Beginning Cham keeper with a sick Cham

[Heaven]

So I have taken my little baby to the vet. Apparently he has too high of a phosphorous level and too low of a calcium level. That, hopefully is being taken care of with the medicine he has been given.

I made the mistake of buying him from a not so great place. But that put aside, he is weak and having a hard time moving. He is getting a bath every day, but he is having a hard time getting anywhere so he doesn't drink water.

The closest he gets to water is having his food mixed with water (because he is weak he can't eat properly so he has to have powered food that gets mixed with water) and I'm nervous that that won't be enough of a source of water.

Also, does anyone have any ideas of how I may aid his recovery. The vet says it can go either way, and he is my first Cham, I really don't want to lose him.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[carol5208]

Can you go to the health clinic and fill out the "how to ask for help" form.? Also pics would be helpful of both your chameleon and enclosure so we can make sure you are on the right track. When you say you are giving him a bath, what do you mean? Submersing him in water? If so, why?

 

[Heaven]

Can you go to the health clinic and fill out the "how to ask for help" form.? Also pics would be helpful of both your chameleon and enclosure so we can make sure you are on the right track. When you say you are giving him a bath, what do you mean? Submersing him in water? If so, why?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
*Veiled Cham, Male, Approximately five months, had for three with issues.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
*Right now every day.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
*I used to feed him crickets and little mealworms, but he's on a powder given to me by a vet. I would buy my crickets in small packs and feed them as we went. About once a day. With the powder he gets fed three times in small doses.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
*Rep-Cal, no phosphorus.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
*I used to mist him frequently, and he had a dripper until recent because he can't get to the water. He does not drink now.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
*Yes he has been tested, no he does not have parasites, and it is solid by the white part is runny sometimes.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
*He's been acting strange for a while. The doctor said he has a high phosphorous level and he is suffering from that. He is on calcium drops and some medicine for his kidneys I believe.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
*Combo, glass and screen. He's still small so the cage isn't huge but it's big for him. I don't know specific dimensions.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
*I use Zoo med heat lamps and UVA UVB lamps. Schedule is about 12 hours day 12 hours night.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
*He has 85 constant temp and a 95-100 basking spot

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
*His humidity is about 60-75

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
*No live plants (am working on that)

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?
*He is located by my door, which is located fairly close to the heater for my house.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
*California

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
*I want to know if anyone has advice to keep him hydrated other than warm water baths, he sits in a bowl of tepid water basically that just skims his belly. He loves it, but other than that he doesn't drink. He's having issues walking and I just want to aid his recovery as best as I can.

 

[Kath44]

Have you tried extra long mistings, or on a plant in the shower. With warm water, aimed at a wall so it bounces off it onto plant and Cham?
Kath.

 

[Heaven]

Have you tried extra long mistings, or on a plant in the shower. With warm water, aimed at a wall so it bounces off it onto plant and Cham?
Kath.

He can't hold on very well right now, that's why he get's the bath. I guess I could get in with him. But I don't think he'd drink water off my hand. Overall, if he wasn't feeling well, he'd probably try to hiss. He doesn't like people much.

 

[carol5208]

You chameleon will not get hydrated by soaking him in water. It may appear to you as if he enjoys it, but it may really be very stressful for him to be held in water. Does he close his eyes while you are doing this? The repcal...is it repcal or repcal with d3? If you want to try and get him to drink get an eye dropper and fill it with water and continually drip it on his nose. It may take several minutes to stimulate him to drink. For a Veild that young your temps are very high. 85 is usually around the recommended basking temp and your ambient temp is what your basking should be. 95-100 is very hot. Cage temp in the low to mid 70's, basking around 85. I would work on lowering your temps. Try using lower wattage bulbs and go from there. You said you were feeding crickets in small packs. Are you talking about the crickets that are dead?

 

[Heaven]

You chameleon will not get hydrated by soaking him in water. It may appear to you as if he enjoys it, but it may really be very stressful for him to be held in water. Does he close his eyes while you are doing this? The repcal...is it repcal or repcal with d3? If you want to try and get him to drink get an eye dropper and fill it with water and continually drip it on his nose. It may take several minutes to stimulate him to drink. For a Veild that young your temps are very high. 85 is usually around the recommended basking temp and your ambient temp is what your basking should be. 95-100 is very hot. Cage temp in the low to mid 70's, basking around 85. I would work on lowering your temps. Try using lower wattage bulbs and go from there. You said you were feeding crickets in small packs. Are you talking about the crickets that are dead?

His eyes are closed almost all the time. The vet said that had something to do with his condition, I honestly forget what he called it. Something about failing kidneys. I am not sure how reliable my thermometer is right now, I'm just reading what it told me. It might be lower because my house isn't very hot. And no, I meant that he would get three or four sometimes, all were alive. It's with D3 is that bad? I was told no phosphorus calcium always.