Is this Respiratory problems?

[Nicholasdeaan]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - I have a female Veiled. She is about 4 1/2 moths old. I have had her in my care for about two weeks.
• Handling - Rarely. I did today to give her some water.
• Feeding - She gets fed crickets and super worms. 6-7 large crickets a day, sometimes a super worm with as well. They are gut loaded with a dry mix, I forget the brand, and veggies and fruit.
• Supplements - Cal w/o D3 everyday, D3 twice a month, reptivite twice a month.
• Watering - I use both misting and a drip system. I haven't seen her drink today or yesterday. I did hand water her today to get her some fluids.
• Fecal Description - Fecal is brown with a white urate. She's never been tested for parasites or got a fecal done.
• History- Got her from a petstore. Bad idea, I know. But she's been doing great and showing no signs of health problems up until now. And yes I know they're good at hiding their health problems.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Large Reptibreeze cage. I think 20x20x30? It's the large.
• Lighting - Zoo med basking light and a zoo med 5.0 UVB bulb. Both are on 12-13 hours a day.
• Temperature - Basking are is low 80's. Her room she stays in drops to 60-65 degrees at night. Is measured with a humidity/thermometer I have hanging in the cage.
• Humidity - Averages about 50% and jumps to about 70% after misting. I mist and run a dripper.
• Plants - No live plants.
• Placement - In a room to herself. Only people that go in it are my girlfriend and I. Top of the cage is about maybe 5 ft. from fhe floor. Not much traffic in the room.
• Location - Located in Indiana.

Current Problem - Yesterday she was breathing hard and showing signs of a RI problem. Her colors were off and were yellowish. She had access saliva in her mouth and was making popping sounds when she breathed. She also threw up a super worm, I think. It looked like it hasn't been digested at all barely. The day before, she was completely fine. Eating, drinking, and bathing. Now today she has stopped with the odd breathing, no popping sounds or anything. But she really isn't interested in any of her food. I called a vet and she said it sounds like the Cham has ingested water or food down the wrong whole. Being that it happened so quickly over night. And that some times their immune systems can simply fight this off. Since she's not breathing badly today and seems a little better should I just keep doing what I'm doing?

 

[alphakenc]

Try increasing the basking spot to 85F,use a accurate temp gun to get it done correctly,and monitor all her movement,if it gets worse,take her to the vet right away.

 

[bobcochran]

Try increasing the basking spot to 85F,use a accurate temp gun to get it done correctly,and monitor all her movement,if it gets worse,take her to the vet right away.

I would agree her basking temps should be a little higher. You don't need to get a Basking bulb, just use a regular incandescent bulb with a hood to direct the heat.
Is she keeping her nose pointed up? That would probably be the first sign of an URI. If you hold her will she open her mouth? If so you can look down her throat to see if it's all clear: no bubbles, no excess mucous. If you watch her closely you'll know if she has a RI.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

I've got a basking bulb for her. And I thought for younger female veileds you can keep your temps in the low 80's to keep the clutch size smaller? That's what several members on here have said.

 

[alphakenc]

I've got a basking bulb for her. And I thought for younger female veileds you can keep your temps in the low 80's to keep the clutch size smaller? That's what several members on here have said.

Thats a very good question,I was reading her tender age Is 4 1/2 month old,I wont worry too much about the clutch size too soon.she is still a pre teen so to speak plus that she might have the first sign of an URI which Bobcochran suggested,so my honest opinion will comfort her with 85F,raise that gradually if you wants to be safe not to shock her,and observe her closely and make all ur necessary move accordingly.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Yes she is. But being a pre teen she could lay within the next month at her age. So I figured the temps should be a tad bit Lower. I think another member on here, jannb? Has that written in her blog. I'm trying to find it. I could possibly be wrong.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

If so, I'll raise the temps.

 

[brownie64]

It sounds like you might of aspirated her when you gave her water. If you give her water instead of letting her drink on her own you have too be real careful. Her opening where she breaths is right in the front part of her mouth. If you must give her water instead of letting her drink on her own. I would make sure the water is applied just above the back portion of her mouth, and let it run down to her mouth opening. She will eventually get the urge to let the water run in her mouth, and drink. Under no circumstances should you ever spray water in her mouth when she is opening it at you out of aggression. She is not in drinking mode at this time and her chances of aspirating are very good. If it were me I would keep a very close eye on her aspiration can be very dangerous for chams. If you see anything out of the ordinary I would get her into the vet as soon as I could. I personally think your temps are fine for a female veiled, but if you do decide to increase them I would only go to 85 degrease max. This is what I would do hope this helps.

 

[bobcochran]

Normally I would agree that she could have aspirated some water but you said you use a drip and mist system, which means she has control how she receives water. I would defer to just about anything Jannb says about veileds. Keep a close eye on her, you are the ultimate judge.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

All of the problems occurred before I gave her the water. She isn't aspirated. I held her to the dripper and the drops rolled onto her mouth and she swallowed them. And yes bobcochran I use both drip and mist she just seemed slightly dehydrated and week from the past two days is all. She did however eat 6-7 crickets today so I'm glad she is still consuming some source of energy. I am planning on a vet trip if she doesn't get better. I'll raise the temps slightly tomorrow and see where it goes from there.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

To avoid confusions, when I wrote in the help form under watering, I meant I hand watered her after she was showing signs of illness. Not anytime before that.

 

[LindsayG]

@Nicholasdeaan I am sending well wishes your way in hopes of quickly finding out what's going on with your baby. I have no advice to give, just good vibes. I know how stressful it is when somethings wrong especially when you're not quite sure what the problem is. I hope someone can give informed advice. I'm sure he'll be just fine in the end, it's just the not knowing that kills us. Maybe a vet visit would be best if she's not getting better in the morning?

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

@LindsayG Thank you so much. I appreciate that. I raised her temps to 85-86 by covering another small part of the screen and she seems to be liking it. When I fed her today it was the first time she actually even jumped at the crickets and ate vigorously. Her fecals looked good, all brown with white! No signs today. I'm just going to hope she continues to get better.