Chameleon Lethargic Help!

[JanelleNOtto]

Ok, so Yesterday Otto was acting normal, until he went to the back of the cage and just sat there. He wasn't sleeping, his eyes were open, but he did not change position until finally a cricket walked by him and he ate it. After that, he got active and he moved around a bit. He ate 5-7 crickets by the end of the day, usually he eats around 10-12. This morning he seemed normal again, I just got some butter worms, placed one inside the cage and he ate it. After eating that one worm he went to about the same place he was yesterday and has just been sitting there. He is a dark grey, and he is just sitting there with his tail curled up. I am super worried about what I should do or if he is sick.

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Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Panther chameleon, male, 4 months old, been in my care 9 days.
Handling - none yet
Feeding - 10-12 medium crickets in the morning gut loaded with carrots and repashy bug burger (He eats throughout the day)
Supplements - rep cal calcium with d3 3 times a week and reptivite once a week- Is this overdosing with d3? he doesn't go outside, and this is what I was told to do by the breeder, but now I am wondering because all of the care sheets say to do plain calcium every feeding with multivitamin and calcium with d3 once a month. Should I be doing that instead?
Watering - I mist 9 times a day- I have a mist king- and 1-2 minutes each time
Fecal Description - white urates and brown fecals Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? no
History - Got him last tuesday, Other than today and yesterday he has been perky and eating and drinking well

Cage Info:
Cage Type - screen 18x18x36
Lighting -What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? reptisun 5.0 and 75 watt basking light 13 hours on, 11 hours off
Temperature - Basking 85 degrees F ambient is in the 70s Lowest overnight temp? 50 degrees F and a digital thermometer
Humidity - 40-70%
Plants - Umbrella tree
Placement - Where is your cage located? bedroom, Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? No At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? It sits on a 2 foot tall table.
Location - Illinois

Current Problem - I am concerned because he is curled up and just sitting on his branch. he has only eaten one butter worm today. He is dark in color. He isn't sleeping but is really lethargic. He did the same thing yesterday, but he perked up after a little bit. super worried about his well being. Could he be getting ready to shed? I heard that some chams get grumpy and eat less before shedding.
Please give advice, I am super worried!


Here is a picture of him.


Here is his vent area.

sorry for the poor quality

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that Otto is not looking and acting normal. I personally think you are giving him to much D3 and vitamins. Most experienced keepers here on the forums recommend calcium without D3 just about everyday and calcium with d3 and multiple vitamin twice a month. My guys go outside allot so I never give D3. How are you measuring his temps. A 75 watt sounds like it would put out allot of heat. Also I think you are misting way to often....two to three time a day should be enough. You want him and his enclosure to be able to dry out between mistings.

This is how I keep young veileds and panthers: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[JanelleNOtto]

Ok, Thanks for the quick reply. I will cut down the misting some and get some plain calcium. The breeder I got him from told me to do the dusting schedule I am doing right now, but since most people use the other one, and it seems to have good results I'll switch to that to make sure I don't overdose. I am measuring the temps with a digital thermometer, I have the bulb lifted up above the cage so that it does not get too hot at the basking spot- it is usually around 85 or so. Is that an ok temp for him? Does anybody else have an idea of what might be making him act this way? I just want him to be happy and healthy again. If he is still like this tomorrow I'll take him to the vet.

 

[JanelleNOtto]

Good News!

I put the basking light on top of where he was sitting, and he climbed up to it! Now I am under the impression that he was too cold-- I will get a high quality thermometer to measure the temp from now on-- maybe somehow it got too cold for him at the bottom of his cage. In the future I'll make sure that it is the right temp, so that this doesn't happen again. Im just happy that he moved! Will be watching him closely.