Female Jackson help

[DLG]

Sobe - Jackson chameleon, Female, She is about a year old. She has been in my care since November
Handling - I handle her about once or twice a week
Feeding -She has been eating 3 or 4 crickets ever 2 days
Supplements - Plain calcium every 3 days D3 and multivitamin every month
Watering - I use a dripper and i mist usually 2 times a day and sometimes i see her drink
Fecal Description - dark brown and dense sometimes its watery and she hasn't been tested for parasites
History - She was very neglected when i took her in she lived in a very small cage with without the right humidity
Cage Type - Reptibreeze 18 by 18 by 32
Lighting -A 13 w uvb florescent bulb and a blue bulb for heat
Temperature - 70-80 basking spot is 85 lowest overnight temp is 60-65
Humidity - humidity is 80 when i have the humidifier on and 50 to 60 when its not on and i measure it with a temperature and humidity gauge
Plants - i have all fake plants and a piece of wood
Placement -Its located on the floor kinda by my door
Location -Colorado
Current Problem -The first thing i am concerned about is that her legs are still very skinny and don't have much meat on them and i was wondering if i was doing something wrong the other thing i am concerned about is that her left eye is half closed or completely closed most of the time except for when shes hunting she will have it wide open and it will look normal The first picture is from the last owner where she is very stressed and dehydrated the second one is the current.

 

[Action Jackson]

Sorry your having problems. She does not look good I'm afraid. What is your lighting schedule? You should have a UVB bulb and a incandescent bulb for heat. No blue or red bulbs and no lights on at night.

 

[Seiryu]

Sorry your little one is having problems!

With the crickets, is that all she will eat or all you offer? Try offering every day and see what she eats. What are you gutloading the crickets with? Most common commercial gutloads are usually not that great. Maybe try cup feeding if you haven't or try free-ranging if all you do is cup feed. If that's all she wants, you have a few possibilities OR it may be all she wants. Some eat more than others, but she is definitely skinny.

1. Parasites
2. Possibly gravid (even if never with a male)
3. She doesn't like crickets too much.

She doesn't Look gravid, but sometimes they have such a small amount of "slugs" or babies, it's not easy to tell.

So I would say a vet visit is in order, especially since you mentioned her eye closing a lot. That is never a good sign. Bring in a fresh fecal while you are at it.

Try offering something different like dubia cockroaches, phoenix worms, wax worms (to beef her up a bit) or silkworms.

If you are interested in trying dubia, I could ship you out some for free if you pay shipping. PM me if interested!

In case she is gravid, you might consider upping the calcium a little bit. It's extremely hard to overdose on plain calcium.

 

[Bush baby]

She looks slightly dehydrated also as noted by the slightly sunken eyes. Increase the spray durations and frequency.

Also give her gut loaded super worms, along with wax worms to add some additional weight to her.

 

[DLG]

Sorry your having problems. She does not look good I'm afraid. What is your lighting schedule? You should have a UVB bulb and a incandescent bulb for heat. No blue or red bulbs and no lights on at night.

My lighting schedule is 6 to 6, would a purple bulb work? and I am up late most nights and my lights in my room are on could that be contributing to the problem?

 

[Action Jackson]

My lighting schedule is 6 to 6, would a purple bulb work? and I am up late most nights and my lights in my room are on could that be contributing to the problem?

Use a regular white incandescent bulb. It's very important for Chameleons to have a regular light cycle that closely matches what it happening outside. If you have light on outside of normal sunrise and sunset times you should cover her cage to block the light. I have found that when I accidentally leave lights on my chameleons at night it screws up their cycle and I will find them sleeping during the day. I'm not sure if this is the cause of your problems but it certainly could be one of them.

 

[PressurePro]

By "blue bulb" do you mean the Zoo Med daylight Blue bulb? They are ok.

Is she able to escape the path of the UVB bulb? The compact fluorescent (or screw type) UVB bulbs emit a very high concentration of UVB over a tight range (even the 5% ones). I recommend positioning the UVB bulb near a corner so she can move in and out of it's path at her discretion.

I also recommend misting more often and for long durations to trigger drinking.

Any unnecessary handling will only further stress her out.

 

[DLG]

Sorry your little one is having problems!


So I would say a vet visit is in order, especially since you mentioned her eye closing a lot. That is never a good sign. Bring in a fresh fecal while you are at it.

Maybe theres something in her eye because she keeps bulging it trying to clean it?

 

[DLG]

Sorry your little one is having problems!
1. Parasites
2. Possibly gravid (even if never with a male)
3. She doesn't like crickets too much.

She doesn't Look gravid, but sometimes they have such a small amount of "slugs" or babies, it's not easy to tell.

So I would say a vet visit is in order, especially since you mentioned her eye closing a lot. That is never a good sign. Bring in a fresh fecal while you are at it.

Try offering something different like dubia cockroaches, phoenix worms, wax worms (to beef her up a bit) or silkworms.

If you are interested in trying dubia, I could ship you out some for free if you pay shipping. PM me if interested!

In case she is gravid, you might consider upping the calcium a little bit. It's extremely hard to overdose on plain calcium.

I dont know what i should do, i cant take her to the vet, i dont have the money to. Should i try to rehome her so she gets the care she needs?

 

[Action Jackson]

I dont know what i should do, i cant take her to the vet, i dont have the money to. Should i try to rehome her so she gets the care she needs?

That may be a good option if given to the right person. Where are you located?

 

[DLG]

That may be a good option if given to the right person. Where are you located?

Im in colorado theres not many chameleon owners here should i try on the classifieds on here?