4mo Panther Chameleone acting very weird!

[Davidlahache]

Hello, about 3 days I purchased a panther, he hasnt eaten since we got him, I put him down on the substrate with some dusted crickets, an he's walking really weird, could he just be adapting to the terrain? Is there a trusted upload site I can upload a video for you guys to see? Thank you!

 

[Davidlahache]

http://youtu.be/HREVQgDimhQ here

 

[ataraxia]

That is worry some. Sorry i do not have any constructive advice to give you here.. Maybe someone with experience of this type of behavior will chime in. Is this something this chameleon has done since you received it? Have you contacted the previous owner of this condition?

 

[Davidlahache]

Yes hes always been, "Tipping over" previous owner claims he's in good health, was purchased at a pet store

 

[carol5208]

oh wow, I have never seen anything like that before. Seems like it might be something neurological in nature. I would like to add something here and that is to remove that substrate. If your chameleon shoots at a cricket, he could get mulch injested with the cricket and he could become impacted from that. It may have happened already, but I don't think that would have anything to do with im tipping over. Also, if he was tipping over when you bought him, then I would not consider that to be in good health.

 

[Davidlahache]

Really? That suck

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

I have never seen this either with chameleons but I have seen something similar in dogs and like like previously mentioned it did turn out to be a neurological disorder. I would concur that this is not normal or healthy behavior and would contact the pet store.

 

[Davidlahache]

Aww man, I can't just trade em in, id feel bad

 

[carol5208]

I would take him to a vet and have him evaluated. Did you observe this behavior at the pet store where you got him from?

 

[Davidlahache]

Let's say it is neurological what is his survival rate?

 

[Davidlahache]

Not really, his walking was
Funny, seem like he was just swaying back

 

[Davidlahache]

He seemed scared so we figured him swaying back was his way of saying whoa relax buddy

 

[dlegare]

I agree with possible neuro disorder. I definitely think a vet trip is in order.

It's such a bummer your first Cham is ill

Keep us updated on progress

 

[Davidlahache]

Second chameleon, first was a female veiled, her 4th egg lay she was egg bound, 2 days before Christmas and died, now we got a male panther and this happens we will get her checked out

 

[ChameleonMom]

That is so horribly sad to watch! He's a beautiful little man! I would definitely do the following; As mentioned, take out the substrate. That is a definite no no for chameleons. Ingestion can cause an impaction and possible death. Put him in a hospital cage (lower height cage with towels on the bottom to cushion falls). Get him to the vet for an assessment and advice.

This is heartbreaking. Good luck

 

[Davidlahache]

He doesn't fall off the vines or anything, he only does that when he's on ground, he does run pretty fast up the vines but he does it abnormally,

 

[Olimpia]

I would go to the vet and have him run blood tests to see what his levels of everything are. He could have a severe imbalance of one thing or another, and I almost want to say calcium, even though he doesn't present with the physical deformities of severe calcium deficiency.

The reason being because calcium isn't just there to give you strong bones and white teeth, it's a mineral that plays a part in every single nerve signal your body sends to move any and all muscles so if you don't have calcium you don't cannot contract your muscles properly. So I would suggest that he runs a blood test unless he can successfully diagnose it as something else (neuro, injury, etc.) without doing so.

At any rate, no one is going to be able to help you as much as a vet that is experienced with chameleons.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Let us know what happens at the vet, we are all pulling for you and your cham!

 

[Davidlahache]

Hmmm,interesting I will take that into consideration I will have to bring her to the vet at this point

 

[LitldevlblueBar]

Im gunna agree with what Olimpia said take him to the vet.... I Worked for 5 years as a vet tech and seen reptiles as well. The two doctors I worked most with were specialty doctors who not only saw dogs and cats but saw reptiles as well. Taking a Cham to the vet to run tests on them can and will be very very stressful to them. And the amount of blood needed to run these tests will suck that little guy DRY. I would say what is going on here has to be neurological and he might has a lack or maybe an overdose of some kind of vitamin or your cham might have Rickets......

This is the most commonly reported disease in juvenile chameleons, particularly Chamaeleo calyptratus, the veiled chameleon. The juvenile form of MBD is called rickets, a crippling disease brought on by nutritional imbalances that can be the result of deficiencies or excesses of several key nutritional elements including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D3 and vitamin A. Bones become thin and bend or break easily, generally visible as bowed front legs with rounded elbows, and a rubbery lower jawbone. Ribs may fracture easily and spines or tails may be kinked or deformed. The chameleon usually has difficulty navigating quickly, is shaky, unsteady or “clumsy”. Organs can also be damaged by this disease. In the latter stages of the disease the chameleon often cannot perch on a branch, is anorexic and cannot project it’s tongue to eat or drink independently. The worst aspect of MBD is that it is a slow killer….chameleons crippled with this disease often linger…and suffer. If you suspect your chameleon has signs of rickets or MBD, please have your vet perform an exam and diagnostic tests. An x-ray will determine the extent of bone loss. A blood test may provide valuable information on the extent of kidney damage and the blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.