Burns killing Veiled Chameleons at my work

[TudorRose1536]

This sounds really horrible, but I work for a pet store and we get veiled chameleons in regularly now. Unfortunately the last 2 of them have gotten serious burns on their tails ( I think they're burns) and have died because of it.... We take them to the vet in the store and all that but they keep dying.

I have told management we need to move them to a bigger tank and move the branches down farther from the light.

I was just curious if there was any tips you guys had...I'm really tired of seeing them suffer. I'm trying to do this research on my own just to try to help them out.

Please respond with advice. Thank you

 

[fluxlizard]

In my opinion most burns are the result of an improperly set up thermogradient. A thermogradient involves many locations available to the lizard with a gradual change in temperature from the the nearest location to the light, to the cool end of the tank.

Poor thermo setups tend to have a hot spot under the light, and a cooler rest of the tank with few options for temperature variety (too few branches, not a gradual enough change from the hottest spot to the coolest location in the tank).

Lizards thermoregulate based on their core, not their surface temperature. So when you have a cool tank with a single hot spot and no gradual temperature change from the cool to the hot (no thermogradient), you end up with a cold lizard sitting too long in the hot spot trying to warm it's core while it's surface burns.

A large enough tank is an important component in being able to provide a true thermogradient. But so is providing the other components- a light situation that offers a gradual change in temperature rather than a hot spot, and plenty of branches throughout that temperature gradient so that it can actually be used.

When set up right- the chameleons can move slightly and a little bit at a time to adjust temperature rather than under the hottest spot and off of it.

All that said- I'm a little surprised tail burns are occuring (would think head burns more likely) and that the burns are kiling them outright without some extended period of suffering first...

 

[fluxlizard]

How big are the chameleons- are they babies and are they drying up and dying of dehydration?

 

[fluxlizard]

Oh- meant to add- if the thermogradient is set up properly, lizards (including chameleons) don't burn even if the hot spot is really hot because they will choose an appropriate temperature when it is available from the gradient, and because they will maintain it without drastic need for heating up in the hottest spot.

 

[TreyLcham]

I think its from dehydration i sometimes go to petco to see how bad the setups are or how good they are and i notice there cham terrariums tend to have a water bowl which they dont drink from, If yours is like this than i suggest you get a dripper system or set one up ur self by taking a cup pop a real small hole in the bottom filling it with water and letting it drip for the chams to drink. There are easy signs to spot if they are dehydrated could you post pics of them? it would really help. But this is just my opinion