Hyokenseisou
New Member
I just read through Blueberry's thread on their eye problem. My cham seems to have something similar, but not quite perhaps? Looking for more opinions.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, hatched aug 21st 2012, I got him in dec 17th 2012 til now
Handling - Few times a week, as usual. He does go to reptile shows twice a year, but the last time he was out for one was in March with no issues
Feeding - 5 week crickets, super worms, meals, waxs, trying to get him interested in dubia. He has free access to cups of the bugs so he can eat whenever (though the waxs are given by me once a week as a treat). I usually fill up worm cups about once a week, the crickets every few days.
Crickets are left in a keeper with water dish (small amount with paper towel at the bottom so they don't drown), carrot/potatoes on occasion, feed = bran, crushed acaina pacifica dog food (recent addition), dino fuel raptor edition, and super pig repashy powder. Worms just carrots on bran.
Supplements - Exo-terra calcium & D3- every other week a light dusting on the supers or crickets. Exo-terra Multi vitamin - lightly dusted on either supers or crickets once a week. Repashy superfoods 'chameleon' calcium plus - on meals every other week. Repashy super pig colour enhancer - on wax or meals once a week. Dino fuel raptor edition - on wax every time he gets them
Watering - He only likes to drink directly for the mist bottle - and he'll usually have a long drink every few days; though I will offer a drink from the bottle to him a few times each day. Mist enclosure at least once a day, sometimes I try for more. Since I noticed his eye, I have a fogger (sitting on top and the fog drapes down into the cage via mesh screen) on as long as I can to help.
Fecal Description - Colours dark brown, firm, with white urine following, poop consistent as always. Has not been tested for parasites.
History - No previous history of any health concerns.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Glass/screen combo I guess (more glass than screen). It's a Zoo-med. 3'x3'x1.7', screen on top and a strip near the bottom, sliding glass doors. I know I read that the disadvantage of glass is poor ventilation, so I leave his doors open as often as I can.
Lighting - Timer is set to his likings - 7am-11pm. I have a long canopy for the uvb bulb. I think it was actually last changed sometime near the beginning of the year so I think it might be time for a new one. Normally he's on a red basking light for basking, but I had a spare uvb/basking bulb so I figured I'd just use that until it dies then go back to his red light. They're usually exo-terra 75watt red heat bulbs.
Temperature - Right NOW -Left side of the enclosure has the basking around the 70's/80's, right side with no lamp around the high 60's. Few months ago it used to bit the upper half of the enclosure was 70/80's as I had a lamp on both sides, and the lower half was 60's. But when I had to use one of the lamps for another reptile, I left it as the one and he didn't seem to have any issues with it - he usually only basked on the left side anyways.
In light of things, I have thought about adding back a 2nd lamp.
Humidity - Usually around the 50/60 %'s. By misting, but recently by 2 foggers sitting on top causing it to be about high 60's. I have a 2 hydro/thermo readers (exo-terra I think?)
Plants - Just a couple of potted plants (rocks cover the dirt), ficus and hibiscus. Same plants have been in there for about 6 months - he doesn't seem interested in eating them.
Placement - In between the kitchen and living room (small basement suite and the two areas bleed into each other, his enclosure is sort of acting like a wall.) In my past two homes (mom's and rental) normally he's placed up against a large window (vent below) because he likes to look outside. Enclosure stand is about 2' I think? Same as always.
Location - Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Current Problem - I noticed his right eye seemed a little poofy (more so on the low end of it), and when I lightly poke the area, he'll try and squint it but most of the time can't quite get the lid closed all the way (but you can see his eye ball roll back as if it did close) unless he REALLY tries hard to squint/blink it.
Appetite still seems good, still active, still basking, etc. Only today he was in his 'sleepy spot' still 'sleeping' (his usual bright colours, curled up, etc) and it was noon - he's usually up by 7/8am, in 'bed' at 11pm on the spot, he's clockwork.
I've been treating his eye with saline to clean it, and a tiny bit of polysporne eye drops - I'm not sure if it's helping, but I certainly know it's helping it from getting worse. I just wonder what more I can do so it clears up completely. (and yes I know that both solutions are getting in his eye for sure.)
Nothing in the past 3 months has really changed from his current settings, so that's why I'm confused as to why he's starting to have an issue now.
I would post pictures, but it's not up to the point where you can REALLY see anything unless you knew what he looked like before hand, if that makes sense. The poofiness has gone down quite a bit (can barely notice) since treating with saline/poly, but he fail squinting still happens.
I should make mention: I had a male haitian curly tail, had him since dec '10 too, and just a couple months ago, he devolved a random eye problem too. No history, everything was as per usual, and one day I noticed his eye was poofy too (and contently closed). I was hoping it was because he was a digger and got some dirt in his eye (happen to my water dragon, but he cleared up nicely and is fine now). Tried treating with saline (couldn't get the poly in with him) but later he also leaked clear fluids for a few days. Then it got worse, couldn't open the eye, I managed to pulled out white chunky bits that was clogging his eye - definitely seemed like some sort of infection. Then out of the blue I come him and he's 'gone'.... Wasn't expecting that.... Still had lots of energy, I was hand/force feeding him just in case he couldn't hunt for himself...
So I worry that maybe whatever he had was contagious?
I never got the body checked out, he didn't have a vet visit (far too broke for one right now.. which is why I want to help my cham myself NOW before it gets to the point where a vet visit is mandatory), they never came in contact with each other (they're in separate rooms actually), and he passed almost exactly a month ago since this started.
If my problem is hard to understand or you need more info/pictures, I can try and take a picture/video and explain what I mean. But I definitely have that feeling of "something is wrong" - I have a 6th for that (not just for animals too).
