eppcheck
New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Female Panther 1.5 year of age captive bred. I received her Feb 14th 2012 so a little over 2 weeks in my care.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Normally hardly ever (once a month for cleaning), but since vet prescribed gentamycin I've been needing to handle her 3 times a day for the eye drops. I've also force fed a small amount of cod liver oil suggested on these forums since systoms came back.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
All my panthers are on similiar schedules. HShe specifically gets 3-4 feeders in her cage. I don't bother to put anymore since she isn't eating regularly. The first week I had her she ate 1 cricket a day. When she got back from the vet on Feb 21st she started her first 2 days eating alot betterm, about 3-4 feeders. Now she is back to a cricket every few days.
I offer crickets and superworms. Crickets gutloaded with cricket crack, carrots, oranges, and kale. I also have calcium fortified water crystals. Superworms get superchow along with carrots and apples for hydration. I've also attempted other feeders hoping she is just being picky. Roaches, waxworms, redrunners, silkworms and hornworms. She won't take any of them. I have only seen her eat crickets.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
I'm still old school with supplementing. I supplement herptavite twice monthly and calcium w/d3 twice monthly. The rest of the days I lightly dust with calcium no phosphorus no d3. I started her off the first day with herptavite and the following week calcium with d3 since I wasn't sure when she took them last.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
This is the only thing she has no problem with. She is constantly drinking. I use a mistking and also started providing her with a drip system since it seemed like she was so thirsty. Previously, before taking her to the vet I gave her some showers to help clean the eye. I know she should be very well hydrated given how much she drinks. I'm not sure if this is telling me something though. Maybe her constant drinking is an indication of another health issue.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
No testing yet, but I think this will be my next move. Her urates are normal and droppings normal. She had one incident a few days after receiving her where her dropping appeared to be more liquidy and jelly looking then usual. It also appeared to be pretty large for her size. Almost the size of and adult males, which doesn't add up since she doesn't have a good appetite.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Previous owner, had her breeded and she layed one clutch of eggs. This was about 2 months ago. I thought she might of retained sperm and could be carrying eggs, but she shows no obvious signs like crawling at the bottom of cage, showing eggs in belly, gravid colors, etc... The vet also agreed that she doesn't appear to be carrying eggs. I have briefly shown her to the male and she seemed receptive.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Screened 18x18x36.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
I have the recommended 5.0 reptisun thats about 5-6 months old. Maybe could use a replacement. Seems like they've always worked for 8 to 12 months before.
She has 50 watt halogen bulb which keeps her basking branch consistently at 86 degrees.
All my chams are on 12 hours on 12 hours off schedule.
Temperature - (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
The highest temp is at the basking area which is 86 degrees. I have a very thick brand new schefflera arboricola tree which makes temps in the middle and at the bottom cool I would say from 80 to 65 at the very bottom during the day(I've never seen her at the very bottom). She hangs out at the top basking spot majority of the day and towards the evening hang out in the thick branched cool area.
I use a temp and humidity gauge I bought at at hardwhere store. It's not a cheap one, but not the best quality either. Probably cost around $30 if I remember correctly. I tried to get something more accurate than what you would normally get at a pet store.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
I have two sides of all my cages wrapped in plastic sheeting to hold humidity and keeping the mistking from spraying outside of the cage. I haven't tested the humidity for awhile, but last time I checked it was consistently above 35% sometimes up to 60% or more right after misting. Again, I use the temp and humidity gauge I mentioned above.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
In her cage I have two plants the schefflera arboricola and a tropical hibisucus.
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?
The cage is a bit lower than I'd like, I have her enclosure placed on an end table that stands 2 feet from the floor. With the cage on top that reaches about 5 feet total in height. This leaves my head about a foot higher than the top of the cage. I know that can be stressful, but it is all I have at the moment.
The chameleons have their own room with visual barriers between each other.
Location - Where are you geographically located?
I'm in Salem, OR it has been 30F low to 50F highs and wet this time of year. This shouldn't matter since they there room is heated and won't drop below 60F.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Short answer: Right eye has been showing signs of infection and closing during the day. Her other eye works normally. She has also been lethargic with very little appetite.
