CasqueAbove
Chameleon Enthusiast
Oh nowhat can I do?
Also did I mention I have a male with no tongue, and he is doing well. His issue is getting the bug positioned.
Cham not shooting his tongue
- Thread starter Electricgreenchameleon
- Start date
Also did I mention I have a male with no tongue, and he is doing well. His issue is getting the bug positioned.
Geesh...you didn't need me....you did great without me.... @AmandaS and @MissSkittles and all!
I don't see my serious signs of MBD but without regular proper supplements he could be on the edge...however the tongue could have been injured as well.
If the supplements are brought back into balance then hopefully the bones will be ok and by the time that is done it will give the tongue time to heal if it's an injury.
I'm not a vet and since I can't say for sure its MBD, I don't want to give you any recommendations on liquid calcium...you should talk to a good reptile vet about that...to make sure it is the onset of MBD.
As for supplements...as was already suggested...I would recommend dusting lightly with a phos free calcium powder at all but 4 feedings a month to ensure that the chameleon gets enough calcium to maintain things the way they are (remember this won't fix the MBD...if your chameleon does he MBD he will need the liquid calcium too) I use RepCal. I would recommend a phos free calcium/D3 powder (I use RepCal) dusted lightly on the insects every two weeks. This provides some D3 without overdosing the chameleon and letting the chameleon produce the rest of the D3 it needs from its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can lead to overdoses if overdone but D3 produced from the UVB from the light won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it at will. I also recommend dusting lightly with a vitamin powder (I use Herptivite) with a beta carotene prOformed source of vitamin A at two feedings a month two weeks apart. Vitamin A from prOformed sources won't build up in the system but prEformed sources will. This leaves it so you can use the prEformed separately if it needs to be used.
Proper lighting, feeding/gutloading the insects, proper temperatures, etc all play a part too.
Hope this helps!
I don't see my serious signs of MBD but without regular proper supplements he could be on the edge...however the tongue could have been injured as well.
If the supplements are brought back into balance then hopefully the bones will be ok and by the time that is done it will give the tongue time to heal if it's an injury.
I'm not a vet and since I can't say for sure its MBD, I don't want to give you any recommendations on liquid calcium...you should talk to a good reptile vet about that...to make sure it is the onset of MBD.
As for supplements...as was already suggested...I would recommend dusting lightly with a phos free calcium powder at all but 4 feedings a month to ensure that the chameleon gets enough calcium to maintain things the way they are (remember this won't fix the MBD...if your chameleon does he MBD he will need the liquid calcium too) I use RepCal. I would recommend a phos free calcium/D3 powder (I use RepCal) dusted lightly on the insects every two weeks. This provides some D3 without overdosing the chameleon and letting the chameleon produce the rest of the D3 it needs from its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can lead to overdoses if overdone but D3 produced from the UVB from the light won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it at will. I also recommend dusting lightly with a vitamin powder (I use Herptivite) with a beta carotene prOformed source of vitamin A at two feedings a month two weeks apart. Vitamin A from prOformed sources won't build up in the system but prEformed sources will. This leaves it so you can use the prEformed separately if it needs to be used.
Proper lighting, feeding/gutloading the insects, proper temperatures, etc all play a part too.
Hope this helps!
AmandaS
Retired Moderator
We all need you, lol. Your advice is invaluable to me.
CasqueAbove
Chameleon Enthusiast
@kinyonga I believe you have raised many healthy chameleons to adulthood. From what I understand we are talking 12+ years on specifically Chameleon husbandry.
Not too many of you out there. Your advice is one of the few I take to heart, as you have seen it.
Thanks @CasqueAbove !
I've been keeping chameleons for over 30 years! I can't believe it!
It was all by hook or by crook and luck that any survived in the beginning because there was no info out there at all...and no internet around me and they were ALL WC. The funny thing is that some did really well!
I've been keeping chameleons for over 30 years! I can't believe it!
It was all by hook or by crook and luck that any survived in the beginning because there was no info out there at all...and no internet around me and they were ALL WC. The funny thing is that some did really well!
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
A great big ditto!
Thanks @MissSkittles
Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
He has got a small sore in his lip but his gums look ok..
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Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
Although... I’ve just checked and he seems to have spat it out..
AmandaS
Retired Moderator
I do not know what the sore is. Maybe @CasqueAbove will have more info for you later?
Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
Ok update
I’ve taken him to an exotic vet specialist a the vet hospital. He prescribed calcium liquid supplement twice a day and a pain killer once a day - very very difficult to give him this in by mouth as he won’t open up!
Today Cham tried to eat a wax worm, chomped on it for a bit then spat it out. There were spat out crickets all over the place when I came downstairs this morning. I did see his tongue and it was grey, very cylindrical and odd looking
Any thoughts guys? Am so worried ?
I’ve taken him to an exotic vet specialist a the vet hospital. He prescribed calcium liquid supplement twice a day and a pain killer once a day - very very difficult to give him this in by mouth as he won’t open up!
Today Cham tried to eat a wax worm, chomped on it for a bit then spat it out. There were spat out crickets all over the place when I came downstairs this morning. I did see his tongue and it was grey, very cylindrical and odd looking
Any thoughts guys? Am so worried ?
Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
I’m afraid I’m not knowledgeable enough to offer terribly much input about the tongue at this point.
I can offer a trick my vet taught me about giving meds... the veiled’s built in ‘handle’ - the casque. Gently grip it which will help keep their head still enough and then hopefully they will open their mouth more easily for you. I had to set mine down in order to manage this, but it worked. Also make sure to gently squirt the meds towards the back of the mouth as their trachea is in the front.
Perhaps his mouth is hurting too much to chew? Try offering a soft feeder about an hour after giving pain med.
Also, is not a good idea to leave crickets in the enclosure. Unless you are leaving something in there for them to eat, they can/will bite your cham. Also you aren’t able to determine if any have been eaten.
I can offer a trick my vet taught me about giving meds... the veiled’s built in ‘handle’ - the casque. Gently grip it which will help keep their head still enough and then hopefully they will open their mouth more easily for you. I had to set mine down in order to manage this, but it worked. Also make sure to gently squirt the meds towards the back of the mouth as their trachea is in the front.
Perhaps his mouth is hurting too much to chew? Try offering a soft feeder about an hour after giving pain med.
Also, is not a good idea to leave crickets in the enclosure. Unless you are leaving something in there for them to eat, they can/will bite your cham. Also you aren’t able to determine if any have been eaten.
Electricgreenchameleon
New Member
Thanks will try that. His poo is very watery and runny but that could be the medicine?
