Okay so I bought a chameleon about a week ago and I am really concerned about her. I took her into a reptile store right after I got her to have her checked out because I got her at a swap meet and the guy said she was about 2 months old and looked to be healthly. Well now that I have had her home for a week I have noticed she doesn't seem to be eating and her coloring is all weird all of a sudden. She is all bright green except the top of her head which is black. Should I be worried and how can I fix this?
Baby Senegal chameleon
- Thread starter Ariberry
- Start date
DanSB
Avid Member
There is a lot of great info here including pictures and what colors to expect: http://www.chameleonnews.com/08FebFrancis.html
If you are new to Chameleons be sure to read the care resources on this site (and if you're not new still read it it is awesome).
Pictures would be very helpful and a lot more detail will be needed to get rel help. All the info here should be filled out and put in this thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
Welcome to the forum! you will find the info you want here
If you are new to Chameleons be sure to read the care resources on this site (and if you're not new still read it it is awesome).
Pictures would be very helpful and a lot more detail will be needed to get rel help. All the info here should be filled out and put in this thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
Welcome to the forum! you will find the info you want here
DanSB
Avid Member
To me that looks like a burn which can happen from sitting too close to a basking light. What's going on with the nose? It looks pretty black there too.
If it was me I would make sure the basking light is place far enough away to not burn or make sure there are no basking spots too close to the light. The basking area should be 85 to 90 degrees which can be accomplished without allowing her close enough to burn. The burn should go away after the next shed or two, for bad ones some people use creams but I never have so am not sure exactly what a good treatment would be.
Can you get a better picture of the mouth and nose?
Also filling out the how to ask for help would be helpful to ensure no further problems can happen due to husbandry issues.
If it was me I would make sure the basking light is place far enough away to not burn or make sure there are no basking spots too close to the light. The basking area should be 85 to 90 degrees which can be accomplished without allowing her close enough to burn. The burn should go away after the next shed or two, for bad ones some people use creams but I never have so am not sure exactly what a good treatment would be.
Can you get a better picture of the mouth and nose?
Also filling out the how to ask for help would be helpful to ensure no further problems can happen due to husbandry issues.
DanSB
Avid Member
That looks like a bruise from banging the snout on the glass to me. Some Chameleons will do this on glass not being able to recognize a barrier. She won't stop until an infection develops and she requires vet care. (which would be a good idea anyway).
Chameleons die very fast without proper husbandry. Fill this out and we can help troubleshoot to make sure there is optimal care and increase the chance of survival. Being beaten bruised and burnt it is very important to provide the best possible care now:
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.
Chameleons die very fast without proper husbandry. Fill this out and we can help troubleshoot to make sure there is optimal care and increase the chance of survival. Being beaten bruised and burnt it is very important to provide the best possible care now:
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.
sittnlowon22s
New Member
about two months ago i got a female senegal chameleon ,atleast i think its a female, i had trouble for 2 whole weeks trying to get her to eat. i tried everyday for 2 weeks. i thought she was gonna die eventually if she didnt eat. she had been drinking since the first day i got her. i had to rehydrate her with pedialyte and that helped alot with her skin and color. after about a week of pedialyte her color changed totally it still looked drab but it looked alot better than when i had got her. so 2 weeks of nagging and one day she finally decided to eat and has been eating like clockwork ever since. i guess she was just oerly stressed from b4 i brought her home. dont give up tho, try everyday and hopefully with a little luck your senegal can start eating. oh and bout the bruises one i got mine she had blackish colorationg on the bottom of her jaw im guessing a bruise where she had been rubbing her mouth on a box when she was shipped. after about 3 weeks it was gone completely.
It's a female Senegal. She is between 2 and 3 months old. I have had her for a week now. I was told to handle her as little as possible because they don't like it but today I held her for a good 20 minutes. I'm feeding her crickets about 3 or 4 in her cage at a time. I don't have a set schedule for her yet because I'm trying to see how much she will eat. So far out of the 8 total I have tried to give her she has appeared to eat 3. The calcium I use is the one that has d3 in it by exo terra. I mix the crickets in it before putting them in with her. For watering I have a spray bottle with filtered water in it and I most her down 4 times a day along with the fake plants that are in with her. I see her mouth opening and closing. I haven't seen any droppings. No she hasn't been tested. She is in a 10 gallon glass tank with a wire top. Her light is turned on around 7:30 am and is off by 9pm. The light is a 26W reptile UVB made by exo terra. The cage is about 3 1/2 feet from the ground by a window. We live in California so it stays warm.
DanSB
Avid Member
If it is a standard 10 gallon aquarium with a screen lid that will eventually kill her. It is too small, there is no air flow, and chameleons need more vertical space than horizontal space. Watch to make sure she isn't banging her nose on the glass, if that is the case she may need a screen cage. If not an exo terra or other glass terrarium with vents on the bottom will be fine. The still air caused by an enclosed glass terrarium can cause respiratory infections that will quickly be fatal without vet intervention.
Find the Calcium without D3. Calcium with D3 should be limited to once or twice a month.
Invest in a thermometer and hydrometer. You want to make sure the temperature range and RH is acceptable. Eyeballing it might be okay for very experienced keepers but for the most part is a recipe for disaster.
Does any direct sunlight come through the window? If so move her. Direct sunlight into a glass cage will over heat and cook her.
The light schedule is a little too long, try to keep it closer to 12 hours on 12 off.
please please please read this: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/enclosures/
And this:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/senegal/
It is GOOD information written by and reviewed by really experienced keepers who have no reason or financial gain to get you buy unnecessary crap.
She is not in the best of shape but not terrible. I think if you correct the husbandry and get her taken care of right she has a good chance.
What part of California are you in? There are many many members in California most of which can recommend good local resources for cheap supplies if money is an issue.
Find the Calcium without D3. Calcium with D3 should be limited to once or twice a month.
Invest in a thermometer and hydrometer. You want to make sure the temperature range and RH is acceptable. Eyeballing it might be okay for very experienced keepers but for the most part is a recipe for disaster.
Does any direct sunlight come through the window? If so move her. Direct sunlight into a glass cage will over heat and cook her.
The light schedule is a little too long, try to keep it closer to 12 hours on 12 off.
please please please read this: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/enclosures/
And this:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/senegal/
It is GOOD information written by and reviewed by really experienced keepers who have no reason or financial gain to get you buy unnecessary crap.
She is not in the best of shape but not terrible. I think if you correct the husbandry and get her taken care of right she has a good chance.
What part of California are you in? There are many many members in California most of which can recommend good local resources for cheap supplies if money is an issue.
