Baby cham help!

[shakirafan329]

Hello Fellow Chameleon people! I am new to this forum but not to chameleons! I just got a baby Vieled and he has been closing his right eye alot and i saw him sleeping during the day but only once. I just witnessed him drink but have only seen him eat once. I am also worried that he is not eating so could anyone help me out with a diagnosis. Also will he get used to me and not be afraid of me as much if i handle him like once a day and how could i teach him to Hand Feed? Thanks Also here are some pics of him and his enclosure.......

 

[Solid Snake]

Hello!
Welcome to CF!
We are glad you and your chameleon are here!
We can give you a "diagnosis" but we will need more information first.
To simplify this, there is a form we use.
Please fill it out, in as much detail as possible, and everyone can then get a better idea of what the issue might be




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.


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?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[K9Luvn]

Can you please fill out this forum.. It will help experienced members to better help you.


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.

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?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[shakirafan329]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - its a boy vieled and he has been with me for 4 days
Handling - Twice aday so far plan to handle him once every other day though
Feeding - I feed him criks and dust them with Fluker's calcium with D3 and there always dusted i feed my criks strawberries and other fruits and cricket quencher
Fecal Description - brown with white



Cage Info:

Cage Type - I Have zoomed combo of glass and a mesh top
Lighting - I have one Reptisun 5.0 and a 50 wat basking light
Temperature -Well the basking spot is around 90-95 the rest of the cage is about 78 I have the timer on from 9am-9pm
Humidity - 2 1 minute misting seesions per day
Plants - no Live plants yet planning on Umbrella plant or Hibiscus soon i do have fake plants and vines
Placement - My enclosure is elevated about 2 and 1/4 above the floor
Location - Eastern florida


Current Problem - Well he has been closing his right eye alot and i saw him sleeping during the day once though i dont know if hes eating i plan to put some criks in a glass cup to moniter it

 

[Solid Snake]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - its a boy vieled and he has been with me for 4 days
Handling - Twice aday so far plan to handle him once every other day though
Feeding - I feed him criks and dust them with Fluker's calcium with D3 and there always dusted i feed my criks strawberries and other fruits and cricket quencher
D3 should only be given every other week or so. Plain calcium is for everyday, and a multivitamin every other week or so.
Fecal Description - brown with white



Cage Info:

Cage Type - I Have zoomed combo of glass and a mesh top
Lighting - I have one Reptisun 5.0 and a 50 wat basking light
Temperature -Well the basking spot is around 90-95 the rest of the cage is about 78 I have the timer on from 9am-9pm
Humidity - 2 1 minute misting seesions per day
I would mist more. For 2min 3 times a day at least.
Plants - no Live plants yet planning on Umbrella plant or Hibiscus soon i do have fake plants and vines
Placement - My enclosure is elevated about 2 and 1/4 above the floor
Location - Eastern florida


Current Problem - Well he has been closing his right eye alot and i saw him sleeping during the day once though i dont know if hes eating i plan to put some criks in a glass cup to moniter it

Dont use a glass. He shouldnt be able to see the crickets through the cup. He may try to shoot at them, and hit the glass and injure his tounge. Make it where he can see them from above.
If hes only been with you for 4 days, its highly unlikely its anything to do with how you are caring for him.
I would put ALOT more branches/vines/foliage in the enclosure. I use ones from outside.
Sleeping during the day is definitley not a good thing. Is there any light at nite keeping him awake?
Do you have pictures of his right eye?

 

[Cibarra982]

I had the same issue with mine and his eye, it could be a lot of things, I took my little Loki to the vet to see what it could be and she said it could be from vite a deficiency also it could be from a cricket. She gave me some eye drops for him and it was all good after a week. Also to be honest, i was freaken because I notice when my chem was a baby he would take little cat naps too, and the forums said that wasn't normal. But when I asked the vet she told me thats normal until they get older, now mine doesn't, so I wouldn't really worry about that until he or she is older. But id suggest taking him/her to the vet to get some of the eye drops, they worked really good.

 

[Solid Snake]

I had the same issue with mine and his eye, it could be a lot of things, It could be alot of things. Just because you had a similar issue, doesnt mean its the same issue. Just want to clarify.
I took my little Loki to the vet to see what it could be and she said it could be from vite a deficiency also it could be from a cricket. She gave me some eye drops for him and it was all good after a week. Also to be honest, i was freaken because I notice when my chem was a baby he would take little cat naps too, and the forums said that wasn't normal. Its not normal. There is no reason for a healthy baby chameleon, in appropriate husbandry, to sleep during the daytime. This is indicative of an issue, somewhere. But when I asked the vet she told me thats normal until they get older, now mine doesn't, so I wouldn't really worry about that until he or she is older. But id suggest taking him/her to the vet to get some of the eye drops, they worked really good.

Im glad your chameleon is better.
A vet is definitley good sound advice.

 

[ataraxia]

Solid snake has given some good advice.

With a young chameleon the age of yours. Typically eye issues are from improper lighting, lack of proper water delivery techniques and or humidity. You say his urates are white and that is good. Noticing from the pics you have a coil bulb. These bulbs have been linked to eyes issues in the past. I for one have seen these problems first hand. They have supposedly fixed the issues but we need to weed out all possibilities. Next i dont see any mentioning of humidity gauge. With young chameleons this is one huge important factor in care imo. They move alot and having such a small body they need to stay hydrated. Humidity plays a role in this along with other health factors. Lastly is a combination of two things you have that can be detrimental to him. Glass cage and high temps..You say the temps at basking spot is can reach 95. I can guarantee the mid cage is peaking warmer than 78. which is an area he will frequent.

1. Buy a humidity gauge and try to keep levels 50-70%. It will fluctuate higher at mistings sessions which is great. Live plants can help with this.
2. Mist him for 2-5 minutes three times a day. Be sure no water is standing in the bottom of the cage.
3. Change coil bulb for linear tube.
4. Make sure your temps are correct and not cooking him. 90* basking max, cage ambients in the low 70's.
5. Just my recommendation..Buy a screen cage. All around better for chameleon living. YA veiled will out grow your glass cage anyways.

 

[shakirafan329]

Ok thanks so much guys I will do all of this! or try loi. but another wierd thing is that i can put criks in his cage and hell just sit there. like he wont even go for them. He also dosent move very much he just sists there under his basking light. What could i do to get him to move around more should i get some more plants for him to hide in?

 

[Solid Snake]

Ok thanks so much guys I will do all of this! or try loi. but another wierd thing is that i can put criks in his cage and hell just sit there. like he wont even go for them. He also dosent move very much he just sists there under his basking light. What could i do to get him to move around more should i get some more plants for him to hide in?

He may need some more time to "settle in" to his new enviroment.
If the chameleon is staying under the basking area 24/7 it could mean he is sick
It could also mean that the rest of the cage is too cold, they will choose to hot over too cold.
What are you using to measure cage temp?
Rechecking your cage temps would be a good idea.

Edit: It could also be that the main climbing area he has is just under the basking area. If theres not much else to climb on, or if there isnt enough cover to make him feel safe, he will stay were he feels safe. They also like to be high up. I think adding more vines and cover would help with getting him to explore and hunt.

 

[shakirafan329]

Thanks So Much

Hi everyone My little guy is doing so much better and growing very fast... Thanks everyone for all of your help

 

[ataraxia]

Thats awesome! Thank you for giving us an update..