Help traumatic transport

[saltychameleon]

Okay so “lesser mealworms/buffalo beetles” apparently make good cleanup crews in roach enclosures and they reproduce in the substrate so I ordered a large mix and will just put them in my other bug breeder boxes that use bran as substrate.

I want to give a very warm thank you to Hive Queen Insects, I placed my order last night for Buffalo Beetle/lesser mealworms (they had the best price) and this morning I received multiple texts regarding the makeup of beetles to larvae I wanted. I’m very impressed with the personal service.

 

[saltychameleon]

This feels like it could be hit or miss. After the brief period of him walking around with his eyes open he quickly shut down after I forced his meds and food.

For a brief period he was somewhat blanched so I turned of his heat bulb for the remainder of the day. He is now very dark in color and in the same spot I put him after last nights meds and meal.

I talk to the vet about next steps on Saturday (repeat bloodwork and if ABT will be continued).

Should I make a rehab enclosure that is more bare? First so I can find his stool (his enclosure remains very overgrown), second so I can ensure his water supplies are clean, third I can connect the mist king and decrease the daily manual care that feels very intrusive. I would also like to do the move to the new room and I’m wondering if all of these things can/should be done and would love some input. He’s been with me for 3 weeks now.

 

[Beman]

If you are doing oral antibiotics this can be very hard for a cham that is already physically compromised and in a stressful state. Depending on the antibiotic some can effect their organ function.

Then you add in forced feedings and that is another stressful intervention.

I personally would not move him into a new cage right now. Connect the mistking to the current cage. You do not want to trigger more stress by putting him into an unknown space. He is too compromised. Why move into a new room? If it is a calm space I would not bother. I have had chams react to moving into a new room just based on how many more window and light came into the new room compared to the old.

 

[nightanole]

Okay so “lesser mealworms/buffalo beetles” apparently make good cleanup crews in roach enclosures and they reproduce in the substrate so I ordered a large mix and will just put them in my other bug breeder boxes that use bran as substrate.

As part of the lesser mealworm master race, its the only cleanup crew that the dubia have not eaten. So the dubia have polished off the skull cleaners and pill bugs and spring tails, but the buffalo beetles are still soldering on after over a decade.

Public service announcement, dont underfeed your dubia folks, they will nom nom the cleaner crew...

 

[saltychameleon]

If you are doing oral antibiotics this can be very hard for a cham that is already physically compromised and in a stressful state. Depending on the antibiotic some can effect their organ function.

Then you add in forced feedings and that is another stressful intervention.

I personally would not move him into a new cage right now. Connect the mistking to the current cage. You do not want to trigger more stress by putting him into an unknown space. He is too compromised. Why move into a new room? If it is a calm space I would not bother. I have had chams react to moving into a new room just based on how many more window and light came into the new room compared to the old.

He and my girl are in my dining room which is pretty open to the kitchen and living room and so there is light in off hours, I’ve been covering them with robes but a room all their own where the lights are all timed and there’s less traffic and less moving of bugs.

 

[saltychameleon]

Update: I couldn’t bring myself to bother him twice a day so he’s being fed and medicated once per day I also didn’t want to stress him further so he is still in the dining room being hand misted. He has opened both eyes independently but typically has stayed with his eyes closed. He’s been on one antibiotic instead of two for 3 days. He walked toward the mist onto my arm today then after putting him back he started searching for drinking water so I increased his dripper. He watched me and then started to drink. He’s doing something very strange with his eyes when his lids are closed the eyeball looks like it’s bulging out/getting sucked in and it seems volitional. He’s definitely drinking a lot of water today and moving more than he has. Hoping this is a good sign. I take him back to the vet tomorrow for follow up labs and then on Thursday I’m relying on the kindness of strangers to come into my home to take care of him for a few days… hoping he’s recovering but will have a better idea after tomorrow.

 

[saltychameleon]

Look at the eyes

 

[ehdee6]

He’s doing something very strange with his eyes when his lids are closed the eyeball looks like it’s bulging out/getting sucked in and it seems volitional.

One day at a time. You're doing fantastic!

He may have something in his eye, when he does this, he's cleaning his eyes out, it's normal and a very good sign! But keep watching, in case it's something he can't get out. It might, sadly, need a vet visit to flush it out... If he doesn't open his eyes eventually.

 

[saltychameleon]

Mr Blue’s still kicking! Still asleep most of the time but walking around with his eyes open more. (Initially his eyes were closed 99% of the time; now it’s about 60-70%). Because he’s opening his eyes and more reactive to seeing me, I’m hoping he will start hunting soon. He seems to hangout at the front of his enclosure waiting to be syringe fed, and he no longer lets me pick him up (he will gape and evade/fall to the side of the branch) so I’ve been syringe feeding every other day while he’s gaping and putting feeders in daily (crickets and worms are all still living in there with him).

The vet wanted to do another round of antibiotics without repeat blood work but he had perked up quite a bit and while at that visit seemed to communicate via rubbing his left eye on me as if to say, “this is bothering me” they did not want to flush his eyes and they weren’t able to fill his prescription timely so he trialed off. I’m still keeping a very close eye on him and hopeful he will make a full recovery.

 

[absolutbill]

You are doing such a great job - it's a very difficult thing to bring a chameleon back from as far gone as Mr. Blue seemed to be. And you are AMAZING for taking in a surprise cham in such condition. We are all rooting for you and Mr. Blue!

 

[saltychameleon]