Ill Veiled?

[zing96]

I have a (approximately) 4-5 year-old male veiled chameleon. I have never had a single issue with him since I had him. He's always been active, hungry, etc. In the last few days, he's suddenly always at the bottom of his cage. In two instances, I found him on his back at the bottom. I actually thought he was dead.

For the past couple days, I have been picking him up to put him on a branch only to find him right back at the bottom (I can occasionally hear him fall). This is very odd behavior; that is, he's almost never at the bottom for very long and has NEVER slept at the bottom. But the past two nights, he's even slept at the bottom. Very strange.

I can take other pictures of anything specific on request, but here are a couple: http://imgur.com/a/faOMk

Here are the answers to the health questionnaire:

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon - approximately 4-5 years.
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? -> Never until the last few days to pick him up off the floor of the cage.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? _> Vitamin and Calcium gut loaded crickets about 5 times per week. I dust with D3 every week or so.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? -> Vitamin dusting every day. D3 weekly.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? -> Automated mister. Every 2-3 hours for 45 seconds. I do not see him drinking (but I almost never do).
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? -> Urates are white, fecal matter is brown and of normal consistency. Never been tested for parasites.
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. -> None - This is the first odd behavior I have ever noticed in the 4-5 years I've had him.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? - He's in http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiBreeze-Screen-48-Inches/dp/B001PHABI8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420230898&sr=8-2&keywords=chameleon+cage
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Lighting is set to local sunrise/sunset. Currently about 9 hours per day. I have 100w UVA and a ReptiSun 5 UVB bulb. The UVB bulb is brand new (and changed every 6 months or so).
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? -> Approximately 92° beneath the heat lamp, room temperature at the bottom of the cage.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? It's probably too dry (and always has been).
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? -> No.
• 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? -> It's in my spare bedroom. He's essentially got this room to himself. The cage is on a computer desk so the top of the cage is taller than I am (6'3"). He's well elevated.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? -> Alabama.

 

[carol5208]

Well you have obviously been doing something right to get him to 4 or 5 years without incident. When you say vitamin powder everyday, do you really mean calcium? It if it is Vitamin supplement that could be causing him issues, but probably would have started long ago if that is the case. Getting up around 5 is considered "old". Chameleons do get arthritis and there is a possibility of that and may be causing issues with his grip and falling. I would take him to a vet and have his bones xrayed. Whatever the case, you do not want him to get injured falling, so I would line the bottom of the cage with towels or something.

 

[zing96]

Well you have obviously been doing something right to get him to 4 or 5 years without incident. When you say vitamin powder everyday, do you really mean calcium? It if it is Vitamin supplement that could be causing him issues, but probably would have started long ago if that is the case. Getting up around 5 is considered "old". Chameleons do get arthritis and there is a possibility of that and may be causing issues with his grip and falling. I would take him to a vet and have his bones xrayed. Whatever the case, you do not want him to get injured falling, so I would line the bottom of the cage with towels or something.

Thank you for the reply. I don't think the powder has a calcium supplement. It's Rep-Cal "Herptivite" with beta-carotene. It says, "Multivitamins" on the jar. I gut load the crickets with Fluker's Calcium fortified Cricket Quencher (the yellow gelatin consistency stuff).

He is having issues gripping and perhaps that's why he's falling. It's so odd that he literally went from fine to falling down in a day (or maybe gripping just became too painful now).

If it's arthritis and he can barely grip or climb, is there anything I can really do? I know he's getting old and I kind of expected something like this sooner than later.

 

[carol5208]

He does not appear to have Metabolic Bone Disease from the pics. I assume the d3 was calcium with d3 and he was getting that once a week? Usually a lack of calcium in the diet can cause MBD. By now I am sure his limbs would have been all curvy if he had it. Honestly, I am surprised he had not gotten sick sooner being given a multi vitamin everyday. That is ALOT of vitamins. Most of us give a multi a couple of times a month. Again, he has made it to almost 5 years old so I don't know, but there is a condition called hypervitaminosis which I would think your chameleon would have being giving so much. Also, gutloading is important and most of us use fresh fruits and vegetables and a good commercial gutload. Everyone frowns upon the gel cubes. Again, you have defied the odds here!! One thing, I would do is completely quit giving him the multi vitamin. I would start giving him a plain calcium (no d3). I don't think it could hurt at this point. It all could just be old age too. As I said 5 is considered becoming a senior citizen in the chameleon world! lol As far as the arthritis, first you would have to find out if that is what it is. There are actually pain medication you can give for this and then modifying the cage so he does not injure himself from falling.

 

[zing96]

One thing, I would do is completely quit giving him the multi vitamin. I would start giving him a plain calcium (no d3).

Thanks. I'll start this immediately as I don't think there is a vet close to me that is open on the weekends.

I assume the d3 was calcium with d3 and he was getting that once a week?

Sorry, I missed this question at first. Yes. That's correct.

 

[Trex]

I agree no D3

I agree no D3. Only put D3 on crickets 2 times a month.