hannah8288
New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Panther, Ambilobe, five months old, bought when he was two months old.
Handling - Every few days but due to current problem and advice of vet every day
Feeding - silkworms, locusts and crickets gut fed on carrot, kale, Romaine lettuce, tropical fish flakes and weetabix. The odd waxwork, maybe 2-3 a month.
Supplements- Pro Rep calci dust on feeders every day and repti calcium with D3 twice a month. Vitamin supplement twice a month.
Watering - Misting with warm water three times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time. Dripper for 20 minutes a day twice a day.
Fecal Description - Over the past week fecal matter has become slightly watery, and every day the urate is looking more and more dehydrated, this morning an orangy brown colour. Never tested for parasites.
History - Info below..
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Glass Exo Terra Viv with mesh roof.
Lighting - 60 Watt Halogen and 10% UV. Lights on for 12 hours a day.
Temperature - Ambient temp 70-75, Basking temp 85-90. Digital thermometer on basking spot and regular thermometer lower in the tank. At night the temperature normally drops to around 68, lowest was 65.
Humidity - Humidity is between 60-70% Hydrometer in middle of tank. Misting 3 times a day for around 5 minutes a time with warm water. Homemade dripper system which drips for around 20 minutes twice a day.
Plants - Live umbrella plant and an artificial vine
Placement - Bedroom as its the quietest place. No fans or air vents. Top of tank is around 5 foot from the ground.
Location - England, United Kingdom.
Current Problem - Our five month old panther has seemed to be in good health for the three months we have had him, eating lots, drinking, active and pooing every day. Around a week ago he started sneezing a couple of times a day but apart from this remained active and eating. Over the past three days his condition has deteriorated, and he now shows little interest in feeders or water. He tends to stay under the basking spot (85-90) for most of the day and occasionally sits with his mouth open slightly. He has become lethargic and rarely adventure his viv anymore.
We took him to the vet a couple of days ago and were told he was dehydrated and has a respiratory infection. We now have to nebulise him twice a day for twenty minutes at a time with F10, and our vet told us to BATHE him twice a day in warm water with Reptoboost. We were told by the vet who is a reptile specialist that being a chameleon, he is the only reptile who can absorb water through his bottom, and although we knew a small amount could be absorbed through the hands and feet did not know this was also possible? Even though we only use a very shallow amount of water the experience is extremely stressful for him so we have now swapped one of his baths for a shower, where we place him on a plant in the shower and mist him for around 15 minutes with warmish water. We are worried and confused as the vet told us the bathing part was the most effective way to get him dehydrated but it is extremely stressful for him. We mist the vivarium a few times a day, for around ten minutes at a time but we never see him drink despite prolonged misting sessions in the shower and viv. He would take a few drops of water from a pipette last week but now even refuses that.
As he is still relatively small he is still in an Exo Terra vivarium however we are finding with the extending misting we are currently doing the viv is becoming extremely waterlogged at the glass bottom as we do not have a proper drainage system. This means soaking up all the excess water and drying the tank at least once a day to prevent standing water before the lights go off at night. Currently he is lethargic, slightly yellow in colour although his eyes are not sunken, but his urate is very dark orange. He has also lost 4 grams in weight over the past few days. We are very worried about him and will be contacting the vet again tomorrow, but are concerned that the everyday handling required to give him the bath is causing more stress than good. Please help we are lost!!!
Your Chameleon - Panther, Ambilobe, five months old, bought when he was two months old.
Handling - Every few days but due to current problem and advice of vet every day
Feeding - silkworms, locusts and crickets gut fed on carrot, kale, Romaine lettuce, tropical fish flakes and weetabix. The odd waxwork, maybe 2-3 a month.
Supplements- Pro Rep calci dust on feeders every day and repti calcium with D3 twice a month. Vitamin supplement twice a month.
Watering - Misting with warm water three times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time. Dripper for 20 minutes a day twice a day.
Fecal Description - Over the past week fecal matter has become slightly watery, and every day the urate is looking more and more dehydrated, this morning an orangy brown colour. Never tested for parasites.
History - Info below..
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Glass Exo Terra Viv with mesh roof.
Lighting - 60 Watt Halogen and 10% UV. Lights on for 12 hours a day.
Temperature - Ambient temp 70-75, Basking temp 85-90. Digital thermometer on basking spot and regular thermometer lower in the tank. At night the temperature normally drops to around 68, lowest was 65.
Humidity - Humidity is between 60-70% Hydrometer in middle of tank. Misting 3 times a day for around 5 minutes a time with warm water. Homemade dripper system which drips for around 20 minutes twice a day.
Plants - Live umbrella plant and an artificial vine
Placement - Bedroom as its the quietest place. No fans or air vents. Top of tank is around 5 foot from the ground.
Location - England, United Kingdom.
Current Problem - Our five month old panther has seemed to be in good health for the three months we have had him, eating lots, drinking, active and pooing every day. Around a week ago he started sneezing a couple of times a day but apart from this remained active and eating. Over the past three days his condition has deteriorated, and he now shows little interest in feeders or water. He tends to stay under the basking spot (85-90) for most of the day and occasionally sits with his mouth open slightly. He has become lethargic and rarely adventure his viv anymore.
We took him to the vet a couple of days ago and were told he was dehydrated and has a respiratory infection. We now have to nebulise him twice a day for twenty minutes at a time with F10, and our vet told us to BATHE him twice a day in warm water with Reptoboost. We were told by the vet who is a reptile specialist that being a chameleon, he is the only reptile who can absorb water through his bottom, and although we knew a small amount could be absorbed through the hands and feet did not know this was also possible? Even though we only use a very shallow amount of water the experience is extremely stressful for him so we have now swapped one of his baths for a shower, where we place him on a plant in the shower and mist him for around 15 minutes with warmish water. We are worried and confused as the vet told us the bathing part was the most effective way to get him dehydrated but it is extremely stressful for him. We mist the vivarium a few times a day, for around ten minutes at a time but we never see him drink despite prolonged misting sessions in the shower and viv. He would take a few drops of water from a pipette last week but now even refuses that.
As he is still relatively small he is still in an Exo Terra vivarium however we are finding with the extending misting we are currently doing the viv is becoming extremely waterlogged at the glass bottom as we do not have a proper drainage system. This means soaking up all the excess water and drying the tank at least once a day to prevent standing water before the lights go off at night. Currently he is lethargic, slightly yellow in colour although his eyes are not sunken, but his urate is very dark orange. He has also lost 4 grams in weight over the past few days. We are very worried about him and will be contacting the vet again tomorrow, but are concerned that the everyday handling required to give him the bath is causing more stress than good. Please help we are lost!!!
