My chameleon- Adult male, veiled chameleon, about 12 months old. I have had him since he was about 2 months old. I am pretty sure he is a male, he has tarsal spurs on his hind legs. I’ll try and grab a picture of them.
Handling- about 2 times a week, very short, not even 5 minutes most times. Once a week we will go outside to a small tree I have in my backyard. He seems very happy to be there and enjoys the sun.
Fine
Feeding- until recently I was feeding about 8 large crickets, guy loaded with flunkers gut load (the orange cubes) I recently made the switch to Dubai’s, and my other chameleon has hopped all over them. At first I thought it could have been the roaches, but I realized the problem occurred before the switch. They now are given 3 large roaches a day.
Your gutload is pretty much useless and over time that is transfered to your cham.
Adults are usually fed every other day and you should be offering a variety, not a single thing over and over.
If that guy is eating 3 large roaches a day every day, he's eating pretty well. However what you feeding isn't as nutritious due to poor gut load.
Supplements- I switch back and forth between a calcium without d3 and a vitamin A supplement. I dust the roaches 5 out of 7 meals every week, and the vitamin a on the other two.
Calcium NO D3 every feed. Calcium with D3 2x month. Multi vitamins 2x month.
What are using for this and what Vit A are you using?
Watering- I have a dripping system installed, which is a pump in a water source (as you can tell in the picture it’s it perfect but it works) and I mist 3 times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for about 5 minutes. I have never seen either of my chams drink, and the chameleon in question has very sunken eyes, as you can see.
As long as the dripper isn't recycling water that's fine but it may be better to have the tank outside the cage.
How are you misting?
Fecal- poop has been much smaller recently. What is there is dark brown, very dry, and very little white substance. No yellow, surprisingly enough.
Output all depends on his intake of course. Roaches and crickets are pretty low in moisture content. I think it's hornworms (check that) that are recommended to help hydration. (We don't get them in UK so never used).
History- we got him from a big box store, he looked incredibly healthy and well cared for. When he was smaller he was much much more nice and tolerant.
Like me... a grumpy old guy
Cage type- it is an 18x18x36” all screen cage.
Really needs work! It is far too bare and needs vines/sticks etc. of various sizes plus live plants such as pothos etc. It really doesn't look like a nice place to have to exist in right now quite honestly.
Lighting- I am using a flunkers 50w heat bulb, and a 50w uvb bulb. I have a timer running for 7am to 7pm every day.
I'm going to guess that you have a coil UVB bulb. If you've read any other posts here you will know that it's junk and you must provide a T5HO or T8 tube UVB such as the Arcadia 6%. (Higher with lots of foliage but right now the cage is bare).
Wattage is pretty irrelevant. What should be of concern is the temperature AT BASKING SPOT and the gradients through the rest of the setup.
Temp- Cage sits right around 78 degrees Fahrenheit, with the bottom being around 72
Too low for adult panther never mind a veiled. Please check the care sheets and make adjustments asap. Also make sure you adjust distances from heat source and basking spot so he doesn't get burnt.
What about night time temps?
humidity- between 40-60% higher right after I mist.
Given how dehydrated he looks you need to increase, even just in the short term. You may need to wrap 2 or 3 sides in shower curtain or similar to keep it up.
Plants- no live plants, planning to add some with the new cage I’m building. I have a vine, as well as some fake foliage for him to hide under if he feels so inclined.
Sorry but right now, it's just not good. You need to either to add to the current setup now or really move with his new digs. He could well be very stressed which could be cause for his health issues.
Placement- he sits on my dresser, next to a north facing window, as that is the only place I’m allowed to keep him. Very low traffic, but also not a lot of natural light.
UVB can't get through glass so other than warmth, the natural light there doesn't count. What about draughts from the window?
Geography- I am in southeast Iowa, right next to Illinois.
Current problem- eyes very sunken. He is shedding very poorly. He doesn’t eat, poops very little.
Earlier you said he eats 3 roaches a day. If he's not eating, he's got no waste to get rid of.
As they get older, chams start to get patchy in their shedding, it's no longer that explosion. However dehydration and poor humidity will make this worse.
He hides behind his water container, and won’t move unless I pick him up. Then he goes right back. He even sleeps there. He has gotten incredibly aggressive, doing whatever he can to avoid being handled.
Again, he has no where to feel safe and comfortable so he gets stressed. He needs options with plenty of cover and access to a basking spot that is at the right temprature.
Dehydration is a killer. Get him in the shower, on a branch, bounce luke warm (NOT HOT) off the tiles and stay with him. This needs to be a good long period and keep a good watch to see if he'll drink. Repeat this as needed. Don't spray him directly with the shower.
If he doesn't improve quickly, you need to get him to the vets asap.
Get the husbandry, especially UVB and decor sorted asap and do the same for your other cham (only guessing but assume the same or similar)