Long Answer with Background info:
I received this chameleon 02/14/2012. At the time she started off eating and drinking within an hour of receiving her. The next day eye issues began, she was lethargic, small appetite, hardly any movement, etc... She constantly tried cleaning her eyes and squinting. She also left that same eye closed temporarily from time to time. Infact, there seems to be slight damage to the lid of her eye from constantly rubbing it on branches.
First Treatment: I started off treatment by giving her showers and rinsing the eye with sensitive eye saline solution. The saline solution seemed to cause her eye to swell. So the next time I did it, I watered it down 50% saline and 50% water. This worked a bit better, but she still was having eye issues. At this point, I knew she needed a vet visit.
Second Treatment: I took her in the vet 02/21/2012 and the vet rinsed out her eye very well and used some utensils to clean out her eyes. She also prescribed gentomycin to put in 3 times daily. When she came back from the vet she was back to acting like a normal cham. The vet just thought she had something in her eye which she was able to remove, but wanted me to use the gentomycin incase it was a bacterial infection. She was eating and drinking but shortly after 2 days the eye issue had come back. The gentomycin is difficult to get in every time I try, but I get it in the majority of the time. I don't think gentomcyin is working as successful treatment. After it was clear that the gentomcyin wasn't helping I stopped it.
Third Treatment: I've begun using terramycin instead. Again, no obvious success in therapy but it has only been a few days. I thought there might be a vit A deficiency so in addition to putting on terramycin I have force fed a drop of cod liver oil. I don't know if will help since it hasn't had enough time to take effect. At this very moment she hasn't ate anything and her eye is still showing the same issues. I will need to give this time before knowing if it helps.
My Next Plan:: If she doesn't begin eating soon I will have to force feed her. I have feeding syringes with nipples. I also have liquid multivitamins solution I can make using Critical Care and calcium gluconate if neccessary. I don't want to treat her further because I think I've done enough and don't want to do more damage then good. I will also get a fecal done and take her to the vet next week if there isn't any improvement.
I'm lost as to whats wrong and have exhausted my resources and solutions. I would love to get input from the forum, but ultimately believe my best bet is another vet visit.
And whats up with all the eye issues everyone has been having lately?
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Female Panther 1.5 year of age captive bred. I received her Feb 14th 2012 so a little over 2 weeks in my care.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Normally hardly ever (once a month for cleaning), but since vet prescribed gentamycin I've been needing to handle her 3 times a day for the eye drops. I've also force fed a small amount of cod liver oil suggested on these forums since systoms came back.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
All my panthers are on similiar schedules. HShe specifically gets 3-4 feeders in her cage. I don't bother to put anymore since she isn't eating regularly. The first week I had her she ate 1 cricket a day. When she got back from the vet on Feb 21st she started her first 2 days eating alot betterm, about 3-4 feeders. Now she is back to a cricket every few days.
I offer crickets and superworms. Crickets gutloaded with cricket crack, carrots, oranges, and kale. I also have calcium fortified water crystals. Superworms get superchow along with carrots and apples for hydration. I've also attempted other feeders hoping she is just being picky. Roaches, waxworms, redrunners, silkworms and hornworms. She won't take any of them. I have only seen her eat crickets.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
I'm still old school with supplementing. I supplement herptavite twice monthly and calcium w/d3 twice monthly. The rest of the days I lightly dust with calcium no phosphorus no d3. I started her off the first day with herptavite and the following week calcium with d3 since I wasn't sure when she took them last.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
This is the only thing she has no problem with. She is constantly drinking. I use a mistking and also started providing her with a drip system since it seemed like she was so thirsty. Previously, before taking her to the vet I gave her some showers to help clean the eye. I know she should be very well hydrated given how much she drinks. I'm not sure if this is telling me something though. Maybe her constant drinking is an indication of another health issue.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
No testing yet, but I think this will be my next move. Her urates are normal and droppings normal. She had one incident a few days after receiving her where her dropping appeared to be more liquidy and jelly looking then usual. It also appeared to be pretty large for her size. Almost the size of and adult males, which doesn't add up since she doesn't have a good appetite.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Previous owner, had her breeded and she layed one clutch of eggs. This was about 2 months ago. I thought she might of retained sperm and could be carrying eggs, but she shows no obvious signs like crawling at the bottom of cage, showing eggs in belly, gravid colors, etc... The vet also agreed that she doesn't appear to be carrying eggs. I have briefly shown her to the male and she seemed receptive.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Screened 18x18x36.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
I have the recommended 5.0 reptisun thats about 5-6 months old. Maybe could use a replacement. Seems like they've always worked for 8 to 12 months before.
