Hi guys. I had a huge write up I just posted but my internet went out and stupidly I reset my computer without saving the info so to sum it up, after noticing my apartment was cold the other day I moved my senegal into my room which was a comfy 67 for her (not including her lamp). Since then I've noticed her eyes have been closed constantly and she hasn't been moving noticeably. When I moved her to take pictures she flashed warning colors and at this moment she is still green. I took some pictures but quite honestly I'm at a loss. She ate fine (the crickets I put in her cage are gone) up until two days ago and I've sprayed her as usual so she shouldn't be dehydrated. As I retype this she is hanging from one leg off of her perch aimed towards the ground. I put a soft towel in there so that IF she does fall she won't injure herself severely. Attached are some pics, an enclosure fill out to follow. Note that while she may look gone in the photos, she is still alive.
Emergency: Senegal lethargic, not using front legs, eyes closed
- Thread starter MD19
- Start date
![IMG_0105[1].jpg](/data/attachments/31/31484-0e27e73880d3700bb8a3c262d0876ea2.jpg?hash=DifnOIDTcA)
![IMG_0106[1].jpg](/data/attachments/31/31485-367ef299e911f1eedb77220d6938662e.jpg?hash=Nn7ymekR8e)
![IMG_0107[1].jpg](/data/attachments/31/31486-1c556756256e06194f8b97c62c93423e.jpg?hash=HFVnViVuBh)
![IMG_0109[1].jpg](/data/attachments/31/31487-d164f449118fb780ae2553a317d0f7f4.jpg?hash=0WT0SRGPt4)
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Senegal, Female, 5 Months in care, unknown age
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Only if necessary when cleaning
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, 5-12, once every 2-3 days, around noon, homemade chow.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repti calcium w/o D3 daily, Repti calcium w D3 and herptivite twice monthly
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Hand held mister, twice daily, have never witnessed her drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Cannot see, yes, negative to my knowledge (previous owner confirmed)
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Went through a shed about a month or two ago. Temperature dropped to around 50-55 before I noticed.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 40 gallon screen cage.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reptisun 5.0, 40w basking bulb, on at sun up, off at sundown
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking spot is 80-85 deg, bottom around 65 deg lowest night temp 65 deg, Measured with a digital temp/hydro guage from accurite
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 60-70% keep it up with a live plant and misting twice daily, measured with same digital temp/hydro gauge from accurite
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Hibiscus
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? Back room, near window, no traffic, hip high
Location - Where are you geographically located? Albany, New York
Current Problem - Stated in first post.
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Senegal, Female, 5 Months in care, unknown age
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Only if necessary when cleaning
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, 5-12, once every 2-3 days, around noon, homemade chow.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repti calcium w/o D3 daily, Repti calcium w D3 and herptivite twice monthly
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Hand held mister, twice daily, have never witnessed her drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Cannot see, yes, negative to my knowledge (previous owner confirmed)
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Went through a shed about a month or two ago. Temperature dropped to around 50-55 before I noticed.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 40 gallon screen cage.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reptisun 5.0, 40w basking bulb, on at sun up, off at sundown
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking spot is 80-85 deg, bottom around 65 deg lowest night temp 65 deg, Measured with a digital temp/hydro guage from accurite
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 60-70% keep it up with a live plant and misting twice daily, measured with same digital temp/hydro gauge from accurite
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Hibiscus
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? Back room, near window, no traffic, hip high
Location - Where are you geographically located? Albany, New York
Current Problem - Stated in first post.
You need to get her to a vet ASAP...its not good that she is hanging by one leg and that she looks the way she does. You also IMHO need to warm up the ambient temperature of the cage.
IMHO most of its cage should be in the low 80's F or at least the high 70's with the basking temperature in the mid 80'sF. The cage should also not be near a window since you live in New York. The chameleon is likely getting a chill at night...even though you may not think so. If her temperature was lower in the other room during the day than you are saying it is in this room, it was likely too cold for it too.
Is she pooping? Unless its been basking quite a lot, it may be having difficulty digesting its food too.
Senegals are "water hounds" and its important to make sure that they drink well every day.
IMHO most of its cage should be in the low 80's F or at least the high 70's with the basking temperature in the mid 80'sF. The cage should also not be near a window since you live in New York. The chameleon is likely getting a chill at night...even though you may not think so. If her temperature was lower in the other room during the day than you are saying it is in this room, it was likely too cold for it too.
Is she pooping? Unless its been basking quite a lot, it may be having difficulty digesting its food too.
Senegals are "water hounds" and its important to make sure that they drink well every day.
I've been looking for a reptile specialist near me but it's not going well. I called a small vet who's recommendation was to put her down because he didn't know much about reptiles. Forgive me for not noting that up until a few days ago she had a 24 hour black light on to keep the temp upper 80's. It cracked on Wednesday night and I didn't think anything of not replacing it right away so I'd used a regular house bulb that kept it mid 70's. Up until this week she was, though I haven't seen anything yet.
BocaJan
New Member
A regular house bulb is the best way to give her a basking light. Any kind of fancy bulbs don't offer the best kind of heat for our chams. If she is able to sit on her basking branch make sure that it is getting the correct temp for a senegal by checking with a thermometer and let her sit there. My veileds bask most all day, especially in the morning when they wake up and after eating which is most all day! They like the warmth and rarely venture away from their basking branch except to chase a cricket.
lindawaz
New Member
my vet is a reptile vet. Both that are in this practice and are excellent
it will be a drive for you but not ungodly. I have used them for my beardies and Lily for 5 years now and see all kinds of reptiles in the waiting room.
Newburgh 845-565-0804
it is about 1.5 hours according to google maps
it will be a drive for you but not ungodly. I have used them for my beardies and Lily for 5 years now and see all kinds of reptiles in the waiting room.
Newburgh 845-565-0804
it is about 1.5 hours according to google maps
Last edited:
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
This is just part of her problem...24/7 constant high temperature and visible light on at night. Chams need a nightly cool down and NO light so they can lower their metabolism to rest. The constant high temp has added to her dehydration and stress. I'm not sure if it is just the way she is sitting, but could she be gravid too? She looks swollen around the abdomen.
Sorry, I just re-read your husbandry info and saw that you were giving her a night low. But, even the black light can disturb them at night. Question about being gravid may still be valid.
