Help traumatic transport

[Beman]

Was that the same feeder they had in with him and if it was is it in the same position it was when you got the cage? If not then you would want to put it back where he had it prior. IF it is new then he is not going to know to eat from it. You would want to try to hand feed him with his eyes being shut so much. maybe during misting shove a cricket in the front of his mouth while he is drinking.

 

[saltychameleon]

Same feeder, same position, the bugs are all alive and have stayed waiting to be eaten… maybe I’ll try to feed him a wax worm while he’s drinking I want to give him something calorie dense that will make him snap out of this.

 

[kinyonga]

Have you tried slipping a cricket, head first into his mouth so he bites down on it when he’s drinking? He might eat that way.

 

[saltychameleon]

He’s been moving around the cage but always with his eyes shut. He was hanging out next to his food bowl this morning but still looks like he hasn’t eaten unless he foraged a cricket. Yesterday and today he’s been lower in the enclosure, it’s so sad that such a beautiful creature could be treated so carelessly. On Sunday when I was misting him he was reaching towards it so I let him crawl onto my arm which he did without hesitation and he finished his mist over the bathtub.

 

[Beman]

He’s been moving around the cage but always with his eyes shut. He was hanging out next to his food bowl this morning but still looks like he hasn’t eaten unless he foraged a cricket. Yesterday and today he’s been lower in the enclosure, it’s so sad that such a beautiful creature could be treated so carelessly. On Sunday when I was misting him he was reaching towards it so I let him crawl onto my arm which he did without hesitation and he finished his mist over the bathtub.
View attachment 367459

Have you been able to try to shove any insects into the front of his mouth while you are misting him?

 

[saltychameleon]

I haven’t, he hasn’t been drinking/opening his mouth like he was… he still goes running toward the mist (as much as a chameleon can run). I put some soldierfly larvae in his bowl (they’re pretty loud) and he perked up a little and moved toward the bowl. He’s moved all around his enclosure today but still with his eyes closed.

 

[Beman]

I haven’t, he hasn’t been drinking/opening his mouth like he was… he still goes running toward the mist (as much as a chameleon can run). I put some soldierfly larvae in his bowl (they’re pretty loud) and he perked up a little and moved toward the bowl. He’s moved all around his enclosure today but still with his eyes closed.

Maybe try holding a cricket right in front of his face and see if he takes it.

Do you know what kind of condition he was in prior to the truck ride?

Can you open the door and get some pics of him so I can see what his body condition is doing?

 

[saltychameleon]

Maybe try holding a cricket right in front of his face and see if he takes it.

Do you know what kind of condition he was in prior to the truck ride?

Can you open the door and get some pics of him so I can see what his body condition is doing?

 

[saltychameleon]

These were the photos that were sent a few days before I received him but I’m now noticing that plant is not in this enclosure so these were old photos! Ugh

 

[LizardLurkin]

That's terrible
I truly hope he turns around soon.
It'd be terrible if the seller meant to trick you with old photos, on top of the rough transport...

 

[Beman]

View attachment 367463

Ok so he is showing physical signs besides the eyes staying closed. Casque is starting to be sunken in. Tomorrow you are going to want to try your best to get him to take some insects. This may mean hand feeding. touching his foot to see if he opens his eyes.

make sure you are doing longer misting sessions. I still think it is more likely a total stress response but if he did get anything stuck in his eyes the longer misting sessions will help him clear it because it should trigger him to rotate his turrets.

 

[saltychameleon]

That's terrible
I truly hope he turns around soon.
It'd be terrible if the seller meant to trick you with old photos, on top of the rough transport...

The terrible thing is I reached out because I was interested in the enclosure only then did he say it also had a chameleon in it. The guy didn’t respect what he had. The little guy is gorgeous.

 

[saltychameleon]

Ok so he is showing physical signs besides the eyes staying closed. Casque is starting to be sunken in. Tomorrow you are going to want to try your best to get him to take some insects. This may mean hand feeding. touching his foot to see if he opens his eyes.

make sure you are doing longer misting sessions. I still think it is more likely a total stress response but if he did get anything stuck in his eyes the longer misting sessions will help him clear it because it should trigger him to rotate his turrets.

I’ll try, I’ve put silk works, wax worms, an hornworm, and a super worm on his nose and got nothing. I hate dealing with the crickets, they get everywhere!

I unfortunately am going to move his enclosure again. Both my enclosures are in my dining room and I’m afraid it’s too much foot traffic/too much light in off hours. Also because Mr Blue was unexpected I do need to make room for another enclosure. That in combination with the heaps of bugs means I’m converting a bedroom into a chameleon room. I don’t have anymore critters coming anytime soon and so I may let them remain in the dining area until I have the stand and other enclosures set up in the new area. I don’t want to keep retraumatizing him.

 

[ehdee6]

I hope he gets better with you! Some people are so shamefully ignorant, thank you for saving him!

 

[kinyonga]

You could try this…
https://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/bug-juice.html

 

[saltychameleon]

You could try this…
https://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/bug-juice.html

Thank you!

 

[saltychameleon]

Ok so he is showing physical signs besides the eyes staying closed. Casque is starting to be sunken in. Tomorrow you are going to want to try your best to get him to take some insects. This may mean hand feeding. touching his foot to see if he opens his eyes.

make sure you are doing longer misting sessions. I still think it is more likely a total stress response but if he did get anything stuck in his eyes the longer misting sessions will help him clear it because it should trigger him to rotate his turrets.

This morning I found him at the bottom of his enclosure standing in the dirt of a potted plant. I tried the cricket last night and got no response. I’ll try the liquified bug/syringe feeding today though I’m not sure how to get him to open his mouth without stressing him further. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Beman]

This morning I found him at the bottom of his enclosure standing in the dirt of a potted plant. I tried the cricket last night and got no response. I’ll try the liquified bug/syringe feeding today though I’m not sure how to get him to open his mouth without stressing him further. Do you have any suggestions?

They will sometimes get pissed and go into reactive mode. That is when you can get them to open their mouth. This may not work. So Gently pull him out and put him on a towel. If you touch right behind their casque area on both sides you can sometimes get them to gape at you. But you have to aim to the very very back of the throat. Their airway is in the very front and you can aspirate them if you are not careful.

He is now at the point of intervention. So it is good you are going to try this.

 

[saltychameleon]

They will sometimes get pissed and go into reactive mode. That is when you can get them to open their mouth. This may not work. So Gently pull him out and put him on a towel. If you touch right behind their casque area on both sides you can sometimes get them to gape at you. But you have to aim to the very very back of the throat. Their airway is in the very front and you can aspirate them if you are not careful.

He is now at the point of intervention. So it is good you are going to try this.

I’m just glad I’m a nurse, this would probably freak me out if I weren’t; as is I am worried that he won’t recover but miracles can happen!

The recipe did not have quantities of house staples or types of bugs. Have you ever had to do this? Do you know of a more precise recipe? I’m going to have to run out and get a mortar and pestle because I don’t know how else you would emulsify a bug.

 

[ehdee6]

These are some good videos of how to open his mouth/force feed.