Impaction? Please Help

[Shaner]

Hello all,

I am not so sure about this but I think my Chameleon Zim may be impacted. He is in a 100Gallon Flexarium with live plants, and fake bamboo chutes, there is also a few fake vines in there for good hiding spots. He has a 100W Sun-Glo Daylight spot light for heat, and a 5.0 exo-terra uva-uvb bulb. All his temps are fine and so is the humidity in his cage. Now here is my problem:

1) He won't drink water from a spray bottle, so I made him a cheap double drip system, and he still doesn't seem to drink from that.

2) He doesn't eat crix anymore, but eats all sorts of worms

3) He doesn't poop often which is what really worries me, but I keep an eye on him and shower him alot to force him to poop. Could this be because he doesn't drink much??

4) I just showered him today, and he went to the washroom after the warm water relaxed him and forced him to go, however, when the fecal matter hit the tub, it hit with force... sounded like a small pebble hitting the bottom. I am thinking this is just because he hasn't gone to the washroom in a week or so, but I am a little worried about it. The feces was hard when I poked it with some tissue, not all of it was hard but a little piece of it, could this be a parasite, or just impaction?

Anyone ever run into this issue?

Please help if you can.

Thanks
Shaner

 

[mczoo]

Unless i missed it you need to include the type of chameleon, age and the actual temps and humidity levels and i am sure one of the experts here can help you

Sean

 

[ChromaChameleons]

Is the stool well digested?
If yes, looks like dehydration. If no, then the baskiing temps may be to low.

 

[Shaner]

The Temps are relatively normal, 100F for basking, and 60 - 75% humidity. He is about 2-3 years old, I got him from a buddy of mine he was moving away so I took him in. He told me the type is a Maroansetra?? I think that is how you spell it, anyways he looks like a red bar ambilobe, lots of colour in him though, red, green, white, pastel blue and yellow.

I hope all of this helps, I think it is dehydration myself but how else can I get him to drink if he won't drink from a spray bottle or a drip system?

I just hope it isn't hook worms or anything like that.

Thanks for all the help.

Shaner

 

[chamlover]

I just recently had a similar problem with my mellers and decided that today he would have to drink or go to the vets tomorrow . Once i gave him the ultimatum he decided to drink. lol. He had gone 4 days without drinking and his skin was not going back in place after pinching it so i had to get alittle drastic. Mellers usually don't drink from drippers but do love to get rained on 1 or 2 x day which is when they usually drink. Well after this morning when i tried he still wouldn't drink, he has a tub on the bottom of his cage so i can water him until his and my heart is content, i decided to put him in the tub in a tree and using the pump system water thing i started spraying him again. After 15 min still nothing, so i lifted up the side of his lip just enough to allow some water to get in. I had to do that about 4 x and then he got the picture and started to drink like crazy. I actually did a dance, but it wasn't pretty, he made me promise not to do it again. At one point he actually opened his mouth wide open and come really close to the spout to drink. Don't know what started it maybe the spring season and mating season, don't know. But if your cham is dehydrated address it as quickly as possible!!! I actually point the water right towards their mouth, when they are giving me a hard time, till they start to drink. Just think what you would feel like or what your poop would look like if you went a couple of days without drinking anything. Keep trying, he's counting on you for his life. If you need to use my idea and threaten him with a vet trip and an injection.

Debby

 

[Shaner]

LOL thanks for the reply, I liked the non pretty dance part, that made me chukle. I am thinking it could be mating season as well, I have no idea when mating season is for Chameleon's does anyone know?

I know my Chameleon is used to breeding he was used for a couple of clutches I believe, at least that's what I was told before he was given to me...maybe he is just lonely, but I can't get another lizard my fiancée will kill me, I have a Chameleon, a beardie, and a frilled dragon, and soon to have a frog...so anything else I am dead.

I don't really want to force him to do anything as it may stress him out even more, any other suggestions other than go see the vet...I want that one as a last resort option.

Thanks
Shaner