Help. Worried about chameleon health

[KR0OKLE]

Hello everyone. This is my female veiled chameleon Waldo. I have had her for around 2 and a half years and recently she hasn't been eating or drinking much. She also has these weird lumps on her skin.


What can I do to make her better?

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I see some questionable lighter areas along her lower side and above her back leg , but I’m not sure if those are what you are talking about being lumps. I’m not sure what those even look like they could be..maybe burns, maybe cricket bites, maybe scars, maybe bad shedding? I do see some possible egg lumps at her back end. Has she ever laid eggs? Does she have a lay bin? I also have some concern for her weight. She’s looks quite overweight, which is especially bad for our sweet ladies. We can go back and forth with lots of different questions, or you could post some more pics of her and her enclosure, including the lights and answer the following questions. Hopefully we can help you get this all figured out and make sure your little beauty is as healthy as can be.
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.

 

[KR0OKLE]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I see some questionable lighter areas along her lower side and above her back leg , but I’m not sure if those are what you are talking about being lumps. I’m not sure what those even look like they could be..maybe burns, maybe cricket bites, maybe scars, maybe bad shedding? I do see some possible egg lumps at her back end. Has she ever laid eggs? Does she have a lay bin? I also have some concern for her weight. She’s looks quite overweight, which is especially bad for our sweet ladies. We can go back and forth with lots of different questions, or you could post some more pics of her and her enclosure, including the lights and answer the following questions. Hopefully we can help you get this all figured out and make sure your little beauty is as healthy as can be.
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.

She has never laid eggs (I think) but we saw her digging a month ago. She is quite fat maybe we are feeding her too much? And since there are still crickets in the cage due to her not eating that might be the cause of the cricket bites. We do have a bin full of dirt yes

 

[MissSkittles]

She has never laid eggs (I think) but we saw her digging a month ago. She is quite fat maybe we are feeding her too much? And since there are still crickets in the cage due to her not eating that might be the cause of the cricket bites. We do have a bin full of dirt yes

If crickets are left loose in the enclosure, they will get hungry and start trying to eat your chameleon at night. If you aren’t able to ensure that there are no loose crickets, then you’ll need to leave a small piece of something for them to eat, like carrot or greens.
How much and how often are you feeding her?

 

[KR0OKLE]

I feed her around 5 crickets twice a week. I’ll make sure there are no crickets in the cage from now on. I also asked this same question on r/chameleons and they said it was some kind of fungus infection? I’m also worried about her not laying eggs. But I appreciate the responses. Anything else you need me to share I can

 

[MissSkittles]

Wow. That’s not enough food to make her so chunky. I’m primarily looking at her feet and legs in judging her being overweight.

Yes, the light areas could be a fungal growth. The best thing to do would be to have her be seen by a good vet who has some experience with chameleons who can evaluate those areas. They can do an x ray to see if she’s got eggs too. If you need help finding a vet, this will help. http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661 I wish I could be of more help. Perhaps another forum member can be.

 

[KR0OKLE]

Wow. That’s not enough food to make her so chunky. I’m primarily looking at her feet and legs in judging her being overweight.

Yes, the light areas could be a fungal growth. The best thing to do would be to have her be seen by a good vet who has some experience with chameleons who can evaluate those areas. They can do an x ray to see if she’s got eggs too. If you need help finding a vet, this will help. http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661 I wish I could be of more help. Perhaps another forum member can be.

Thanks for the help. It’s greatly appreciated. She was all puffed up when I held her so maybe that’s why she seems so fat. I’ll try to get better pictures but she seems awfully agitated

 

[KR0OKLE]

Thanks for the help. It’s greatly appreciated. She was all puffed up when I held her so maybe that’s why she seems so fat. I’ll try to get better pictures but she seems awfully agitated

Also I don’t know if my parents will take her to the vet however. This is our second chameleon and we spent a lot of money on the vet last time. And now money is tight due to a messy divorce my parents are in the middle of.

 

[KR0OKLE]

I have removed all the crickets from the cage consistently since we have had this conversation but it does not appear things have gotten much better. She still has large white spots on her sides

 

[CalamityCrow]

Chams heal very slowly - weeks, really. Though I could see that possibly being a burn, or a fungal issue. She also looks rather overweight (or possibly full of eggs - when was the last time she laid?). HOnestly, this sort of thing is hard to determine... I'd go to the vet if you can.

 

[elizaann2]

I agree. If you can get her to an exotic vet with chameleon experience that would be good.

 

[Raymond1412]

If a chameleon is not eating or drinking, maybe they are on a hunger strike, shedding, sick, or about to lay eggs. She might be bored of what you are feeding her, just crickets? Also, maybe one of her bugs bit her and now she won't eat. Also, get those crickets out of her cage IMMEDIATELY. She is probably not sleeping because the crickets are keeping her up. She has to stay alert, otherwise, if she falls asleep, the crickets will literally eat her alive. Have you noticed her sleeping during the day at all? I would for sure get her an egg-laying bin if you already haven't, just in case. Contact your local exotic vet to see what they have to say. Best of luck!!

 

[Raymond1412]

Also, I forgot to put this in my previous message, this might help:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/is-my-chameleon-ready-to-lay-eggs.190931/