help my cham throwing up

[lisalisa]

I have a Senegal cham. She hasn't eaten in a couple days but has been drinking plenty of water. I'm Laying in bed and I see her hang over her branch and open her mouth so wide throw up. It freaked me out. Now She's pooping? She's never opened her mouth like that ever since I've had her. She's a happy chameleon. What could this be. ?? Hurry!

 

[Devokid]

Without knowing what your cage conditions are like, I would say that IF it is an isolated incident, I would not worry. If she does it again, I would take her in to see a vet. It could be any number of things including too low of basking temps, but it is super hard to say for sure based on the information provided.

 

[lisalisa]

attached some pictures.

OK. She has a basking light and a uvb lights that I turn off at night. Her basking light also I change at night to the red night light the reptile store recommended. There is a picture of her cage and her right now after she vommited.

 

[carol5208]

You need to make some major adjustments to your cage. She probably is not warm enough as your basking area is WAY too far down from the light. Please search our enclosure threads and get some ideas how to set up a cage properly. You should have many walkways consisting of vines and branches for your chameleon along with tall live plants that fill the cage up. Your basking area should be about 8 inches under the light with a temp about 85 degrees or so. No lights at night. The pet store was wrong. Please go back to the health clinic and fill out the "how to ask for help" form thoroughly so we can better help you. Chameleons like to be high up. You have everything backwards with all your things at the bottom of the cage.

 

[Decadancin]

Hi, and Welcome to the forums! I would have to agree with Carol. Pet stores are in the business of profit, and don't always know how to care for these amazing little ones. No lights at night is a must! It will not allow them to get a quality rest and will definitely lead to some health issues. As for the enclosure, you need to think like a chameleon. Most of them prefer to be higher up in the enclosure and the enclosure should be a few feet off the ground. The ideal enclosure will have various horizontal pathways and enough foliage to allow for self regulation of temps. A basking site as Carol mentioned of about 85 degrees would be great and then some leaves to create shadows for when your cham needs a break.

The vomiting could be from not being warm enough and not fully digesting the food, but that's just a guess. If it does continue you may want to have a reptile vet in mind.

Best of luck with your Senagal!

 

[lisalisa]

OK I made some changes. Let me know if I've gotten it down. Anything else u recommended is appreciated. Thank You all.

 

[carol5208]

Better! I see her basking under the light already! She probably was so cold way down there on the bottom. Did you measure the temp below the light?. It might be a little too close now though. Be careful as they can burn themselves very easily getting too close or if any of their body parts touch the screen. Sometimes they grow quickly and before you know it they have grown closer to the light. We have many members who have chameleons who have gotten burned. Also as I suggested, taller plants. Nice and full so they give her cover to hide. If you cannot find plants tall enough, take a bucket and turn it upside down and place the plants on top of the buckets. Sheffelera, and ficus work well. If she climbs all the way to the end of the vine, she almost looks as she could touch the light, so be careful.