We just got him about a week ago we haven’t held him and tried to leave him alone as much as possible. We lost our last one within a week of getting him so my son is freaking out and super worried about him. He doesn’t seem to be opening his eyes a whole lot and we haven’t seen him drink but he has eaten a good amount!
Help...Does he look dehydrated?
- Thread starter Steviekol
- Start date
renzo0684
Avid Member
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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Please Note:
- 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.
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?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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Please Note:
- The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
- Photos can be very helpful.
I don't see obvious signs of dehydration but it is a bad sign that he is closing his eyes during the day.
It could be from improper lighting, excessive stress, poor health or too much light at night. If you fill out answers above, keepers here might be able to help you narrow it down.
It could be from improper lighting, excessive stress, poor health or too much light at night. If you fill out answers above, keepers here might be able to help you narrow it down.
Syreptyon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Where did you purchase him? And what went wrong with the first chameleon? Did you make changes between the two? Chameleons are very sensitive animals (aka not good beginner reptiles) and it is possible that there is something very wrong in your husbandry if you've had this many problems with two different chameleons in such a short amount of time.
You still haven't filled out the health form. Please fill it out in its entirety. Your chameleon is visibly unwell and we need as much info as we can get in order to help you. Please also post photos of the entire enclosure.
You still haven't filled out the health form. Please fill it out in its entirety. Your chameleon is visibly unwell and we need as much info as we can get in order to help you. Please also post photos of the entire enclosure.
Graves923
Chameleon Enthusiast
Fill this form out please.... Seeing his eyes closed and head tilted up is not a good sign.... We need the info here to help you dial in your husbandry and get this chameleon healthy again.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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.
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?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Syreptyon
Chameleon Enthusiast
@Steviekol You have been asked at least 3 times now to fill out the help form. We cannot help you if you do not listen to us.
Daniel266jz
Avid Member
No substrate. Could be digested and cause impaction. Just paper towels or spot clean.
jcarlsen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Few things...the eyes closing during the day is obviously a sign of something wrong, be it stress, dehydration or some other illness. Also, best way to tell a cham's hydration level is looking at their urate when they poop. If it's all white, then they should be well hydrated. If it's orange-ish or very orange, he needs to be drinking more.
Also, there are definitely some issues with your setup, as others have mentioned above. Take a look here for what a proper setup should look like: (link no longer valid)
Also, there are definitely some issues with your setup, as others have mentioned above. Take a look here for what a proper setup should look like: (link no longer valid)
Graves923
Chameleon Enthusiast
Do not dust D3 daily.... This will cause many health issues. Dust plain calcium everyday, D3 twice per month and dust a multivitamin twice per month.
I wouldnt be surprise if your chameleon has a respiratory infection with your misting schedule... Misting every hour does not allow the humidity to drop. You need to allow the enclosure to dry out or else you are essentially keeping him in a swamp. Sustained high humidity can cause RIs.
Set your mister to less frequent sessions and longer duration. I set my mist system to spray every 3-4 hours for 3-5 minutes at a time. 12 seconds is not longer enough for your chameleon to be stimulated to drink. With the misting. you are trying to simulate a short rain shower.
I wouldnt be surprise if your chameleon has a respiratory infection with your misting schedule... Misting every hour does not allow the humidity to drop. You need to allow the enclosure to dry out or else you are essentially keeping him in a swamp. Sustained high humidity can cause RIs.
Set your mister to less frequent sessions and longer duration. I set my mist system to spray every 3-4 hours for 3-5 minutes at a time. 12 seconds is not longer enough for your chameleon to be stimulated to drink. With the misting. you are trying to simulate a short rain shower.
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