I think I have a sick cham...

[sfplayr04]

My veiled chameleon has been acting very strange. He stays in one spot for most of the day, he does not exhibit much interest in food, he moves around sluggishly and I've noticed him sleeping a couple hours earlier than normal. I've been watching him for about a month, but the behavior became much more profound after I completely cleaned his cage. I added some thicker sticks and changed the vines around a bit, but nothing too drastic. I have witnessed him trying to drink more, but I mist him 3-4 times a day and I have a dripper that drips all day while I'm at work. As far as supplements go, I give him Rep-Cal Phosphorous free and D3 free Calcium at every feeding and Reptivite w/ D3 once a week. I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. Any suggestions?

 

[armando]

Hey!
Please fill the "How to ask for help" form...
that way someone will be able to help you correctly

here it is:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[sfplayr04]

Updated Info

Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Approximately 6 months. Got him as a baby.

• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Very, very seldom

• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? 15-20 crickets per day (7-10 twice a day). First feeding is around 6:30am and the second is around 5-6 pm. They are being gut loaded with Nature Zone Total Bites

• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Rep-Cal Phosphorous free and D3 free Calcium at every feeding and Reptivite w/ D3 once a week.

• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I mist him 3-4 times a day and I have a dripper that drips all day while I'm at work. I do see him drinking sometimes as I mist him

• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? The urate is usually white, though it occasionally gets a tint of yellow. As soon as I notice this, I increase misting frequency and duration.

• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I bought it as a baby from a local reptile shop.

Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? The cage is a 36”x30”x18” H-W-L screen cage

• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I use a ZooMed heat lamp-UVA/UVB light combo and it is on a timer set for 13 hours on 11 hours off .

• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? I have a thermometer and hydrometer in the cage. The night time temps are usually around 70-75 and day time temps are usually around 80-90 (90 around the basking area, which I have set 8” away from the light.) Lately, he doesn’t even hang out under the main lighting fixture. He hangs out more near the other heat lamp at the opposite side of the cage (The bulb in both heating lamps are the same wattage).

• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I use a hydrometer, and the humidity ranges anywhere from upper 40’s to the low 80’s.

• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? No live plants

• 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? The cage is in a large, ventilated room (my living room) and is about 3.5 ft off of the ground. I realize that the location may be in a high traffic area, but it has never affected him before.

• Location - Where are you geographically located? I live in North-Central Florida. Gainesville, to be exact.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. He stays in one spot for most of the day, he does not exhibit much interest in food, he moves around sluggishly and I've noticed him sleeping a couple hours earlier than normal.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I see a couple of thing you are doing that are 'not standard for the forum'. Firstly, most people give calcium with d3 only twice a month. Usually with a 12 hour day. A drop in night time temps to 65F might be better. There should really be a way for him to cool down to 70F during the day if he wants to as well, you don't need two basking lights. Having long days and not being able to cool off could be messing with his metabolism........
Maybe more variety of feeders would get him interested in food again, also your gutload could do with some improving. No commercial gutloads are as 'total' as they claim to be, fresh fruit and veggies are needed as well

 

[carol5208]

are you sure the zilla bulb provides BOTH uvb and uva?

 

[imcurt]

Can you post a couple pics of your chameleon& set up.
David is spot on. What is the wattage&brand of bulbs are you useing.Do some research on gutloading. im guessing you have vegie scraps around that your cricket would enjoy. And would benefit your chameleons health.

 

[sfplayr04]

Hi guys. Thanks for the responses.
Ol' Hank still isn't doing any better. He barely moves around, expresses only slight interest in food (much unlike before-he would actively pursue crickets all around his cage), has been seen closing one eye for a unusual amount of time and he is going to sleep about an hour, or more, earlier each night....

David- I will cut back on the d3 to only twice a month and I have been feeding my crickets different veggies for gutloading. As far as temperatures go, 65F at night will be very hard to achieve here in Florida during this time of year. I am planning on buying a larger tube light instead of the coiled UVA/UVB light that I have now. Any suggestions?

Carol- I am not positive, as I can't remember the exact bulb that I purchased, but I am about 93% sure it is UVA/UVB. I am planning on getting a large tube bulb and housing fixture to allow him more light. Any suggestions? Do you think this may be responsible for some of his behavior?

Curt- Here are some pictures of the set-up. I've been introducing more veggies into my crickets diet, so hopefully that will make a difference in Hank's behavior.

 

[Kate]

Sandrachameleon has some really good blogs about gutloading feeders. They need dry gutload as well as wet.