healthy or not?

[skinny]

hey,
i've had my chameleon for about 2 years now. i got him when he was about 2 weeks old. when i first got him, he was real angry. he hated being touched, hated people going near him, but used to chnage his colour all the time. now, he doesn't. i let him roam around as much as he wants, we have a tank but he never goes inside. he allows me to touch him sometimes, but never pick him up. i usually use a coat hanger to pick him up and he has no problem with that. he stays the same brown all the time, except from when he is asleep when he turns a lighter green. i didn't know if that is because he is comfortable or soemthing else. also, he has this hard white crust on his crest and down his spine. it looks like skin, but when i try to remove it, it hurts him. it seems weird because it has been there for a while (3-4 months maybe). just wondering if anyone could give a little insight as to what's going on.
thanks.

 

[skinny]

also

sorry, i forgot a couple of things. he shakes alot, like alot. and he loses his footing sometimes, like he doesn't quite know where to put them. also, when he tries to eat, he misses the food alot. and he also has this bulge on the underside of him, right at the base of his tail. i'm guessing it's his ass, but it bulges out. normal?
thanks people

 

[chambabysitter1]

Your chameleon does not sound well. Shaking is not a good sign. Neither is missing food. Neither is a crust, is it a burn?


What kind of lighting do you have? In fact, please fill this out in detail:

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[jojackson]

The bulge is probably his reproductive gear (hemepenes bulges) depends.
The crust is very likely unshed skin, Id be misting Regularly and checking the ambient humidity in your cage.
Shaking when walking is sometimes normal, done to mimic a leaf moved by the wind, but excessive shaking may indicate metabolic bone disease or something else.

Thats the best I can do with the info you provided. Pics of the cham and pics of your caging will help determin whats going on.
Theres a questionaire here somewhere you can cut n paste and add youir answers about how you look after it, your cage, heating, lighting , watering etc etc.

Yep, there it is!

 

[dodolah]

In the meantime, schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible.
Just from the description alone, I could list several diseases that your chameleon might have.
If you are somewhere in US, try these links to locate an exotic vet nearby your area.
www.arav.org
www.herpvetconnection.com

If possible, take pics of your whole setup cage and your chameleon in question then post them here.