2 panthers same symptoms HELP

[PstBrian]

I am new to this blogging website, and need help. I recently purchased a panther chameleon & the chameleon was fine for 2 days (eating & drinking), and seems to me his health has slowly deteriorated; sleeping all day, not eating or drinking, so I returned the chameleon & purchased a different one. the new one has the same symptoms, the cage is 18x18x36, heat lamp, UV bulb, Habba mist mister, cool temp is 70, cage avg. Is low80s/ upper 70's, basking is around 90. chameleons age is 3-4 months and is male. please help.

 

[ponders]

Can you go into more detail about your lighting? Type, watts etc?

 

[PstBrian]

Thank you for responding the lights are a 100 watt basking lamp from zoo med and the uv light is a zilla light? The reptile place sold me the stuff and it seams to be the lights I have seen people use I have pictures but don't know how to post them thank you again

 

[veiled]

my chameleons heath got bad too in the beginning and i had some senior members tell me to get rid of the zilla light(which was recomended to me by the pet store) and i did and he got better. tell us more about the zilla light. is it the dessert series or tropical series? is it the long tube kind? the zilla hoods that come with a light already in it has an acrylic sheild over the bulb that blocks the light so they arent getting the uvb light they have to have. but........when you remove the sheild the light is too intense and causes them to shut their eyes and can even lead to serious eye problems

 

[PstBrian]

Thank you for the reply I think is a long tube tropical it's about 18 in long and the lens is removed the store told me to do that thank you I could show you pictures but I don't know how to post them

 

[carol5208]

Thank you for responding the lights are a 100 watt basking lamp from zoo med and the uv light is a zilla light? The reptile place sold me the stuff and it seams to be the lights I have seen people use I have pictures but don't know how to post them thank you again

You need to be specific on the lighting you are using. Lighting is critical. If the light is a Zilla desert series light you are burning your chameleons eyes and that is probably why he is closing them. They are made for reptiles like Bearded dragons, not chameleons.

 

[veiled]

i also had the tropical series and removed the sheild. now that i look back i know that at 1st he was doing bad because he was getting no uvb and then when i removed the sheild he started closing his eyes. i took the light back to the petstore and told them i was a member on here and what people were saying about those lights and they traded it out for me with the repti glo. he got a little better every day. and completely better in a week

 

[Stanly]

I've heard some bad things about the zilla brand uvb lights as well, imo go with repti-sun 5.0 or repti-glo 5.0 tube style.

Also if the weather is good nothing beats real sun (just make sure and watch close any time you take him out side)

 

[veiled]

i would also try the next watt down. a 100 watt seems high for that cage size and a baby. try a 75 watt. hope this helps

 

[PstBrian]

If anyone can tell me how to post pics.

 

[veiled]

i still have to get my husband to do it but it you click on forums at the top of home page and scroll down to site assistance. click on that and there is info on that

 

[reptoman]

If anyone can tell me how to post pics.

When you click on the reply at the bottom of the page you should see a paper clip in your list next to the smiley face. Click that and it will allow you to browse and upload photos from your computer. Dont use quick reply. You wont get the paper clip with that.

 

[laurie]

Hi sorry I am late checking in. If you need any help I am able to help with forum issues, or I better be. I hope all is going better for your new baby, you will find lots of caring, knowledge and all of us ready to share those with wou.