She has 50 watt halogen bulb which keeps her basking branch consistently at 86 degrees.
All my chams are on 12 hours on 12 hours off schedule.
Temperature - (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
The highest temp is at the basking area which is 86 degrees. I have a very thick brand new schefflera arboricola tree which makes temps in the middle and at the bottom cool I would say from 80 to 65 at the very bottom during the day(I've never seen her at the very bottom). She hangs out at the top basking spot majority of the day and towards the evening hang out in the thick branched cool area.
I use a temp and humidity gauge I bought at at hardwhere store. It's not a cheap one, but not the best quality either. Probably cost around $30 if I remember correctly. I tried to get something more accurate than what you would normally get at a pet store.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
I have two sides of all my cages wrapped in plastic sheeting to hold humidity and keeping the mistking from spraying outside of the cage. I haven't tested the humidity for awhile, but last time I checked it was consistently above 35% sometimes up to 60% or more right after misting. Again, I use the temp and humidity gauge I mentioned above.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
In her cage I have two plants the schefflera arboricola and a tropical hibisucus.
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?
The cage is a bit lower than I'd like, I have her enclosure placed on an end table that stands 2 feet from the floor. With the cage on top that reaches about 5 feet total in height. This leaves my head about a foot higher than the top of the cage. I know that can be stressful, but it is all I have at the moment.
The chameleons have their own room with visual barriers between each other.
Location - Where are you geographically located?
I'm in Salem, OR it has been 30F low to 50F highs and wet this time of year. This shouldn't matter since they there room is heated and won't drop below 60F.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Short answer: Right eye has been showing signs of infection and closing during the day. Her other eye works normally. She has also been lethargic with very little appetite.
Long Answer with Background info:
I received this chameleon 02/14/2012. At the time she started off eating and drinking within an hour of receiving her. The next day eye issues began, she was lethargic, small appetite, hardly any movement, etc... She constantly tried cleaning her eyes and squinting. She also left that same eye closed temporarily from time to time. Infact, there seems to be slight damage to the lid of her eye from constantly rubbing it on branches.
First Treatment: I started off treatment by giving her showers and rinsing the eye with sensitive eye saline solution. The saline solution seemed to cause her eye to swell. So the next time I did it, I watered it down 50% saline and 50% water. This worked a bit better, but she still was having eye issues. At this point, I knew she needed a vet visit.
Second Treatment: I took her in the vet 02/21/2012 and the vet rinsed out her eye very well and used some utensils to clean out her eyes. She also prescribed gentomycin to put in 3 times daily. When she came back from the vet she was back to acting like a normal cham. The vet just thought she had something in her eye which she was able to remove, but wanted me to use the gentomycin incase it was a bacterial infection. She was eating and drinking but shortly after 2 days the eye issue had come back. The gentomycin is difficult to get in every time I try, but I get it in the majority of the time. I don't think gentomcyin is working as successful treatment. After it was clear that the gentomcyin wasn't helping I stopped it.
Third Treatment: I've begun using terramycin instead. Again, no obvious success in therapy but it has only been a few days. I thought there might be a vit A deficiency so in addition to putting on terramycin I have force fed a drop of cod liver oil. I don't know if will help since it hasn't had enough time to take effect. At this very moment she hasn't ate anything and her eye is still showing the same issues. I will need to give this time before knowing if it helps.
My Next Plan:: If she doesn't begin eating soon I will have to force feed her. I have feeding syringes with nipples. I also have liquid multivitamins solution I can make using Critical Care and calcium gluconate if neccessary. I don't want to treat her further because I think I've done enough and don't want to do more damage then good. I will also get a fecal done and take her to the vet next week if there isn't any improvement.
I'm lost as to whats wrong and have exhausted my resources and solutions. I would love to get input from the forum, but ultimately believe my best bet is another vet visit.
And whats up with all the eye issues everyone has been having lately?
