Am i doing things right?

[JimLIZARD]

Just got my very first cham today, he/she is a little veiled.
Please bare in mind i will not be able to answer all questions below.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Veiled, estimate 2-3 months old , not sure about sex, not sure if i can see spurs or not (pics soon!)
Handling - Only handled once to put in new enclosure.
Feeding - Hasn't eaten a thing yet but will be mostly crickets, with a gut-loading of greens, carrots, apples, orange, butternut squash etc...
Supplements - Repashy calcium plus -Mon,Wed,Fri,Sat. Repti Cal w/o D3 alternate days.
Watering - Will mist 2-3 times a day, small dripper running most of time. All water treated with Repti safe. Have seen it drink twice today
Fecal Description - Brown, white urate. Not sure about parasite testing.
History - None really, bought from pet store.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - 16x16x30 Reptibreeze
Lighting - Reptisun 5.0 UVB, 40 watt incandescent house bulb ( basking )
Temperature - Roughly 63 at floor, 67 mid cage, 70 ish top, 79- 81 basking. Temps seem very drastic for such a short space?
Humidity - Between 40-50% ( seems hard to get any further ). Using misting bottle. Measured using analog hydrometer( i know i know )
Plants - One fair size ficus benjamina, fake vines etc..
Placement - In bedroom, no fans, no air vents. In corner of room so no high traffic. Top of cage is about 4ft from floor.
Location - Sussex, UK. (South coast)


Current Problem - Well since this is the first day, i'm probably worried about nothing. He/she is, or coming to the end of shedding. Showing fairly dark colours. Dark green, faint dark spots covering body( like a cheetah ).
Constantly has left eye closed most of the time. Wasn't sure if this is due to shedding

Will post pics soon.

 

[carol5208]

from what I can see you are doing everything right. Those temps are fine, basking could even be a little higher and it would be ok. Not sure about the eye thing, but like you said, maybe from a shed? So welcome to chameleon owndership and the forums. Don't be shy about asking questions. We all were new at one point or another! I would say if the eye closing becomes chronic then there is obviously something going on other than a shed.

 

[JimLIZARD]

Thanks for the reply!

I turned the lights on this morning, been on for about an hour and a half now and it still doesn't seem perky. Keeps hiding with eyes shut. I thought it would run to the basking spot but no. Help, i don't know what to do

 

[JimLIZARD]

Here are a couple of pics, sorry for the poor quality.

Seems to have eyes shut alot, as carol said, i don't seem to be doing much wrong which is why i'm a bit worried. It's only his second day in the enclosure and he's still not eating??

 

[carol5208]

honestly, he does not look real welll. If he is shutting his eyes and lethargic, he has something else going on. He may have parasites, which has nothing to do with your set up, but unfortunately the way you got him. Where did you purchase him from? Ask them if they did a fecal to check for parasites.

 

[Sticktongue]

Welcome to the forums!

Everything looks great on your care list.

On your calcium, the repashy calcium plus is built to be used every feeding and no other supplement is necessary, so you can drop the repti-cal.

 

[JimLIZARD]

He looked ok in the shop, unless it's combined stress due to shedding and getting used to a new enclosure??? But would that explain the dark colours? Help!

 

[carol5208]

The dark colors yes, closing his eyes, no. Closing eyes during the day is a sign of something being wrong. They do not sleep during the day at all. Were his eyes closed at the shop? Alot of people see them with their eyes closed at the pet stores and just assume they are sleeping like many creatures do. Chameleons are an exception to that. Due to the fact that your lighting seems correct and your temps are not to high, I would have to say your cham is ill. As I said parasites can cause them to become lethargic and not eat.

 

[JimLIZARD]

Thanks for the advice carol, and about the left eye thing, it wouldn't be different types to Uvb bulbs causing this would it? Only in the store they use the Reptiglo 5.0 but in my enclosure, i have opted for the Reptisun 5.0 because i was told these were a bit more reliable?

 

[JimLIZARD]

Hi all,

It's been a couple of days now since i updated on the little guy and well he's seems to be brighter in colour but still has the persistant left eye closed and to be honest, sits there with both eyes shut most of the time.

Can it really be parasites? I only traveled from the shop to my house (about 5 mins by car). Parasites in that space of time?

Well here's a couple of pics, see what you think.

 

[camimom]

He could still have had parasites at the shop, the stress of moving made his reaction worse.
I might want to go back to the store you got him from, and ask abotu their health warrenty.
How far from his basking spot to th uvb is it?

