Chameleon vitamin A deficiency?!

C

ChamKermit

New Member
I bought my baby male panther chameleon in November 2011, my chameleon setup is a medium sized all screen cge with a UVB bulb and basking bulb, i keep paper towel on the bottom and dust his crickets with calcium and use the flukers food and water cubes for the crickets. I use a dripper and also mist his cage daily. 75-85 during the day and 60-70 at night with. 40%-60% humidity (fluctuates when i mist) I recieved everything i need from SCREAMELEONS. He eats and drinks fine.

About 1.5 months ago he began to get white spots on both sides of his body, i took him to the vet but they said he should be fine but also noticed he was cleaning his eyes quite a bit, now im noticing he isnt very accurate with catching his food and JUST TODAY his right eye is a little glossy and it looks kind of painful and not as lively as the other.

Did my vet mislead me?! What can i do?! IS IT REVERSABLE?!
IM EXTREMELY WORRIED!
-alexis
 
Thank you that was helpful, but didnt really give me info that i needed. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow, i guess its my best option even though ive been there and done that and it was a waste of money and because they gave me the wrong info my cham is getting worse! :(
 
pictures

the 3rd picture is him when i was taking him to the vet a couple weeks ago, he got out of his box in the jeep. hes very friendly

symptoms seem to be worsening but the spots havent changed at all.

3.jpg

4.jpg

kermit3.jpg
 
vet

ive called around and no one knows of any vet in my area that is better. im DEFF not going back to the one i was with before though, she bearly said two words with me when i was in her office. she just held my chameleon and stared at him for hours it seemed like without answering me when i asked questions..HA.

if it IS a vitamin problem is it reversable??
if it ISNT a vitamin a problem what else could it maybe be?
anyone knowww?
 
hello, 1st off i see you are new to the forum so Welcome!!
It would benifit you as well as the other members if you could fil out the how to ask for help form, here is a link https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Try to be as accurate and detailed as possible.

In the mean time what is your suppelementing regime now? Are you only giving him plain calcium? You and your cham would also benifit from better cricket gutloading.
Also what type and brand of UVB are you using? So of the cheaper ones may need replacing by now.
Hope this helps!!
 
ChamKermit said:
ive called around and no one knows of any vet in my area that is better. im DEFF not going back to the one i was with before though, she bearly said two words with me when i was in her office. she just held my chameleon and stared at him for hours it seemed like without answering me when i asked questions..HA.

if it IS a vitamin problem is it reversable??
if it ISNT a vitamin a problem what else could it maybe be?
anyone knowww?
Click to expand...
Ccheck my post above, if it is a vitmain thing as you call it there are thing you can do but we need to know what vit and how much to make the best decisions.
There is hope,
 
calcium and lighting

YES IM NEWWW! haha thank you! this forum is SOO helpful!

CALCIUM: i am giving him rep-cal phosphorus free with vitamin d3 ultra fine powder on the crix each feeding (about every other day or sometimes every day. sometimes hes not hungry hes a little stubborn haha).

and UVB BULB: exo terra repti glow 10.0 (long bulb) and i just put a new one in 3 weeks ago.

i try and do whatever i can to keep up with my cham, im devastated he is sick, i dont want him to die and i want his COLORR to come back where his spots are!

i will fill out the form thank you!
 
ChamKermit said:
YES IM NEWWW! haha thank you! this forum is SOO helpful!

CALCIUM: i am giving him rep-cal phosphorus free with vitamin d3 ultra fine powder on the crix each feeding (about every other day or sometimes every day. sometimes hes not hungry hes a little stubborn haha).

and UVB BULB: exo terra repti glow 10.0 (long bulb) and i just put a new one in 3 weeks ago.

i try and do whatever i can to keep up with my cham, im devastated he is sick, i dont want him to die and i want his COLORR to come back where his spots are!

i will fill out the form thank you!
Click to expand...

I'm rather new on here myself. But to me, giving D3 almost every day AND a 10.0 bulb does not sound like the best route to go down. But again, I'm also new, and can't tell you if that is the cause of your issues.
 
Here's my blog for how I keep panthers and veileds.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

If you would fill out the entire Ask For Help Fourm it would help us to help you and your chameleon.

