches away from the food - with my other cham ( that is another long, sad story) I changed out the bugs every 2 days because I did not want her eating anything older than 2 days, I would get fresh ones, and return the uneaten ones to the bin to eat and drink again - I have not seen her eat at all - but 2 meal worms were missing - and i have never had anything get out of the feeding station - but unless i SEE her eat, I dont want to really say she had- she has free choice when to eat - I gut load w/ Flukers cricket food, and fresh vegs -meal worms are also offered same diet -once she starts to eat, I will only feed her on a schedule- but for now, I just want to offer her food at all times until she settles in - i dust the bugs when i change them out - so there is a bit of dust always in the bottom of the feed cup -

Supplements - I use rep-cal advanced herptivite no D3 in the cups, and i have same with D3, but have never had one long enough to use it -

Watering - I have a 24 hrs drip that drips about once ever 10 sec, and is collected in a leaf, and that cascades to other leaves, and then to a drain ( I plan to wash the leaves once a week encase of bacteria(? is that to long-) I mist her w/ warm water about 3X a day - SHE HATES IT - and the cool mist fog kicks on every 2 hrs for 15 min- when I got her she drank for 3 hours, and just sat under the drip station - she will put the end of the drip in her mouth and drink from it - also she will use the leaf, but seem to like the drip thing in her mouth better -

Fecal Description - I have not seem any yet ( part of my worry) Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? no, but my vet is out of town,will take in poo as soon as vet is back, and I get some -

History - lost L eye @ 4 mos - she has been a dark brown/gray always - no happy greens =( How long do I give her to settle in - I do not really plan to hold her much at all - a "look don't touch " pet - I dont really have much history on her due to the way I got her- my last cham I bought at a pet shop, knowing it was very sick, the shop was closing, and they would not give her to me ( they knew she was going to die because they put her in a crappy cardboard box, and were going to take her to the back room - but still told me if i wanted her I had to buy her- sick and all ) - but I just could not let her die in a box in the back room, so I bought her ( a wc senegal ) - the vet said it was beyond help - sever uri - you could see black under the skin by the lung area, starved and chewed up by cricket bites - so basically i bought it so it could die "loved" - not smart , but I just could not leave it there- it died 5 days later - I have waited 17 yrs to get a Cham - so scared I would kill it if i did something wrong - and now- here I go again - I said I never owned a Cham BECAUSE I do love them- lol I am worried because this Cham is just not acting right already - today she wont open her eye(s) I dont think the L eye will ever open again – I was told they fed her in the cage with crickets running around – so I also have a few running around , but I don’t like to do that encase they want to bite her - but that is the ones she tired to eat – just keeps missing and now she is getting weak -

Cage Info:
Cage Type - 3'X3'X3' screen front, top - vents on sides and bottom 3' off floor, but is built into a wall -

Lighting - repti glo 5.0 ( but i have a 18" tube style that will be here on the 15th)40 wt basking area light ( all light are top mounted and off at night 12 on 12 off )

Temperature - tep is mid 60's(62 on floor-73 in mid area of cage up to 88 basking area with branches going to "no heat" areas up to the basking area. I have dig/ ther/ on back wall, and use a reg/ dial type by the basking area. lowest overnight temp would be 62.

Humidity -60%, and 100 when cool mist is on ( 15 min per 2 hrs on timer) I have a dial type humidity gauge that I keep by the basking area as that is where she likes to sit.

Plants - plants are one live umbrella that is pined to the wall and roof, the rest are fake, and also vines.
Placement -built into wall, bottom of cage is 2.5' off floor, with top being 5'. no fans, low traffic most of the time (almost all day no one but is home except me, and is not by area we use to much)
Location - by Toledo - Ohio
I hope this is not to much info – TY for any help you can offer

 

[ChameleonMom]

Sorry to hear your girl is sick. Do you know if her breathing is raspy or 'crackly'? It sounds like she's well hydrated but I'm wondering if along with the 24 hour drip AND the cool mist fog for 15 minutes every 2 hours, its too much water. It is quite common for a chameleon to develop a respiratory infection (RI) which will require veterinary care.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I also wanted to say that you're not too far off in your care of her - with a teeny bit of tweaking, you'll provide the complete care she needs, so please have some confidence in yourself and your ability to care for her!

And I'm sorry to hear of your 'rescue' cham....

 

[Elizadolots]

When you take in any rescue animal, you run the risk of them being so ill you it's not possible to rehabilitate them

I'm not saying that's where you are now, but I want you to know that. You're doing a great thing trying to save this animal.

It's obvious that any problems are not a result of your care.

At this point, I think all you can do is keep up the very good care you are giving. Emphasize hydration because a well hydrated chameleon has the strength to survive other problems.

If it's something you can do, a trip to a vet would be worthwhile.

 

[little leaf]

this Am I can not find her- but the cage has some pretty dense areas - and I dont want to "dig" her out - this is the first time she has slept low in the cage, so I dont know if that is good- or not ~ please feel free to tweak me - lol - what should i change? I was not sure about the cool mist time either - I also wondered that - maybe to much moisture - I am having a hard time finding info on the Graceful - my goal was to someday own a Jackson, so those are what I have mainly researched, and over the yrs have purchased those type of supplies - I am following the care of the Vale for her- only because I dont know what to do for a Graceful - is that the correct care for her ? her breathing sounds fine (so far) the cage has good air flow- the mist kinda comes out the top, and drops threw the cage, and out the bottom - but I am going to cut it back to ever 4 hrs- or should I go longer? the drip is only one feed - just one spot that has a small drip that comes out - what do you think on the feeding issue ? she can not seem to hit the cricket - I was going to put her in a fish tank w/ just a perch and lose crickets ( just for feeding- not to live in) to see if she has better luck that way - or is it best not to move her around -if you go near her, she gets very upset - and hates to be touched- but I am sure that is due to her eye issue she had to deal w/ - how long can she go w/ out eating? the last thing I want to do is force feed her- but I will do what ever is best for her - My vet is in Mexico right now- will be back in 5 days, and I already let her know she will be seeing us as soon as she gets back

 

[squeekz1992]

Have you found her yet? I know they like to hide. I dont know anything about gracefuls, so i can only tell you good luck, and I'm sorry about your other rescue baby oh! And welcome to the forums

 

[little leaf]

I did find her- we are in a real mess - she is now blind =( I dont think she could find her way up - she only had one good eye- and now that is totally swollen shut - she rubs it all the time, and it had a green discharge,I called 5 vets - none of them will look at Chams - and my reg vet is still out of town - I have started her on chloramphenicol for her eye- but the only vet who was willing to give me an antibiotic would not because they are not used to dealing w/ Chams and called me back and told me not to come to get it - I am so frustrated , so now I am hand feeding her, but I am not sure how to get enough water into her - I dont want to drowned her so I am injecting all the crickets w/ as much water as they will hold and feeding them to her and then also putting little drops of water on her mouth and she drinks it - I dont know what else to do - I am pretty sure she also has a uri - she is taking all this so well, I just feel helpless and feel so bad for her
If you have any pointers PLEASE feel free to tell me anything you think will help

 

[laurie]

I am not sure if the will have what you need but go check beautiful dragons website. They carry several reptile medicines.

You can take tweezers and hold a cricket up to her mouth. If she is having trouble seeing, she may open her mouth and eat. The way you are injecting her feeders is just what I do, I also drip water slowly on her nose so she will drink.

All you can do is just try to keep her fed and hydrated until your vet returns. If you need to talk or need help i am a pm away.

 

[squeekz1992]

Where are you located? Maybe someone on here lives nearby and can suggest a vet??