Eye problems?

Spiky

Spiky

New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male BB Ambilobe. 10 M/O in my care for almost 9 months
Handling - 1-3 times a week. He's calm enough and it's mostly just a trip to an outdoor cage(when it is warm out)
Feeding - 3-5 crickets every other day. It used to be more, but he just can't open his eyes to see them that much. Crickets are fed flucker's cricket food and some veggies
Supplements - repcal Calcium every feeding, w/d3 once a month
Watering - Spray bottle 3+ times a day. I can see him drinking every once and a while.
Fecal Description - Fine. Nothing different from when I first got him. Never tested for parasites.
History - No problems with him ever.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen 18x18x36
Lighting - exo terra 75 watt basking bulb. reptisun 5.0 UV tube
Temperature - Basking spot is Hih 70s to medium 80s
Humidity - Unknown. I have no gauge for humidity. Misting 3+ a day though.
Plants - 1 small ficus along with fake vines and real sticks
Placement - Back corner of my room. No fans, windows, or AC vents. Cage is about 2/3 up the room.
Location - Nashville, TN

Current Problem - His eyes are messing up. They bulge and are closed a lot. He rubs them on branches and he appears distressed by it. it is affecting his eating and his activity.

Here are some pictures of what i mean:
lileye2.jpg

lileye.jpg


Thank you
 
I think you need to find out what your humidity levels are and also I would get a stronger bulb and raise the temp to around 90 degrees. High 70's is definitely not warm enough. I am not saying that is causing the eye problems but if your cage is too dry maybe so. Try a 100 watt. Or if you have the 75 watt raised above the cage I would lay it on the screen. In the first pic his eye looks sunken in like dehydration but not really in the second pic. Are you sure he is getting enough water?
 
Your Chameleon - Male BB Ambilobe. 10 M/O in my care for almost 9 months
Handling - 1-3 times a week. He's calm enough and it's mostly just a trip to an outdoor cage(when it is warm out)
Feeding - 3-5 crickets every other day. It used to be more, but he just can't open his eyes to see them that much. Crickets are fed flucker's cricket food and some veggies
Supplements - repcal Calcium every feeding, w/d3 once a month. Implement a good multivitamin that has preformed vit A twice a month (reptivite or i have limited experience with repashy calcium plus but have heard good things.)
Watering - Spray bottle 3+ times a day. I can see him drinking every once and a while.
Fecal Description - Fine. Nothing different from when I first got him. Never tested for parasites. What color is his urates?
History - No problems with him ever.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen 18x18x36
Lighting - exo terra 75 watt basking bulb. reptisun 5.0 UV tube
Temperature - Basking spot is Hih 70s to medium 80s. Something aint right here. 75 watt bulb should be producing more than 70-80 degree basking temps unless it is suspended above the cage a good distance. How are you measuring your temps? Your gauge may be broken.
Humidity - Unknown. I have no gauge for humidity. Misting 3+ a day though.
Plants - 1 small ficus along with fake vines and real sticks
Placement - Back corner of my room. No fans, windows, or AC vents. Cage is about 2/3 up the room.
Location - Nashville, TN

I dont see any good sources of vit A in his diet. I think if you get him some preformed vit A and good humidity range your problems will be solved.
 
KarmaChameleon1337 said:
How old is the UVB bulb?
Click to expand...

A eye problem has nothing to do with how old his bulb is. Now if its a CFL UVB bulb thats could be your problem.
I would say get him in to a shower for a little bit so he can rinse his eye out good. Then get some Terramycin Eye Ointment to help fight any infection that may be starting in the eye you can get that eye med from alot of places.
 
Texas Ranger said:
A eye problem has nothing to do with how old his bulb is. Now if its a CFL UVB bulb thats could be your problem.
I would say get him in to a shower for a little bit so he can rinse his eye out good. Then get some Terramycin Eye Ointment to help fight any infection that may be starting in the eye you can get that eye med from alot of places.
Click to expand...

If a UVB is too old there's been accounts of it harming the eyes. It's not impossible. I was just curious.
 
KarmaChameleon1337 said:
Nobody said anything about freaking out. Do not assume. It was just a simple question. You really are blowing it WAY out or proportion.
Click to expand...

No I am just tired of people posting random thing that have nothing to do with the issue at hand just to build post. If you have not delt with the issue then how can you offer info that you know works. Op I would like to see some more post of his eye if you do not mind.
 
ataraxia said:
Your Chameleon - Male BB Ambilobe. 10
I dont see any good sources of vit A in his diet. I think if you get him some preformed vit A and good humidity range your problems will be solved.
Click to expand...


I read almost all the health threads just for more knowledge and it seems this answer seems to be the one that fixes most eye issues. The right UBV bulb is usually the next fix. Then comes the shower treatment.

After that I would give up and be at the vet since all of these take a wee bit to work and now it has been at least a week and my Cham not improving.

But that is just me and I am pretty new at Keeping Chams. I would not trust myself much longer after those three attempts.

I really hope he improves soon for you and I am sure You will get the help you need for your little guy :)
 
To the OP: the coil UVB reptisun bulbs were associated with a manufacturing defect that caused them to emit too much UVB (not too little as would be the case with an old bulb), but the tube lights were not known to cause this problem. A bulb over 6 months or so should be changed as they stop emitting UVB over time which inhibits calcium absorption, but that is separate from the eye issue. I would increase basking temps if it really is less than 80 degrees. Increase humidity and get a guage to measure it. I would use saline drops (as few preservatives as possible) several times a day to help him flush out any debris that may be irritating his eyes. Putting him on a plant in the shower with warm (not hot) water hitting the wall next to it so only the mist hits him can help flush out his eyes. I would start calling around for a good reptile vet tomorrow because if this continues he won't be able to eat and depending on what's causing the issue it could get worse. It's too hard to say right now what is causing this problem.
 
Our cham's eye went like this n he was rubbin it on branches and on our hands when we had him out too. We took him vets n they said it was possibly conjuctivitus and gave us some eyes drops. They've worked a treat and his eye is back to normal now
 
ferretinmyshoes said:
No there have not been any accounts of a bulb causing problems because it's too old. Do not spread misinformation if you don't have evidence to support it.
Click to expand...

I read it off these forums, I said I didn't know if it was true, people on the threads agreed with them, what am I supposed to trust if my chameleon did not have it happen itself? If plenty of people agreed then I'm going to atleast suggest it.
 
I must say, readin people nigglin at each other about weather or not they think what the other person is sayin is relevant or not is really off putting....
 
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