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, hatched aug 21st 2012, I got him in dec 17th 2012 til now
Handling - Few times a week, as usual. He does go to reptile shows twice a year, but the last time he was out for one was in March with no issues
Feeding - 5 week crickets, super worms, meals, waxs, trying to get him interested in dubia. He has free access to cups of the bugs so he can eat whenever (though the waxs are given by me once a week as a treat). I usually fill up worm cups about once a week, the crickets every few days.
Crickets are left in a keeper with water dish (small amount with paper towel at the bottom so they don't drown), carrot/potatoes on occasion, feed = bran, crushed acaina pacifica dog food (recent addition), dino fuel raptor edition, and super pig repashy powder. Worms just carrots on bran.
Supplements - Exo-terra calcium & D3- every other week a light dusting on the supers or crickets. Exo-terra Multi vitamin - lightly dusted on either supers or crickets once a week. Repashy superfoods 'chameleon' calcium plus - on meals every other week. Repashy super pig colour enhancer - on wax or meals once a week. Dino fuel raptor edition - on wax every time he gets them
Watering - He only likes to drink directly for the mist bottle - and he'll usually have a long drink every few days; though I will offer a drink from the bottle to him a few times each day. Mist enclosure at least once a day, sometimes I try for more. Since I noticed his eye, I have a fogger (sitting on top and the fog drapes down into the cage via mesh screen) on as long as I can to help.
Fecal Description - Colours dark brown, firm, with white urine following, poop consistent as always. Has not been tested for parasites.
History - No previous history of any health concerns.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Glass/screen combo I guess (more glass than screen). It's a Zoo-med. 3'x3'x1.7', screen on top and a strip near the bottom, sliding glass doors. I know I read that the disadvantage of glass is poor ventilation, so I leave his doors open as often as I can.
Lighting - Timer is set to his likings - 7am-11pm. I have a long canopy for the uvb bulb. I think it was actually last changed sometime near the beginning of the year so I think it might be time for a new one. Normally he's on a red basking light for basking, but I had a spare uvb/basking bulb so I figured I'd just use that until it dies then go back to his red light. They're usually exo-terra 75watt red heat bulbs.
Temperature - Right NOW -Left side of the enclosure has the basking around the 70's/80's, right side with no lamp around the high 60's. Few months ago it used to bit the upper half of the enclosure was 70/80's as I had a lamp on both sides, and the lower half was 60's. But when I had to use one of the lamps for another reptile, I left it as the one and he didn't seem to have any issues with it - he usually only basked on the left side anyways.
In light of things, I have thought about adding back a 2nd lamp.
Humidity - Usually around the 50/60 %'s. By misting, but recently by 2 foggers sitting on top causing it to be about high 60's. I have a 2 hydro/thermo readers (exo-terra I think?)
Plants - Just a couple of potted plants (rocks cover the dirt), ficus and hibiscus. Same plants have been in there for about 6 months - he doesn't seem interested in eating them.
Placement - In between the kitchen and living room (small basement suite and the two areas bleed into each other, his enclosure is sort of acting like a wall.) In my past two homes (mom's and rental) normally he's placed up against a large window (vent below) because he likes to look outside. Enclosure stand is about 2' I think? Same as always.
Location - Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Current Problem - I noticed his right eye seemed a little poofy (more so on the low end of it), and when I lightly poke the area, he'll try and squint it but most of the time can't quite get the lid closed all the way (but you can see his eye ball roll back as if it did close) unless he REALLY tries hard to squint/blink it.
Appetite still seems good, still active, still basking, etc. Only today he was in his 'sleepy spot' still 'sleeping' (his usual bright colours, curled up, etc) and it was noon - he's usually up by 7/8am, in 'bed' at 11pm on the spot, he's clockwork.
I've been treating his eye with saline to clean it, and a tiny bit of polysporne eye drops - I'm not sure if it's helping, but I certainly know it's helping it from getting worse. I just wonder what more I can do so it clears up completely. (and yes I know that both solutions are getting in his eye for sure.)
Nothing in the past 3 months has really changed from his current settings, so that's why I'm confused as to why he's starting to have an issue now.
I would post pictures, but it's not up to the point where you can REALLY see anything unless you knew what he looked like before hand, if that makes sense. The poofiness has gone down quite a bit (can barely notice) since treating with saline/poly, but he fail squinting still happens.
I should make mention: I had a male haitian curly tail, had him since dec '10 too, and just a couple months ago, he devolved a random eye problem too. No history, everything was as per usual, and one day I noticed his eye was poofy too (and contently closed). I was hoping it was because he was a digger and got some dirt in his eye (happen to my water dragon, but he cleared up nicely and is fine now). Tried treating with saline (couldn't get the poly in with him) but later he also leaked clear fluids for a few days. Then it got worse, couldn't open the eye, I managed to pulled out white chunky bits that was clogging his eye - definitely seemed like some sort of infection. Then out of the blue I come him and he's 'gone'.... Wasn't expecting that.... Still had lots of energy, I was hand/force feeding him just in case he couldn't hunt for himself...
So I worry that maybe whatever he had was contagious?
I never got the body checked out, he didn't have a vet visit (far too broke for one right now.. which is why I want to help my cham myself NOW before it gets to the point where a vet visit is mandatory), they never came in contact with each other (they're in separate rooms actually), and he passed almost exactly a month ago since this started.
If my problem is hard to understand or you need more info/pictures, I can try and take a picture/video and explain what I mean. But I definitely have that feeling of "something is wrong" - I have a 6th for that (not just for animals too).
