First time chameleon owner needs help asap :(

[jrmcallister91]

Your Chameleon - Jackson's Chameleon, male, 3-4 months, I've had him for about 3 weeks now.
Handling - Once a week if that, more recently since I'm trying to get him to eat and figure out what's wrong with him
Feeding - He was eating gut-loaded crickets when we first brought him home, about 4-5 a day. About a week ago he stopped eating them so I introduced mealworms and he ate 3-4 in one sitting. Since then i've been giving him 1-2 mealworms a day and crickets though he's left the crickets alone entirely.
Supplements - Repticalcium with d3
Watering - Dripper system that drips throughout the whole day, misting 3 times a day
Fecal Description - Brown with white. Sometimes just white. Haven't seen any the last few days though :/ Never been tested for parasites that I know of.
History - no

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Zoo med Reptibreeze Screen cage, 16" x 16" x20"
Lighting - Reptisun 5.0 and 100watt basking light. I try to turn the lights on around 9-10am each day and they go off around 9-10pm.
Temperature - During the day the temp is about 80 degrees and at night drops around 68-70.
Humidity - I'm having a hard time keeping the humidity up, but it stays around 50-60 usually. I mist 3-4 times a day and have been misting with a humidifying tropical mist spray as well.
Plants - Two live plants, a hibiscus and Pothos
Placement - Originally he was sitting on top of a dresser away from the window and any fans, but directly underneath an air vent. A week and a half ago, he was moved to a table directly next to the window so he could get more natural UVB light but ever since the move, he seems to have gotten more sick I was assuming he would thrive next to the window and away from the vent.
Location - Orlando, FL

Current Problem -
I've had my Jackson's chameleon for a little over three weeks now and he seemed great at first. Ate a lot of crickets, drank a lot and was moving around a lot. Now it's nearing the end of the 5th or 6th day of him barely eating at all or moving around. He still drinks some but barely, at least that I've seen. Two days ago he closed his eyes and seems like he hasn't opened them back up since. He still moves around but won't open his eyes and because of this, doesn't see the food I offer him. One of his eyes seems swollen almost, more bulged out than the other. He looks really weak and when I hold him, has a grip but not as strongly as he used to. He leans on leaves and things in the cage a lot rather than holding himself up straight. I'm very worried about him but I don't know what to do He's strong enough to hold his jaw closed when I try to force feed (which I've only tried twice just because I got desperate and he hated it) but is very lethargic otherwise. I'm a first time owner and thought I did enough research to take proper care of him but something must be wrong PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[carol5208]

Sorry to hear your chameleon is not feeling well. How often are you supplementing with the d3? You need to be careful especially with a Jackson's. You should have a plain calcium without d3 also. I am not sure the supplement schedule for a jackson but they need to supplemented less than say the panthers or veilds. He is not really benefiting from any uvb through your glass window as it does not pass through. It is ok though if he likes the sunshine. Do you ever take him outside? If not, you should. It is the best thing for him. If he is lethargic and not eating, he could have parasites. Thing is you need some poop in order to test him. You have to get him to drink or he will dehydrate. Try dripping some water on his nose with an eye dropper. At this point from what you are saying, I would be looking to get him to a vet tomorrow.

 

[jrmcallister91]

Thank you for responding! He actually hasn't had the d3 supplements since he stopped eating the crickets which was about a week or so ago. I just got him to drink a few minutes ago but not a lot, just a few gulps from the spray bottle while I was misting. But eyes still closed :/ I'm looking up a chameleon specialist in my area as we speak and will be taking him tomorrow.

 

[carol5208]

I am glad you are getting him to a vet. You have not had him long so the d3 is probably not an issue but would be if you continued to use it solely and too often. Hopefully another Jackson owner can guide you on the supplementation that works for them. Just try to keep him hydrated if possible. Closing of the eyes can be due to incorrect lighting(which is not your case) vitamin deficiency, dehydration, parasites. Normally if your chamelon is dehydrated his eyes will be sunken in. Can you get a picture up of him?

 

[Hoj]

I would look at oyur suppelelments and temps 100w in flordia should be making some high temps.

here is a blog I did for the keeping of montane species
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/hoj/634-montane-chameleon-care-info.html

Glad you are taking him to the vet sorry to hear you are having issues,

 

[laurie]

As a former jackson keeper, I would get him out in the sun asap. Take a mister bottle and make very sure he doesn't over heat. Keep misting him the entire time you are outside, he very well may drink. Never give him calcium with d3 over once a month at most. With a jacksons less supplements are better for him. Until he get the stuff out of his system give him NO supplements for at least 2 weeks then we will talk about how he is doing.

PM me if you have any questions

 

[jrmcallister91]

Thanks for all the responses guys, I took him to a vet this morning. According to the doc, he's just very weak from not having enough calcium. He suggested some outside time in direct sunlight and also prescribed some Calcionate syrup to give to him by syringe twice daily. I gave him his first dose and also gave him a few drops of water from it since he's dehydrated as well. I was hopeful at the vet's since he actually seemed to perk up and even opened his eyes for a short time. But now that we are home it's almost like nothing has really changed Vet said it would take up to 72 hours to see any improvements, but I just found him dangling by his feet and freaked out again! Eyes still closed and still not much movement and I'm wondering if on top of giving him water through the syringe, if I should try food as well? The vet suggested a meat based baby food to try through the syringe if he still hasn't perked up in the next day or two to eat himself.

Does all of this sound like we're going in the right direction??

 

[jrmcallister91]

Also I wasn't able to take him outside at all today on account of bad weather :/ but first thing tomorrow if the sun is out, he will be out there for sure.