Advise needed please???

[linziloo]

Hello Everyone!!

Im new to the forum and desperately need some advice regarding my boyfriends pet chameleon. His name is Colin and he is a veiled chameleon who is roughly 1 year 7 months old. In general his health seems ok. He is eating normally (4-5 locusts, 3 crickets and a few waxworms per day). He lives in a glass vivarium which consists of small wooden bark shavings, green plants, heat lamp, heat mat, UV strip light and the overall temperature is 100-105 through the day, dropping to around about 85-90 at night. He gets watered everyday and we sprinkle his food with supplement vitamins. Like I said overall he seems normal in himself. Whats worrying me is that tonight when I went to get him out I noticed that he had quite a long sausage like poo hanging from his bum (sorry I know this doesn't sound pleasant) Also around his bum area it appears red/bloody as if he had attempted to complete going to the loo but could not. I really dont know what to do with him and im interested in your comments to find out what this may be or if anyone has had a veiled chameleon with these symptoms? Thankyou in advance for your comments/advice

 

[Chameleon Company]

Linziloo ...

You sound like you are on the original side of the pond. It also sounds like you are giving us temps in fehrenheit. Can you check those numbers, if you converted them, as they sound a good 10 degrees F too warm. However, they do not seem to be your current problem.

A picture is worth a thousand words in an instance like this. Part of your description lends itself to what is known as a cloacal prolapse, which I must admit is just about a kiss-of-death. However, without a picture, it would be grossly irresponsible for me to suggest anything beyond weak speculation. Just your base description, and the mention of blood, elevates the issue to something where a timely trip to the vet would be good advice.

 

[renzo0684]

Hello Everyone!!

Im new to the forum and desperately need some advice regarding my boyfriends pet chameleon. His name is Colin and he is a veiled chameleon who is roughly 1 year 7 months old. In general his health seems ok. He is eating normally (4-5 locusts, 3 crickets and a few waxworms per day). He lives in a glass vivarium which consists of small wooden bark shavings, green plants, heat lamp, heat mat, UV strip light and the overall temperature is 100-105 through the day, dropping to around about 85-90 at night. He gets watered everyday and we sprinkle his food with supplement vitamins. Like I said overall he seems normal in himself. Whats worrying me is that tonight when I went to get him out I noticed that he had quite a long sausage like poo hanging from his bum (sorry I know this doesn't sound pleasant) Also around his bum area it appears red/bloody as if he had attempted to complete going to the loo but could not. I really dont know what to do with him and im interested in your comments to find out what this may be or if anyone has had a veiled chameleon with these symptoms? Thankyou in advance for your comments/advice

Welcome to the forum I am also a new member and I am not going to offer to much advise except for this. Fill this out and it will help answer a lot of your questions.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[kinyonga]

If it is a prolapse (and it sounds to me like it is) then you need to keep the tissues that are hanging out of his bum moist (k-y jelly) or the tissues will die....and you need to get it to the vet RIGHT AWAY....prolapses are a true emergency!

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Yep get him to the vet to address the prolapse, in the meantime keep it moist as mentioned.

There are a few other things your bf will want to fix also.

1) glass vivarium should be switched out for screen

2) you don't need a heat mat AND a heat bulb. It's way too hot in there if 100 is the ambient temperature.

I would go with just a heat bulb and reduce the wattage by half of what you are using now, or until the ambient temperature is in the low to mid 80s and the basking spot alone is 95-100 (be careful about burns in the middle of the basking spot where the heat is most intense).

3) get those wood shavings out of there, it's a risk for impaction, a breeding ground for bacteria which chameleons can't cope with so well.

4) it also sounds like he's being fed almost too much, maybe allow him to have smaller meals throughout the day instead of a big feeding, or less per day, or allow him a day or two to digest that big amount of food you're feeding currently.

Keep us posted

 

[kinyonga]

What brands of supplements do you use and how often for each?
What do you gutload with?
Can you post a picture please?