I dust with plain calcium (no d3) at just about every feeding...... if you skip one or two days a month that's ok. Calcium with d3 twice a month, a multi. vit. with Vit. A once a month and reptivite without d3 once a month.

I also recommend the Reptisun 5.0 tube light for UVB.
 
Ok so i am pretty sure the overdose on D3 and UVB are the problem, when to much D3 is in the system similar symptoms can show, also the D3 is in tight relation to Vit A and a balance is needed to maintain a heathy chameleon.
I would immediaty stop with the use of the D3 for at least 3 weeks maybe a month. Also i am not a big fen of the rep-cal products, they are very very strong. I would look in to the Repashy calcium plus all in one suppelemnt.
Right away i would get a plain calcium and start using that in a few days, and use it at most feedings.
After a week or so of the plain calcium i would maybe introduce a small amount of Vit A to try and correct eh balance and get things on track.
 
should i follow up with the vet appointment i made for tomorrow? i havent been to this doctor before and not sure how good she is with chameleons.
will this go awaaaayyy?
 
I would still go see the vet for sure. A vet visit is always the best chioce when concered. See how quailified they are and be sure to tell them the info we have been asking and talking about and ask them what they advise as propore care of a chameleon.
Be sure to let us know.
 
i will definitely ask everything i can. i hope the doctor can help. im going to do everything i can to help him. thank you so much for the advice!
 
We will help you all we can, if you have any other question or need clarification on anything feel free to PM me as well.
I would definatly not give any more D3 for awhile. Just plain ole crickets/feeders
 
Q&a: Ask for help

~
Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - male ambilobe panther chameleon about 6-7 months old, recieved him in the mail in November2011 from screameleons.com as just a little guy

Handling - about every other day

Feeding - crickets. every afternoon. about 6-10. i use flukers calcium cubes SOMETIMES but sometimes i dont gutload :confused:

Supplements - rep-cal phosphorus free with vitamin d3 every feeding

Watering - dripping system ("the little dripper") and mist at least twice daily morning and night. yes i see him drinking

Fecal Description - good consistency, not watery. usually black with white on the end, but sometimes its a little red/orange with white on the end, and changes size

History - none :)



~
Cage Info:

Cage Type - 16x15x20 aluminum screen cage

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

Temperature - cage floor is around 68F, basking spot is around 80-85F. DAY: 75-85F NIGHT: 65-70F digital thermometers, i have 2 of them (different brands)

Humidity - from 40% to 60% depending on when i mist. i measure it with the 2 digital gauges i have in the enclosure.

Plants - no live plants yet, i bought them but they are still too big to put in the cage, "umbrella plants" are what i bought with rocks over the soil so my cham doesnt eat it. currently just have vines and fake leaves inside.

Placement -cage is in my bedroom farthest from windows and doorwall as possible (very large bedroom), during the winter months i cover the doorwall with plastic in case of drafts. low traffic area. top of cage is about 4ft from the ground

Location - Michigan, USA :D



~
Current Problem - cham started developing med sized white spots on either side of his body about 2 months ago now, took him to the vet and they told me its nothing to worry about and that it should come off in a few sheds, he hasnt shed since on his own, ive had to use shedding aid once, and thats the last time he shed. since then ive noticed he is becoming less coordinated with his tongue (but maybe because i cup fed him when he was a baby?) he is getting a little better but nothing to be excited over. today i noticed his right eye is a little blurry and isnt centered in the circle of his eye lid, looks kind of painful :( !!!! he is eating and drinking fine so far.
 
Well after looking over you info i see a few tings that could be improved.
We have discussed the suppelements and i thnk your vet will agree.
Next thing i see is the cage size you are going to want to get a larger cage asap. Reccomended size for an adult male Panther is 24x24x48, with this size cage you will also be able to add some live plants which are benificial i many ways, just rmemeber to choose safe plants.
Am i correct is seeing that your daytime temps are 75-85 with the basking site being the 85, and nighttime temps are 65-70. Id so that is ok.
Last thing i would highly suggest is better gutloading for your crickets. There is tons of info on here about good gutloads, if you like the store bought stuff i would take a look a Repashy's Bug Burger.
I believe most of your issues are from the over suppelemention and can be fixed. That said I cant speak much for the white spots. But the tounge and eye issues are more imortant imo.
 
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