HELP... now what's wrong!

[bridgofaith]

I posted a while back regarding some issues with my Nosy Be baby boy. This is the link to that thread. I changed the compact UV light out to the ReptiSun 5.0 tube light and a 50w Repti basking spot lamp. At first I thought he was getting better, but I think he's getting worse. He doesn't seem to be able to judge his distance very well when trying to catch his food and usually misses. I am feeding him the Phoenix worms from a feeding dish. Instead of shooying his tongue to catch them he just kinda sticks his head in the bowl and picks them up. He can shoot his tongue though, I have seen him. He is just constantly roaming the cage always on the sides. He seems frantic and he starts flailing his arms trying to run away anytime I get near the cage or start to mist with water. I do not touch him at all. He really doesn't like it. I'm going to post some updated pics in a little while. The other thread has a link to some pics with cage setup also. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

https://www.chameleonforums.com/concerned-24173/


http://s627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/bridgofaith/

 

[jojackson]

If its eating, pooing drinking and warming up under the light, I dont see the problem.
Its a tiny frightened animal, its behaviour sounds normal.
Give it time to grow accustomed to its surroundings, try not to disturb it too much.
Sleeping in the day isnt good, but is it really sleeping?
Chams do rest and closing its eyes might be just because your present. Try to observe for a time withuot being seen.

If its eyes are sore from the compact you had in, a few more days should see it improve.
If thats bark/dirt or some other substrate on the cage floor, its probly best to remove it and leave beare flooring. Easier to clean, eliminates the possibly of it eating some and getting blocked up (impaction).

 

[bridgofaith]

No, I've had him for 2 months and this is not his normal behavior. I saw this same thing before, with my full grown male shortly before he died 2 years ago. That's why I'm concened.

 

[jojackson]

OK, well in that case, it might be best to see a vet, get the little guy checked over, just in case. Im sorry, I really cant think of anything else without lots more details.
Best wishes

 

[Gluuvan]

Sorry to hear that your Nosy Be isn't feeling very well. From one of the pictures you posted, his eyes do seem to be sunken in. Not the best sign,It does seem like he has a bit of a dehydration issue, Have you seen him drink from the dripper recently? A cham is only good without water for about a day. Hope he turns around soon!

 

[bridgofaith]

I mist several times a day and use a drip system. I do not think he is drinking as well as he should. Today I don't think he drank at all. What can I do though to help out? Also, he seems very tiny to me. I haven't raised one from a baby before. The last one I had I got him fully grown. About how big should he be at 5-6 months old? Thanks.

 

[jojackson]

Mist the leaves of any plants in the cage, vines too, maybe lightly over his face (but dont persist with that if it clearly dosent like it) will normally encourage it to drink. Make sure the dripper runs as long as possible (a bigger dripper if nessesary).
Additionally, ensuring that its insects its eating are gutload with sufficient moisture also.
Moist food will assist with hydration.

Keep it eating whatever you do, if you hand feed it, so be it. Its probly just happy to eat from the bowl thing, i bet it would 'shoot' at flying bugs.
How active is it? whats its daily routine? Just want to get a better idea.

 

[bridgofaith]

Mist the leaves of any plants in the cage, vines too, maybe lightly over his face (but dont persist with that if it clearly dosent like it) will normally encourage it to drink. Make sure the dripper runs as long as possible (a bigger dripper if nessesary).
Additionally, ensuring that its insects its eating are gutload with sufficient moisture also.
Moist food will assist with hydration.

Keep it eating whatever you do, if you hand feed it, so be it. Its probly just happy to eat from the bowl thing, i bet it would 'shoot' at flying bugs.
How active is it? whats its daily routine? Just want to get a better idea.

I have given him fruit flies and he usually goes crazy for them, but now he doesn't appear to be eating them at all. His usual activity is up as soon as the light comeson and exploring the cage until 30 min. before the light goes off. In and out of his tree. Now he maily stays on the screen cage and he is even walking around on the bottom. He seems very weak and tired. "Naps" after every few steps. He always slept in his tree on a particular branch, now it's just wherever he falls asleep. Right now he's hanging from the ceiling of the cage.

 

[jojackson]

If it looks like this now

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/bridgofaith/IMG_4319.jpg

Then it dosent look too bad to me, but what you just described, sounds like its a bit sulky about something to me. Lack of energy dosent quite alarm me, they are a slow creature, are you sure its not just scanning its enviroment while its motionless between steps? they do alot of that. Maybe another plant on the other side? This will ensure he has a comfy place to hang out and feel secure at different thermal locations in the cage. More to climb Might cheer him up.
Make sure of your basic thermal gradient (top to bottom) and also side to side, to be sure exactly of temperatures?
The upper right hand corner is the basking spot? What is the ambient cage temp? (air temp in middle)? I dont see a thermometer device in the cage? Somebody will know the preferred gradient (temp range) and basking temp suitable for your cham.

 

[bridgofaith]

If it looks like this now

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/bridgofaith/IMG_4319.jpg

Then it dosent look too bad to me, but what you just described, sounds like its a bit sulky about something to me. Lack of energy dosent quite alarm me, they are a slow creature, are you sure its not just scanning its enviroment while its motionless between steps? they do alot of that. Maybe another plant on the other side? This will ensure he has a comfy place to hang out and feel secure at different thermal locations in the cage. More to climb Might cheer him up.
Make sure of your basic thermal gradient (top to bottom) and also side to side, to be sure exactly of temperatures?
The upper right hand corner is the basking spot? What is the ambient cage temp? (air temp in middle)? I dont see a thermometer device in the cage? Somebody will know the preferred gradient (temp range) and basking temp suitable for your cham.

Yes, that pic is just 2-3 days old. No, he's not scanning, I checked. I don't think he is actually sleeping, but he stops and closes his eyes constantly. I don't think I had a thermometer in at the time the cage pic was taken but I do now and a humidity gage also. I sent pics to Liddy at Kammerflage because we had been discussing the problems as well. We thought that all of his problems started with the compact light. But that was replaced several weeks ago. She suggested turning off the UV light for up to 2 weeks and see what happens. She didn't seem to hopeful for him. That is of course if all this is due to the original light problem.

 

[jojackson]

It should not still be closing its eyes after weeks without the compact. Thats definately worth investigating.
How much is it eating today?

 

[bridgofaith]

It should not still be closing its eyes after weeks without the compact. Thats definately worth investigating.
How much is it eating today?

I know for a fact he ate 3 small Phoenix Worms. I do not think he ate anything else or drank today. I have given him a new bushy plant to see if he likes that better.

 

[bridgofaith]

Ok, I have been searching through the old threads and I'm wondering if I'm dealing with a Vit. A problem here. Symptoms seem the same. This started with 1 eye and then progressed to both eyes. He has only shed 1 time in the 2 months I've owned him. Perhaps I should be giving him a Vit A supplement? I have not been dusting the Phoenix Worms with calcium powder because the website says you don't need to. The fruit flies I dust. So I'm don't think it's MBD. I'm leaning toward Vit A. Anyone think this could be the prob?