Dehydrated chameleon help

Jakob.lloyd87

New Member
Hi guys
So I bought my first chameleon about a week ago and she is round about 4 months old, she was fine the first few days I had her she ate a lot and moved around a lot but after the five day mark she’s been less active, I’ve never seen her faeces and her urate was half yellow half white so I know she’s dehydrated, I’ve been trying to get her to drink, I hand mist everyday and try to keep the humidity at about 45%, her basking spot is about 80F but she’s really starting to worry me as I woke up this morning and she was a really dark colour but now she’s gone back to light green, i can’t figure out how to get her to drink water, any help would be appreciated
 
She’s a taken chameleon and no I don’t know anything about them, my vivarium is wooden so I don’t know where I could fit one in
 

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Can you also post a pic of her poop and urate. They do not need to always drink even though you mist. From the pic you provided her eyes aren't sunken in and she doesn't look dehydrated, but looking at the color of the urate will let you know if she is or not. Urates are mostly chalky white (with some yellow sometimes) when they are hydrated, yellow when they are a bit dehydrated, and orange when they are excessively dehydrated.
 
She’s a taken chameleon and no I don’t know anything about them, my vivarium is wooden so I don’t know where I could fit one in
Nice Chameleon! You can place the cup on top of your enclosure. If you have to, drill a small hole large enough for the water to drip down to your desired location. This can be an easy way for you to know where to place the cup every time you fill it.
 
How did everyone miss this? It is completely normal to have a half orange half white urate. That does not indicate dehydration. As long as there is a bright white chunk of urate then it's fine. If the entire thing is yellow/orange with no signs of white, then you should be concerned.
 
She’s a taken chameleon and no I don’t know anything about them, my vivarium is wooden so I don’t know where I could fit one in
I see fake plants in her enclosure, which can’t be used with veileds because they’ll try to eat them and cause an impaction. You need live veiled-tested and chameleon-safe plants that are properly cleaned and the soil in the pots covered with rocks too big for her to eat as her only plants. Since she is a female, she needs a proper and permanent lay bin in her cage, too. Could you fill out this form in as much detail as possible, including pics of her lights and her full cage (lights to bottom), please?

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.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.

Here are helpful links and care images, as well (make sure to read through every module and the veiled species profile, as well as liste to as many podcasts as possible, from The Chameleon Academy, as they have the most accurate and up-to-date info!):
possible, from The Chameleon Academy (they have the most accurate and up-to-date info!):
https://www.chameleons.info/en/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/external-resources/
https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/
https://chameleonacademy.com/plants/
https://chameleonacademy.com/setting-up-a-chameleon-cage/
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/04/how-to-set-up-proper-chameleon.html
(great egg-laying video!)
 

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I see fake plants in her enclosure, which can’t be used with veileds because they’ll try to eat them and cause an impaction. You need live veiled-tested and chameleon-safe plants that are properly cleaned and the soil in the pots covered with rocks too big for her to eat as her only plants. Since she is a female, she needs a proper and permanent lay bin in her cage, too. Could you fill out this form in as much detail as possible, including pics of her lights and her full cage (lights to bottom), please?

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.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.

Here are helpful links and care images, as well (make sure to read through every module and the veiled species profile, as well as liste to as many podcasts as possible, from The Chameleon Academy, as they have the most accurate and up-to-date info!):
possible, from The Chameleon Academy (they have the most accurate and up-to-date info!):
https://www.chameleons.info/en/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/external-resources/
https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/
https://chameleonacademy.com/plants/
https://chameleonacademy.com/setting-up-a-chameleon-cage/
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/04/how-to-set-up-proper-chameleon.html
(great egg-laying video!)

Also, forgot to add that the person who made that video is @Gingero on here!
 
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