 

[JimLIZARD]

His basking spot is about several inches away from the uvb. And about the parasites, he seemed fine in the shop

I handled him earlier, he was really lively and started to climb up my arm towards my head ,but, with his eyes shut. I just hope it isn't blindness. Shouldn't be with a Reptisun 5.0

 

[JimLIZARD]

Here's a another pic and the enlcosure pic shows how far away lights are to basking spot. (40watt incandescent house bulb and Reptisun 5.0).

I took him out and let him roam around on a table and he was alot more lively and showing some terrific colours but he would crawl up to the edge of the table and really feel for his footing because his eyes are shut. He wasn't sure where to go. It was so sad

 

[camimom]

Here's a another pic and the enlcosure pic shows how far away lights are to basking spot. (40watt incandescent house bulb and Reptisun 5.0).

I took him out and let him roam around on a table and he was alot more lively and showing some terrific colours but he would crawl up to the edge of the table and really feel for his footing because his eyes are shut. He wasn't sure where to go. It was so sad

I would try moving the lights farther away. (esp the uvb)
This will reduce your temps, so you may want to get a higher wattage bulb.
I would try showering him daily to see if it helps with the eyes. also, maybe some saline a, drop in the eyes, would help too.
Though I am really concerned abotu this.
vet trip migth be in order.

 

[jmwhitel]

I would try moving the lights farther away. (esp the uvb)
This will reduce your temps, so you may want to get a higher wattage bulb.
I would try showering him daily to see if it helps with the eyes. also, maybe some saline a, drop in the eyes, would help too.
Though I am really concerned abotu this.
vet trip migth be in order.

I just got a baby veiled on Monday, and I am having a similar issue with the eye. Frequent misting seems to help, and today I finally watched him shoot and eat 2 crickets!! If the eye problem still persists after Christmas, I will take him back to the petstore seeing as I have a 15 day warranty. I am just trying to go down the list of causes:

Light --> Temp --> Nutrition --> Hydration --> Infection

Hopefully we get this figured out soon! Thanks everyone for all the info

I do have 1 question: I was told to dust my feeders with Reptivite w/D3 every feeding. Is that accurate?

 

[Sticktongue]

I just got a baby veiled on Monday, and I am having a similar issue with the eye. Frequent misting seems to help, and today I finally watched him shoot and eat 2 crickets!! If the eye problem still persists after Christmas, I will take him back to the petstore seeing as I have a 15 day warranty. I am just trying to go down the list of causes:

Light --> Temp --> Nutrition --> Hydration --> Infection

Hopefully we get this figured out soon! Thanks everyone for all the info

I do have 1 question: I was told to dust my feeders with Reptivite w/D3 every feeding. Is that accurate?

Please dont hijack other peoples threads.. But to answer your question, no. Feed withOUT d3 every feeding, WITH d3 twice a month and a multi vit. twice a month.


Back to the OP.. I really would be concerned if i were you. I'd get him to a vet ASAP..

 

[lindawaz]

Hi Ho Hi Ho its to the vet you go.

The parasites are from something he ate. Once they have them they do not immediately act sick. It is a slow process which is why a vet is needed cause those little parasites are multiplying making him sicker. He needs antibiotics.
He has to have a vet check his poop for the little buggers making him so sad, uncomfortable, not eating, eyes closing and eventually could lead to them dying

The move to the new home, the added stress has only escalated what was wrong with him. You can not get rid of them without antibiotics. PLEASE give your Cham a gift- a vet visit with a fecal check. Good luck to you and your Cham and keep us posted on his progress

 

[JimLIZARD]

OK, will try moving lights further away for couple of days see how he does. If no joy the vet trip will be around boxing day (if they're open).

One of the main reasons for this is because of the eye closing, i haven't seen him eat a thing. Obviously he can't see his food.
I've tried hand feeding and cup feeding for a few days with no results (incase the eye shutting was only when people were in the room).
Ive tried loose crickets in his cage too, as that was how he was eating in the store but again with no joy.

I'll keep you all posted, many thanks.

 

[Carletto]

Hi, i'm no expert on chams, i'm actually very new as well but when i first got my Carletto he also had his eye closed all the time and someone suggested to spray it with warm water and it worked fab! the next day my Carletto was back to normal!

 

[TyggyToo]

Hi Ho Hi Ho its to the vet you go.

The parasites are from something he ate. Once they have them they do not immediately act sick. It is a slow process which is why a vet is needed cause those little parasites are multiplying making him sicker. He needs antibiotics.

Not antibiotics...that's for infection. If we're assuming (BIG assumption) parasites we need something like fenbendazole, panacur.

Submitted for your approval,
Tyg