baby food?

[dannii]

sorry its only me again
Charleigh has been feeding the past few days on locusts and waxworms dusted n calcium powder but i keep reading that crickets can break her jaw when havng mbd what fruts can i crush up for her and seringe in to her mouth or what baby food?

 

[Dave]

Have you tried Hydei Fruit Flies? We have some available at SmallPetFeeders.com, and other feeders, one of them should meet your needs.

How long has she had MBD? Have you taken her to the vet? Did you get the Super Calicium liquid from them to cure it?

-Dave

 

[sandrachameleon]

sorry its only me again
Charleigh has been feeding the past few days on locusts and waxworms dusted n calcium powder but i keep reading that crickets can break her jaw when havng mbd what fruts can i crush up for her and seringe in to her mouth or what baby food?

I dont know the history. How old is this animal? how was the MBD diagnosed? Are you gutloading the prey properly?
You could crush crickets, locusts, superworms, butterworms etc smashed up with some water and use a syring, if the animal is unable to hunt/eat for itself.

 

[dannii]

Not sure how old she is as we not long got her.
We have only just found out as i found her in the bottom of her viv lifeless and limp took her to vet they said she is very very lucky to still be alive as most would have died as she was in need of calcuim as her owners we got her from never used a uvb light on her as we didnt know cos we didnt have the viv and never saw it she is under a 10.0 at the mo when and if she gets better she wll go to a 5.0 vet said they cant do anything for her atm i.e injection ect as she will most prob die from that so i have just got to try get her stronger before. what is the super cal liquid can i get some from a reptile shop?

 

[kinyonga]

You can buy liquid calcium sandoz or calcium gluconate at a pharmacy and give that to her in a needleless syringe. Just be careful that you give it a little at a time so she has time to swallow it because its syrupy.

Baby food is okay temporarily.
If you use medium crickets their exoskeleton is easier to digest/chew but I've never heard that eating a cricket when the chameleon has MBD can break its jaw. You can break its jaw trying to force its mouth open when it has MBD though so be careful.

You need to correct the MBD and also make sure at the same time that you are gutloading/feeding the insects well and dusting properly. You will have to continue to have good husbandry when the MBD is corrected in order not to have it return.

 

[fluxlizard]

Seems to me you have a greater chance of breaking the jaw of the lizard syringe feeding than you do cricket feeding... Maybe I'm thinking about it wrong, but if she clamps down on that syringe the syringe is going to be a lot harder than a cricket... And getting the mouth open if she isn't volunteering by gaping requires a bit of pressure as well compared to biting down on a cricket...

 

[dannii]

ok i will go get some calcuim to day how much does she need in a sringe? does she need it daily/weekly/moonthly ?

 

[Dave]

Awww!!! Poor sweetheart! My heart pours for her, reminds me finding a couple of my rescued veileds at the bottom of their cage. It's a heartbreaking experience. Do the best you can for the sweetie, but be aware of her condition, my friend.

And if the worst happens, realize you did the best you could for her. I hope she pulls through, geez Im so sorry.

-Dave

 

[kinyonga]

If you can get her to drink you can let whatever is in the syringe just dribble into the edge of the mouth so there is little danger of it being clamped down on.

 

[fluxlizard]

If you can get her to drink you can let whatever is in the syringe just dribble into the edge of the mouth so there is little danger of it being clamped down on.

That sure sounds like the best way to go if the jaw is weak.