Hinzfamily
New Member
I feel like all I do now is worry about my chameleons. Each day it is something new. I posted about my Jackson's a few times (her name is Kiwi). She has been in my care since mid November (about 2 months). I bought her at Petsmart for my daughter. Prior issues so to date were; is she Gravid, dark Colors, won't eat, and dropped slugs. Here is a link to my previously written caresheet…
https://www.chameleonforums.com/concerns-female-jackson-122443/
Her hunger strike ended after she dropped a bunch of slugs while I was on vacation in Hawaii over the holidays. She never did eat for the guy that was watching her for me, but as soon as I came home she was a totally different chameleon. She has been eating 8-10 crickets per day, and I usually give her 1 superworm as a treat every few days. I have tried Dubia Roaches and she refused them… I ended up killing off my batch because both my chameleon's refused them, and I kept having envisions of them escaping. I have ordered some hornworms and should be getting them in tomorrow. Her basking temp is between 85-88, and humidity is averaging around 55% with spikes upto 88-90% when misting. So that is my update to my care sheet, everything else in my care sheet is still correct.. now for my new/old concern.
As you can see in the pictures attached she is still almost black. She is a nice light green in the morning when I turn on her lights, but her body turns black all day, her head will vary between dark green and black. Other then her color she seems great. She is very active, drinks a ton of water and eats right out of my hand.
I don't ever take her out of the cage. She just refuses to climb on my hand, The few times I have tried to convince her to come out she will turn a light green / dark green / black splotchy pattern.
I have found a good chameleon vet (at least she asked all the right questions). She has indicated that I should bring her in for some blood work. She said that since she is older and we don't know if she was captive breed or WC (Pet Smart says she was captive breed, but they were wrong about everything else so … ) and what her husbandry has been her whole life that she could have some kidney issues or any number of other things going on.
I really don't have any objection to bringing her in, if it is necessary. I am VERY attached to my chameleons and want the best for them both, but I don't want to rush them to the vet EVERY time I am worried (as that tends to be a daily occurrence). Can someone please tell me if her coloring is an indication that something is wrong with her, and if they recommend the vet visit / blood work?
I have adjusted her basking temps from low 80's to low 90's.. she seems to prefer the mid 80's, if they are low 90's she won't bask at her highest spot. My thoughts over the past few weeks has been to get her temperatures worked out and she will turn lighter green. But we are going on two months of black, and 3 weeks since she dropped her slugs, and there is NO change to her color.
She does not seem stressed by my appearance anymore. She actually comes up to the door when I am there if she is looking for food or water. She only seems stressed if I try to take her out of the cage. Unless there is something else with my husbandry that I can change to make her more comfortable then I am thinking the blood work is my next step.
Here is a series of pics of her this morning going over to the mister to get water. When she was done she backed up and opened her mouth and let the mist spray her face for a few seconds. She seemed to really enjoy her misting this morning so I let it go for about 5 mins longer then normal. She lapped up the water the entire time.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/concerns-female-jackson-122443/
Her hunger strike ended after she dropped a bunch of slugs while I was on vacation in Hawaii over the holidays. She never did eat for the guy that was watching her for me, but as soon as I came home she was a totally different chameleon. She has been eating 8-10 crickets per day, and I usually give her 1 superworm as a treat every few days. I have tried Dubia Roaches and she refused them… I ended up killing off my batch because both my chameleon's refused them, and I kept having envisions of them escaping. I have ordered some hornworms and should be getting them in tomorrow. Her basking temp is between 85-88, and humidity is averaging around 55% with spikes upto 88-90% when misting. So that is my update to my care sheet, everything else in my care sheet is still correct.. now for my new/old concern.
As you can see in the pictures attached she is still almost black. She is a nice light green in the morning when I turn on her lights, but her body turns black all day, her head will vary between dark green and black. Other then her color she seems great. She is very active, drinks a ton of water and eats right out of my hand.
I don't ever take her out of the cage. She just refuses to climb on my hand, The few times I have tried to convince her to come out she will turn a light green / dark green / black splotchy pattern.
I have found a good chameleon vet (at least she asked all the right questions). She has indicated that I should bring her in for some blood work. She said that since she is older and we don't know if she was captive breed or WC (Pet Smart says she was captive breed, but they were wrong about everything else so … ) and what her husbandry has been her whole life that she could have some kidney issues or any number of other things going on.
I really don't have any objection to bringing her in, if it is necessary. I am VERY attached to my chameleons and want the best for them both, but I don't want to rush them to the vet EVERY time I am worried (as that tends to be a daily occurrence). Can someone please tell me if her coloring is an indication that something is wrong with her, and if they recommend the vet visit / blood work?
I have adjusted her basking temps from low 80's to low 90's.. she seems to prefer the mid 80's, if they are low 90's she won't bask at her highest spot. My thoughts over the past few weeks has been to get her temperatures worked out and she will turn lighter green. But we are going on two months of black, and 3 weeks since she dropped her slugs, and there is NO change to her color.
She does not seem stressed by my appearance anymore. She actually comes up to the door when I am there if she is looking for food or water. She only seems stressed if I try to take her out of the cage. Unless there is something else with my husbandry that I can change to make her more comfortable then I am thinking the blood work is my next step.
Here is a series of pics of her this morning going over to the mister to get water. When she was done she backed up and opened her mouth and let the mist spray her face for a few seconds. She seemed to really enjoy her misting this morning so I let it go for about 5 mins longer then normal. She lapped up the water the entire time.
