I have a long story. I will try to make a timeline:
January 2016–purchased Seymour from Petco (yes I know you all don’t like Petco but there was a very good reptile dept manager here and animals have been very healthy for me)
Jan2016–July 2018—healthy and active
February 2018–adopted a 2nd male panther. Lives in different enclosure 3 feet away from Seymour. He is healthy. Seymour doesn’t act threatened by him unless I bring him too close.
July2018–fluid noted in chest area between front 2 legs. Reviewed my supplements and noticed I was accidentally giving vitamin D with calcium. Stopped all supplements at that time as I was advised by the vet. Took to vet weight was 218 grams. Still active and eating and drinking normally.
June 2019–Seymour started holding his right eye closed and rolling it around in the socket. He also was scratching his eye on my hand and on branches. He started sleeping more and eating less. Took to vet #1. Weight was 220 grams. She prescribed antibiotic eye ointment. Did not want to address possible vitamin A deficiency which I was now worried about because I had been reading and realized I had not given him regular herptivite since June 2018. Probably once or twice a month. A few days after returning from the vet I found a dysfunction in the Mist-king. It was not spraying at all for about a week. He was drinking from my hand spraying of plants but I am sure humidity was very low. We gave the eye ointment for 2 weeks.
He started to hold both eyes closed by the end of June. Hardly moving around in the cage. Only would eat if we put him in the bottom of the cage because he would open his eyes there. This goes into July.
Now—almost never will open eyes. Drinks from syringe. Won’t open eyes to eat. Moves around cage very little. Bones and balance seem normal. Vet #2 3 days ago—Seymour has lost 10 grams in the last month. Now 208 grams. Vet sends me away because she doesn’t treat reptiles. Going back on Thursday to see her partner who may know more. Nearest reptile vet is a 4 hour drive.
He is dying. I realize I probably have and am making some mistakes. I am trying to read and I have just joined this site today so I am behind on my reading, but I am working and I have other pets.
I need any advice on things I can correct now and anything I can request from the vet on Thursday.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
January 2016–purchased Seymour from Petco (yes I know you all don’t like Petco but there was a very good reptile dept manager here and animals have been very healthy for me)
Jan2016–July 2018—healthy and active
February 2018–adopted a 2nd male panther. Lives in different enclosure 3 feet away from Seymour. He is healthy. Seymour doesn’t act threatened by him unless I bring him too close.
July2018–fluid noted in chest area between front 2 legs. Reviewed my supplements and noticed I was accidentally giving vitamin D with calcium. Stopped all supplements at that time as I was advised by the vet. Took to vet weight was 218 grams. Still active and eating and drinking normally.
June 2019–Seymour started holding his right eye closed and rolling it around in the socket. He also was scratching his eye on my hand and on branches. He started sleeping more and eating less. Took to vet #1. Weight was 220 grams. She prescribed antibiotic eye ointment. Did not want to address possible vitamin A deficiency which I was now worried about because I had been reading and realized I had not given him regular herptivite since June 2018. Probably once or twice a month. A few days after returning from the vet I found a dysfunction in the Mist-king. It was not spraying at all for about a week. He was drinking from my hand spraying of plants but I am sure humidity was very low. We gave the eye ointment for 2 weeks.
He started to hold both eyes closed by the end of June. Hardly moving around in the cage. Only would eat if we put him in the bottom of the cage because he would open his eyes there. This goes into July.
Now—almost never will open eyes. Drinks from syringe. Won’t open eyes to eat. Moves around cage very little. Bones and balance seem normal. Vet #2 3 days ago—Seymour has lost 10 grams in the last month. Now 208 grams. Vet sends me away because she doesn’t treat reptiles. Going back on Thursday to see her partner who may know more. Nearest reptile vet is a 4 hour drive.
He is dying. I realize I probably have and am making some mistakes. I am trying to read and I have just joined this site today so I am behind on my reading, but I am working and I have other pets.
I need any advice on things I can correct now and anything I can request from the vet on Thursday.
Chameleon Info:
- Your Chameleon - male Nosy be Panther chameleon, approx 4 years old, in my care 3.5 years
- Handling -once a week. He is very calm.
- Feeding - 8 superworms, 12 crickets, 5 hornworms, dubia roaches when he will take them. Every 2-3 days. Crickets and dubia are fed organic chick starter, potatoes, carrots, mustard greens. Worms oats and carrots.
- Supplements - Currently Repashy calcium plus with 2 out of 3 feedings. This is new since January. Zoo med repti calcium without d every 3rd feed. (But now he’s not eating)
- Watering - Mistking every 2 hours for 30 seconds during the day. Usually I see him drink but now only with a dropper.
- Fecal Description - 2/3 brown/firm and 1/3 white. No change before he stopped eating.
- History - he has been completely well until the past 6 weeks.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Screen with one panel of Coroplast on the back to shield the wall. 18 inches deep, 36 inches long by 36 inches tall. I joined 2 Zoomed 18x18x36 screened cages together. Yes I know it’s not tall enough for him. I have a 4 foot tall cage for him but it won’t fit anywhere. I put him outside if the weather permits in that cage. Under a tree with filtered sun and spray with water first. We are on well water so no chemicals. He has been in his inside cage for 3
- Lighting - One heat lamp currently with 60 watt bulb and one Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 24 inch bulb. Lights are on 12 hours a day 9a-9p.bulb replaced in January.
- Temperature - 90-95 just under the basking spot. 85 about 6 inches under. 70-75 on the bottom of the cage. I have this little wand pointer I use to measure.
- Humidity - I am not getting good measurements. Every time I check it says 49-52%, even when the plant Leaves are wet. There is a little water left on the bottom of the cage with each misting. It evaporates by the next misting.
- Plants - 2 pothos/ivy in coco husk dirt.
- Placement - In the old now enclosed sun room. Its a regular room but it has more windows. His cage is on a rack and the bottom is 3 feet from the floor.
- Location - Amarillo, TX (Texas Panhandle—very dry)