Help, closed eyes and itchy sides!!

[sportie]

so today after i had my cham outside for about 15 minutes or so, i noticed she was keeping her right eye closed, i didnt think anything of it because beardies do the same thing at random just because. then about an hour ago i noticed she was scratching at her right side with her hind foot. and scratching so ferociously i thought she was going to fall off the branch! now for the past 2 days her staple has been meal worms, just last night i introduced silk worms into her diet. is it just her trying to pass the hard shells of the meal worms? or am i being a worry wart of a mother like my boyfriend keeps telling me i am? please help me figure out what is happening!!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I would cut out the mealworms ... or at least reduce the % A LOT!
I think they are a terrible feeder for chameleons.
You're going to end up with a chameleon that has a prolapsed rectum.
Glad you're feeding silks ... that should help to balance things out.
Believe it or not superworms are much much better.

-Brad

 

[Scott85]

Has she shed recently? If not she might be getting ready to. My female usually starts her sheds on her eyes, and does alot of that side scratching.

 

[sportie]

superworms really? i thought since she was only 5 months she was to little to eat super worms...but i will order them once i run out of silkies. and to answer the other question, she has shed recently, about a week ago she shed in a matter of a few hours.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

Now is as good a time as any to post your answers to: https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/. It may uncover something not previously suspected... or that nothing is wrong with her .

 

[sportie]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - i have an exo terra 12x12x18 glass enclosure. i have heard that it is not the best cage and as a result i keep the doors open as much as a can.
Lighting - i have a 50W basking bulb and i thiiink my UVB light is 12W. but dont quote me on that
Temperature - the temp during the day is about 80. basking temp is about 90. at night i have no lights on and it gets to be about 65 or 70.
Humidity - during the day my humidity is at 70. at night it sinks down to about 55. i mist 2 times a day, and have a drip system going constently.
Plants - i am using fake plants.
Location - My cage is in the corner of my room. and i have a ceiling fan in the center of the room that is on almost all the time.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled Cham, 5 months, female.
Feeding - her staple now is silk worms. but for 2 days i fed her just meal worms. she eats 3 silkies each meal. so 6 a day. i feed her at 8 in the morning and 5 or 6 at night the silkies eat the chow untill 12 hours before a feeding i put them in with greens and romaine lettuce and carrots.
Supplements - i dust with calcium with d3 once a week.
Watering - i have a drip system, and i see her drinking often after a misting.
Fecal Description - she doesnt have particurally big stools. but they are dark green in color, and she doesnt poop often, only about once a day.
History - she was raised at petsmart...
Current Problem - She is not opening her right eye for long periods of time (like 5 hours) and she is scratching at her right side a lot.

 

[Dave Weldon]

...Lighting - i have a 50W basking bulb and i thiiink my UVB light is 12W. but dont quote me on that...

Feeding - her staple now is silk worms. ...i feed her at 8 in the morning and 5 or 6 at night ...

Supplements - i dust with calcium with d3 once a week.

Current Problem - She is not opening her right eye for long periods of time (like 5 hours) and she is scratching at her right side a lot.

Howdy,
Take a good look at the UVB light source and post all of the mfgr/make/model info. It could be very important for this situation.

Although silkworms are good feeders, I'd be happier if you were also feeding with several other insects too such as crickets, roaches, superworms.

I prefer to feed in the morning and no later than early afternoon. I don't think that there is any benefit to feeding when they won't be up to "full operating temperature" during the night to be able to digest.

I think you may be coming up short with Ca/D3 only once a week at this age.
Here's an example table: http://vipervenom9.tripod.com/id17.html

 

[sportie]

Her 2 lights are an exo terra sun glow 120v 60Hz 50W light and her UVB light is a 5.0 exo terra light that is in the compact top canopy.

i was feeding her crickets but my cage has so many little nooks and cranies that they were all finding these hiding spots before she could eat them. but on my next order i will buy some superworms.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Is her UVB a compact fluorescent?
I think a lot of husbandry review and troubleshooting is in order.
Start here:

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

-Brad