Ill Chameleon?

[Mordecai2015]

Note: Some information such as exact brand/models of items are not available at this time as I am not at home but will be updated.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Panther chameleon, male, about 5-6 months. Chameleon has been in our care since late July (so a little over a month).

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
No handling

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Crickets and silk worms. About 16 crickets and a few silkworms -- he's not too fond of the silk worms. Gut load recently changed from kale, yams, apples, mustard greens, collard greens, and carrots. Recently removed collard greens, yams, kale and have added blueberries, raspberries, romaine lettuce.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Not home. Husband handles this portion. Will update post with information later.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Misting system. 3 times for twenty minutes. One at 8 am, 12 pm, 5 pm. Yes, chameleon drinks just fine.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Urate is white. Droppings have been runny for a few days. Has not been tested.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Bought from ChameleonParadise


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Screen. 2 feet wide. 2 feet in length. 4 feet in height.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Unsure of the brand, model at this time. Will update later. Light turns on at 7 am and turns off at 7 pm.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Basking spot ranges from 85-90 F. Cage floor ranges from 74-77 F. Overnight temp is about 72 F.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Live in a high humidity area. Humidity is usually about 50% in the cage but has dropped to 33% during the early hours. Misting and live plants help with humidity.

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
One umbrella plant and one hibiscus plant.

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?
Cage is in living room under closed air vent. The top of cage is 6 ft from floor.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
Houston, TX


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Runny feces for about 3-4 days. Has been lethargic and decreased appetite for the past 2 days. Vet appointment has been scheduled but isn't for another two weeks. Not sure if he should be taken in as an emergency.

 

[Carlton]

Note: Some information such as exact brand/models of items are not available at this time as I am not at home but will be updated.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Panther chameleon, male, about 5-6 months. Chameleon has been in our care since late July (so a little over a month).

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
No handling

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Crickets and silk worms. About 16 crickets and a few silkworms -- he's not too fond of the silk worms. Gut load recently changed from kale, yams, apples, mustard greens, collard greens, and carrots. Recently removed collard greens, yams, kale and have added blueberries, raspberries, romaine lettuce.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Not home. Husband handles this portion. Will update post with information later.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Misting system. 3 times for twenty minutes. One at 8 am, 12 pm, 5 pm. Yes, chameleon drinks just fine.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Urate is white. Droppings have been runny for a few days. Has not been tested.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Bought from ChameleonParadise


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Screen. 2 feet wide. 2 feet in length. 4 feet in height.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Unsure of the brand, model at this time. Will update later. Light turns on at 7 am and turns off at 7 pm.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Basking spot ranges from 85-90 F. Cage floor ranges from 74-77 F. Overnight temp is about 72 F.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Live in a high humidity area. Humidity is usually about 50% in the cage but has dropped to 33% during the early hours. Misting and live plants help with humidity.

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
One umbrella plant and one hibiscus plant.

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?
Cage is in living room under closed air vent. The top of cage is 6 ft from floor.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
Houston, TX


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Runny feces for about 3-4 days. Has been lethargic and decreased appetite for the past 2 days. Vet appointment has been scheduled but isn't for another two weeks. Not sure if he should be taken in as an emergency.

One thing you should do (and maybe you can do this before the appointment in 2 weeks) is to bring a fresh fecal sample to that vet. They could analyze it for parasites pretty simply and have the results quickly too. If your cham is drinking a lot right now that could create runnier stools, but this is also a sign of parasites. Is the stool particularly smelly?

 

[Mordecai2015]

We are going to submit a fecal sample to vet once we take him to his appointment; however, in the meantime I just want to make sure that this isn't an immediate emergency.

His stool has developed an odor whereas before it did not have a smell at all. It's not particularly strong or odd but it is present.

I've read that parasites can occur from contact with other animals or unsanitary handling of the insects. We keep our feeders really clean, is it possible that the pet store we've been purchasing the crickets from could be the cause of parasites?

Thank you very much your response.