Chameleon Eye Problem

[Mueller23]

I have a male veiled chameleon who is less than a year old. So far, He's been really awesome, drinking, eating, and moving! I have noticed lately that he seems to "pop" his eyes. What I mean is that he seems to push his left eye out of its normal socket and toward his nose. He doesn't do it constantly, but I catch him usually once every few days. When I notice he "pops" his eyes, he seems to do it for a while.

Also, while he is not "poping" his eye, it is closed, but if he is looking at a cricket or something important to him, he opens it up and it moves just fine. I'm not all too concerned, but would really appreciate some feedback from someone who has more experience with chameleons.

Thanks in advance!!
Nic

 

[RunCode3]

I have a male veiled chameleon who is less than a year old. So far, He's been really awesome, drinking, eating, and moving! I have noticed lately that he seems to "pop" his eyes. What I mean is that he seems to push his left eye out of its normal socket and toward his nose. He doesn't do it constantly, but I catch him usually once every few days. When I notice he "pops" his eyes, he seems to do it for a while.

Also, while he is not "poping" his eye, it is closed, but if he is looking at a cricket or something important to him, he opens it up and it moves just fine. I'm not all too concerned, but would really appreciate some feedback from someone who has more experience with chameleons.

Thanks in advance!!
Nic

What I've read about this, is it is how they clean their eyes. Now I'm sure someone with more experience can chime in, but im sure they will tell you not to worry.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

No reason to be concerned, He is just giving them a good cleaning

 

[Mueller23]

Ok! Thanks guys! Should I be concerned since it only seems to happen with the one eye? and sometimes he pops it so far out that the place where his eye normally would sit goes flat.

and what about his eye being normally closed? I've heard it's bad and that it's totally ok. It has no crust or any oozing liquid. He also has no sign of dehydration.

 

[Solid Snake]

Welcome
The "popping" is normal.
If hes keeping it shut during the day there is some issue.
To find out what it may be, you can fill out this form, and people can troubleshoot whats going on

Be detailed


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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Mueller23]

• I have a male veiled chameleon who is a little less than a year old. I’ve had him for almost 2 months.
• I don’t handle my chameleon every day, but try to. He seems to come to my mom and I (we take care of him)
• I am feeding my chameleons strictly pin heads crickets right now. He eats about 5 a day. Some days less, some days more. I gut load them with the yellow flukers (water and nutrients) and also fresh greens like lettuce, carrots, and sometimes peppers.
• I dust my crickets with calcium MINUS PHOSPHORUS right before I put them into his cage. I do cup feed, but the crickets get out sometimes and he hunts them. I prefer that a couple do because I like him being active.
• I water atleast twice a day with heated distilled water (Lukewarm). I mist for a minute or so and then drip in the same place. I almost always see him open his mouth and swallow but I don’t always see him drink. I, however, don’t think that dehydration is an issue because he is meaty and his eyes are not sunken.
• His fecal material is normal. It is solid and brown with the last bit yellow and almost always a white tipped end.

• My cage is a 16x16x20in screened cage. I have 10in tall glass piece on three sides to hold in humidity and heat.

• I have both UVB and UVA bulbs. I use a repti-sun 5.0 bulb and a 35 watt UVA. They are both repti sun brand (tropical). I lalso use a low watt moonlight.

• My cage is 80 degrees in his basking spot and 70 at the lowest spot in his tank. I measur e this with an actualthermometer in there and I also have a laser temperature measurer (which is really nice and expensive. My dad got it from an air conditioning tech guy). My humidity is always above 50 if not 60. I have a bottom of “mulchy-ish material” I bought from the pet store for reptiles that holds a lot of humidity and heat.

• Since I’ve only had a chameleon for about 2 months, I haven’t bought any live plants yet. I use all fake.

• My cage is in my room about 2 feet of the ground (at the bottom) so about 3.5 feet at the top. There isn’t too much traffic. We keep the door shut and I never run my fan. Would running a fan be ok?

• I live in southeaster michigan about 5 minutes from toledo. It is winter here and very gloomy, so I don’t know if that wuold make a difference in his acting.

 

[Mueller23]

what would you do? give him a shower? change his food from crickets to superworms or somthing else? I'm very concerned. ANy help would be greatt!

 

[chameleongirl2]

what would you do? give him a shower? change his food from crickets to superworms or somthing else? I'm very concerned. ANy help would be greatt!

yes, i seem to have this problem too. at the vet they told me that it is fine to use normal HUMAN eye drops.... but I'm not too sure, if my cham continues to do this i guess i will have to take the chance and see what happens. it may work because it is mainly eye cleanser... but for humans and not specialized for chams... anyone got a thought for this?

eye problems are the biggest problems people seem to have, but once you have a cure you're fine... the problem for me is that no cure for me is a solution!

 

[Mueller23]

That sounds really smart! Most eye drops are just a salie solution for hydration! Thanks! I will probably try this tomorrow! I gave him a shower (luke warm and let themist hit the area he was in. I actually hung a plant that would attach to a glass wall from my old tank in the lower part of the shower). He seemed to really enjoy it! When I put him back in his cage, he was crawling around with both eyes open! Then i saw him drink and eat. So, i would definitely try this man.

If i hear anything about the eye drops I'll let you know.

 

[lizzleberry]

if he has his eye closed most of the time, and "pops" it, it sounds to me like he might have something stuck in it, or a small scratch on the eye ball?
mine once had a problem where his eyes were closed all the time, and he wouldnt pop them but he'd roll them around in their sockets but otherwise act fine,
took him to the store and local vets and the first thing they checket was if there was a scratch, and if there was something stuck in it
in the end it turned out to be a small infection which needed exocin drops which had to be prescribed.
what i would suggest is not to buy anything to put in his eyes, i think it is generally based on opinion, but i wouldnt put anything in my chameleons eyes without a vets consent - you dont know what it could do to them :/
i'd recommend a quick trip to the vet - email a local vet to find out about any local specialists and give them a ring, see what they think is best
good luck

 

[Mueller23]

Thanks! he does actually roll it and i saw him rubbing it earlier. Iam pretty confident that it has something in it, and will be calling my a vet monday about what to try and rinse it with. I heard human eye drops, which makes sense, but for now I'm just sticking to good ole' water!

Thanks! These are some great ideas!