Help with panther chameleon!

Beckaface

New Member
I’ve had my panther chameleon about a year and a half he is clumsy and super duper lovable, however the last 10 days he’s stopped eating, he’s gone from a really active little guy to not really going anywhere, still has a good grip and will move around lots and get brighter colours when he comes out of the tank but hates going back in, colours go dark. Took him to the vets today and they’ve done a few tests awaiting results, he’s on supplement which needs to be serringed he had his first one today and his colour has gone completely different to what he normal does especially around his face. Any advice for why his face has gone like this anyone else experienced this? Also any tips for feeding, he mainly eats locusts doesn’t like worms. His temp and water is perfect he still drinks lots. I’ll include a picture of healthy Loki and his new colourings, thanks!
 

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Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Thanks for the replies he has two water sources in the tank a water fall and a drinking bowl in very conscious about water so we lost the rink about 7-8 times a day and he also likes to drink from the water bottle (he’s odd like that) ive tried feeding him super worm he wasn’t having any of it, his poo is getting checked as soon as he gives a sample, however previous pops he’s had have been completely normal
He is super friendly, very handlaboe get him about about twice a day once at morning and once in the night for around 15 minutes it’s when he’s st his happiest
He used to eat around 5-6 locusts a day before he stopped and they were gut loaded and dusted

He has a glass tank with lots of layers to climb, two live plants which were purchased from a reptile shop, and also vines purchased from a reptile shop

Tank temp is normally around 75 and peak temp around 82, he has a two way uv bulb and also his heat lamp
 
Thanks for the replies he has two water sources in the tank a water fall and a drinking bowl in very conscious about water so we lost the rink about 7-8 times a day and he also likes to drink from the water bottle (he’s odd like that) ive tried feeding him super worm he wasn’t having any of it, his poo is getting checked as soon as he gives a sample, however previous pops he’s had have been completely normal
He is super friendly, very handlaboe get him about about twice a day once at morning and once in the night for around 15 minutes it’s when he’s st his happiest
He used to eat around 5-6 locusts a day before he stopped and they were gut loaded and dusted

He has a glass tank with lots of layers to climb, two live plants which were purchased from a reptile shop, and also vines purchased from a reptile shop

Tank temp is normally around 75 and peak temp around 82, he has a two way uv bulb and also his heat lamp
Please copy and paste and fill out the form I posted.
Chameleons don't drink from water bowls or waterfalls... And waterfalls harbor bacteria.
 
Thanks for the replies he has two water sources in the tank a water fall and a drinking bowl in very conscious about water so we lost the rink about 7-8 times a day and he also likes to drink from the water bottle (he’s odd like that) ive tried feeding him super worm he wasn’t having any of it, his poo is getting checked as soon as he gives a sample, however previous pops he’s had have been completely normal
He is super friendly, very handlaboe get him about about twice a day once at morning and once in the night for around 15 minutes it’s when he’s st his happiest
He used to eat around 5-6 locusts a day before he stopped and they were gut loaded and dusted

He has a glass tank with lots of layers to climb, two live plants which were purchased from a reptile shop, and also vines purchased from a reptile shop

Tank temp is normally around 75 and peak temp around 82, he has a two way uv bulb and also his heat lamp
You gave no real information in here, just generalities. We need specifics.
 
That first photo is pretty scary, those are the eyes of a chameleon who is not doing well at all.

While we wait on you to tell us those specifics, here's your first big problem: neither of your two water sources are even close to acceptable for a chameleon. It is a wonder he was made it this far. Chameleons should never be drinking from a water dish and waterfalls should only ever be used for very short periods of time. Both of these water sources are going to make your chameleon sick and take him out. You should only be using misting sessions and drippers to hydrate him.

I am also very curious about your enclosure for him. All you said was that it is glass, so I'm hoping it isn't a fish tank.
 
Judging by ur pictures,the cham are showing severely dehydrated,the problem with the sunken eyes is once became sunken in ,to reverse that situation is going to take the same amount of the time( or more )when the cham got dehydrated in the first place,since the chameleon is well known to hide their dehydration pretty well on their physical appearance in the beginning.
When I raise all my chams,all I did is misting ,replenish the feeders;gutload the bugs.
These precious chams required constant attention,if one element is missing then their problem will occur.
I personally give each individual attention (judging their poop drop,watch them drink n eat)
If I see a certain one is lack of something,I will be given he/she the special care even more.
Ur cham will need lots hydration to reverse the sunken eyes,if it took x amont of time prior the cham getting the sunken eyes,it will also take x amont of time to reverse the problem with non stop hydration and it WONT SOLVE the problem by just adding a dripper or even an auto mister,put it this way,if the cham wont drink on their own or it wont take enough water on their own,then even u can still see the white urates BUT their eye will still be sunken.
These are my personal years of the experience which I spend the whole day by obersering my panther and veiled babies growing bigger n parting to their next family owner.
Hopefully u can get your beautiful cham back to the healthy stage soon.
 
please fill out that form, with out specific information we will not have enough information to properly locate the problem but as of now @Syreptyon is definitely right. Your two water sources need fixing, running water is the most appealing to a chameleon.
 
thank you for your comment, he’s had his results back from the vet and it turns out he has an infection, which he now has been given three different things to take, he’s looking lots better already, getting back to his old self
 
thank you for your comment, he’s had his results back from the vet and it turns out he has an infection, which he now has been given three different things to take, he’s looking lots better already, getting back to his old self

So, how are you planning on correcting the husbandry issues we mentioned?

Please tell us more about the cham's enclosure. What are its dimensions? Does it have ventilation?
 
I believe Beckaface is in the process following her vet's guidline....she probably will update her cham's condition as it goes....we shall all wishing Beckaface's cham well with a speedy recovery for sure!!!
 
So, how are you planning on correcting the husbandry issues we mentioned?

Please tell us more about the cham's enclosure. What are its dimensions? Does it have ventilation?
Infections requiring antibiotics generally come from poor husbandry practices like waterfalls and drinking bowls which are known to harbor bacteria. What I think Syreptyon is trying to get at is how are you planning on preventing a reinfection? We are all here to help and utilizing the form enables us to help you fix husbandry issues that can cause another infection...or worse.
 
Not to sound like a jerk but I have a feeling we will be seeing another post about this chameleon in a week or two about its health declining....

In my experience. vets are not a good source of info for enclosure advice... I talked to 3 different exotic vets in my area before finding one that actually had care experience with chameleons. The 3 that didn't kept telling me they need 100% humidity all the time and would get all the required UVB exposure if I put the enclosure next to a window.....
 
Not to sound like a jerk but I have a feeling we will be seeing another post about this chameleon in a week or two about its health declining....

In my experience. vets are not a good source of info for enclosure advice... I talked to 3 different exotic vets in my area before finding one that actually had care experience with chameleons. The 3 that didn't kept telling me they need 100% humidity all the time and would get all the required UVB exposure if I put the enclosure next to a window.....
That is so true and thats why its very important to find a chameleon specialist vet instead of regular exotic vet...inquire the vet's background first than make that appointment with no regrets.
 
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