Does my Chameleon have a RI?

[SimplyK2]

My new chameleon is around 7 weeks old, I've had her for around 1-2 weeks and I've noticed that she squeaks sometimes, she will sqeak at random and it's rather concerning. She also sleeps with her head up to the top of her cage and sometimes closes her eyes during the day(not near bedtime). I'm very concerned for her health since I've been reading forums about RIs and how bad they are. She doesn't have watery eyes, she doesn't wheeze when breathing, I haven't seen her latest stool so I don't know if she is dehydrated. She only changes to brown/green during the day. I don't have proper UV output yet, I'll be getting a T5 HO Friday. Where I live the tempatures in my room get to around 65-70 at night, she's at a constant 50-70% humidity during the day and night. She also walks around with her eyes closed sometimes when she wakes up. I've been feeding her crickets(not gut loaded) with multivitamins and Calcium with vitamin D³ in it. I'm going to try to go to the vet tomorrow to get definite answers, but I feel like I'm overreacting.

 

[Sonny13]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Sorry to read this as your first post. Overreacting is never a bad thing with chameleons, because once they show symptoms of being sick, they can decline very quickly. Therefore, it´s good thing you´re going to visit a vet, sitting with her eyes close during the day is in general a bad sign.
The best thing you can do for the long term is lets us do a husbandry review, maybe something pops up there. There´re already some things you need to take care of:
1) The UVB, but that gets solved this weekend
2) Humidity, 50-70% during the day is a bit on high side. This could cause eventually RI. The aim is max 50% during the day and 70-100% during the nights
3) Supplementation, everyday feeding should only be plain calcium (like Arcadia Earth-Pro) and only twice a month the supplements you´re now using. This could be a reason she has her eyes closed, over-supplementing. But that´s just guessing right now, because we haven´t any information on the supplements.

If you´re interested in a husbandry review, just copy / paste and fill out the underneath form. It will always help you and your little girl.

By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.

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.

 

[SimplyK2]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Sorry to read this as your first post. Overreacting is never a bad thing with chameleons, because once they show symptoms of being sick, they can decline very quickly. Therefore, it´s good thing you´re going to visit a vet, sitting with her eyes close during the day is in general a bad sign.
The best thing you can do for the long term is lets us do a husbandry review, maybe something pops up there. There´re already some things you need to take care of:
1) The UVB, but that gets solved this weekend
2) Humidity, 50-70% during the day is a bit on high side. This could cause eventually RI. The aim is max 50% during the day and 70-100% during the nights
3) Supplementation, everyday feeding should only be plain calcium (like Arcadia Earth-Pro) and only twice a month the supplements you´re now using. This could be a reason she has her eyes closed, over-supplementing. But that´s just guessing right now, because we haven´t any information on the supplements.

If you´re interested in a husbandry review, just copy / paste and fill out the underneath form. It will always help you and your little girl.

By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.

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.

Thank you, we are trying to take her to the vet today or as soon as possible, she seems more active but she still squeaks and she had aimed her head up, her eyes look a tiny bit sunken in so I'm very worried, but other than that she seems fine compared to last night. She also seems to be hissing at random which is kind of weird but it may just be stress.

 

[Beman]

Thank you, we are trying to take her to the vet today or as soon as possible, she seems more active but she still squeaks and she had aimed her head up, her eyes look a tiny bit sunken in so I'm very worried, but other than that she seems fine compared to last night. She also seems to be hissing at random which is kind of weird but it may just be stress.

I would do the husbandry review. As mentioned there are husbandry concerns. That is a very classic pose of a cham with an RI. You need a vet that knows reptiles sooner then later. RI symptoms can get very bad out of no where and then the cham declines rapidly.

Where did you get this cham from?

 

[SimplyK2]

I would do the husbandry review. As mentioned there are husbandry concerns. That is a very classic pose of a cham with an RI. You need a vet that knows reptiles sooner then later. RI symptoms can get very bad out of no where and then the cham declines rapidly.

Where did you get this cham from?

Petco, I belive I was sold a sick chameleon but that's just speculation.

 

[Beman]

Petco, I belive I was sold a sick chameleon but that's just speculation.

Unfortunately when they are young they really need the correct husbandry. Not having the correct UVB lighting and overdosing a baby on calcium with D3 is going to cause issues with its immune system and compromise it. Then infections that would not take over in a healthy cham bloom in one that is struggling with improper husbandry. I am not trying to blame you. Just simply say these are extremely sensitive reptiles and babies are very delicate to the point where even a week of the wrong stuff can cause a lot of damage.

Making changes to your husbandry will be really really important. Vet care urgently is the only thing that can help an RI.

 

[Sonny13]

Thank you, we are trying to take her to the vet today or as soon as possible, she seems more active but she still squeaks and she had aimed her head up, her eyes look a tiny bit sunken in so I'm very worried, but other than that she seems fine compared to last night. She also seems to be hissing at random which is kind of weird but it may just be stress.

Her eyes are starting to sink in is a bad sign, plus the position she´s taken in the picture is indeed typical for RI.

https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-behavior-nose-pointing-up/

A vet appointment is the best thing to do at the moment