Chameleon Not Acting Normal

R

rf9661

New Member
Hello!

Yesterday my Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, Leo, was acting weird. He looked rather skinny as well. This morning I awoke and he was on the bottom of his cage. He's in an X-Large Reptibreeze which I believe is 4' High and 2' Width and Length. He has an automatic misting system. He has a Zilla UVB and UVA strip light with a 75 W Nocturnal Heat Lamp and one 60 W Day Time Bulb. I don't know if he's sick or what's going on. He was very dark yesterday as well. Maybe I'm handling him too much. Please let me know. Thanks in advance!

Richard
 
Blink said:
Please fill out this form: https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
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Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Leo is an Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, I believe he is around 11 months but he's been with me for 4 months.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

I handle Leo about 4 times per week, maybe too much.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

I feed Leo crickets gutloaded with some green little bites. I give him 6 and he eats them all. I will be bumping up to 9 today. He is given the crickets in the morning.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I give him the Zoo Med ones both with D3 3 times a week.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

20 seconds every hour since he is outside and I live in Miami. I have seen him drinking.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

The largest part is brown and the smaller parts are a mix of white and orange. He's never been tested for parasites with me.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Not that I'm aware of since I've had him.
 
Do you use calcium without D3?
Calcium with D3 should be used 2 times a month. Vitamins 1-2 times a month and calcium without D3 every feeding besides when you use the others.
 
Pharaoh2015 said:
Do you use calcium without D3?
Calcium with D3 should be used 2 times a month. Vitamins 1-2 times a month and calcium without D3 every feeding besides when you use the others.
Click to expand...

Both have D3 and I'm giving it 2-3 times each weekly!! Am I over doing it?
 
Could you post a pic of him and your whole set up? It can be very helpful in figuring out what is wrong. Can you elaborate more on your lights?... you say Zilla UVB and UVA tube? Do you have two separate tubes? Are you 100% that the tube is UVB? If so, what strength? 5.0, 6.0, 10.0 etc. Most of us use a dome for basking for the uva source so I am curious what you are actually using. No heat at night unless below 50. No d3 as much as you are using it. Twice monthly is enough. More variety in his diet and better gutloading on your crickets instead of the cubes. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best and then you can add a commercial gutload like Bugburger, or Cricket crack
 
carol5208 said:
Could you post a pic of him and your whole set up? It can be very helpful in figuring out what is wrong. Can you elaborate more on your lights?... you say Zilla UVB and UVA tube? Do you have two separate tubes? Are you 100% that the tube is UVB? If so, what strength? 5.0, 6.0, 10.0 etc. Most of us use a dome for basking for the uva source so I am curious what you are actually using. No heat at night unless below 50. No d3 as much as you are using it. Twice monthly is enough. More variety in his diet and better gutloading on your crickets instead of the cubes. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best and then you can add a commercial gutload like Bugburger, or Cricket crack
Click to expand...

I will post a picture as soon as I get back home. The Zilla is a strip light, the strip says UVB and UVA for reptiles only, it had a plastic on it but I took it out since the plastic will absorb the UV Rays. It's only one strip. I'm not sure about the strength but I have 2 ReptiSun 10.0s for my Hermit Crabs that I can change to my chameleon.
 
Most of us do not use that type of lighting so I am not sure what you are using and if it is not enough uvb for your chameleon. That could be your problem. Thank god you removed the plastic or he would have not gotten any. We really need to know what you are using. That is super important. Also getting your chameleon out for daily sunshine is very beneficial if you can do it.
 
rf9661 said:
Ok will change gut loading and vitamins/calcium today. What do you think is the issue?
Click to expand...

I would take him to an experienced reptile vet if possible. There could be a lot of causes for a sick Cham. But so far it may just be nutritional.

But there could be many other reasons. More opinions and information are needed. I'm relatively new to chameleon keeping myself.
 
carol5208 said:
Most of us do not use that type of lighting so I am not sure what you are using and if it is not enough uvb for your chameleon. That could be your problem. Thank god you removed the plastic or he would have not gotten any. We really need to know what you are using. That is super important. Also getting your chameleon out for daily sunshine is very beneficial if you can do it.
Click to expand...

I can for surely get him out for natural sunshine since I have 2 enclosures and live in Miami FL.
 
I went to my local reptile shop and they diagnosed it I guess you could say as over heating. I still have one problem though and will talk to them about it tomorrow as well but his hind left leg is just hanging and he won't use it. He won't eat either. He's sleeping so I hope he gets some good rest since I don't think he had any last night.

I go to Anarchy Reptiles and they're great! I recommend checking them out!
 
rf9661 said:
I went to my local reptile shop and they diagnosed it I guess you could say as over heating. I still have one problem though and will talk to them about it tomorrow as well but his hind left leg is just hanging and he won't use it. He won't eat either. He's sleeping so I hope he gets some good rest since I don't think he had any last night.

I go to Anarchy Reptiles and they're great! I recommend checking them out!
Click to expand...

If he not using a leg he may have hurt it falling. I'd take him to a vet. He could be over heated but there are slot of factors to consider.
 
Pharaoh2015 said:
If he not using a leg he may have hurt it falling. I'd take him to a vet. He could be over heated but there are slot of factors to consider.
Click to expand...

I'm going to wait and if today he's not doing good with his legs, I'll take him to the store. They take care of sick animals there as well as selling them. I put him in a 10 gallon with 4 crickets dusted with calcium and D3 he looks better but his leg is worrying me. I put a UVB light on him put he still has room to get out of the UVB if he doesn't want it.
 
I think I am not providing enough calcium either since the one I have is Calcium with D3 and I do it twice a week. Going to change to Calcium with D3 twice monthly and Vitamins with D3 twice monthly and Calcium with out D3 every other day. Going to buy the Calcium without D3 today. Hope he is alright at home.
 
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