radstusky
Avid Member
I'm worried about my Jackson's chameleon, Drake. During the past month or so he barely eats and has lost weight (see weight graph below), also he seems to spend a lot of time basking. I'm not sure the last time he's eaten anything, probably at least a week. I've also noticed that his eyes are shut during the day sometimes too. Although he has a mister, he seems to be dehydrated, as sometimes I'll offer him some water with an eye dropper and he'll down a few droppers full. I used to see him drink from his mister but I just saw it come on and he didn't drink any and also wasn't interested in water from the dropper. I just measured his body temp using an IR thermometer to be 81F. I haven't seen any feces in a while, but the last time I did, the urates were white.
I appreciate any advice, and I am planning to take him to the vet next weekend if nothing changes between now and then. I'm including a couple of pics that I just took of him today, but it's kinda hard to tell that he does look a bit thinned out. His grip is still strong though.
Here's the info:
Chameleon Info (Drake):
• Your Chameleon – Male Jackson’s chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus), captive bred, ~1 year old. 7 months in my care.
• Handling – About once or twice a week on average
• Feeding - Dubia cockroaches are the staple, plus some superworms and butterworms, occasionally silkworms and hornworms are offered as well. Also crickets are still offered occasionally. The current feeding schedule is 1 dubia, 1-2 superworm every other day. (as stated above, he hasn't been eating lately) Dubia and crickets are gutloaded on a mixture of kale, dandelion greens, and carrots plus some butternut squash.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? –Miner-Al calcium w/o D3 dusting half of feeders 2x per week; Herptivite dusting one feeder 2x per month; Repcal calcium +D3 dusting on one feeder 2x per month.
• Watering - Mistking misting system (1 nozzle) which runs on the following schedule: 8 am (3 min.), 11 am (3.5 min.), 1 pm (1 min.), 2:30 pm (1.5 min), 4 pm (1 min). Room temp water is ran through a heater in order to raise the temp slightly before misting.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? -Solids look brown, urates white; honestly haven’t seen any feces in a while since he’s not eating, never tested for parasites
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Took him to a vet for a checkup 3 months ago and he was fine. The vet gave him a does of Panacur, just as a routine precaution to kill any parasites.
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? -Screen cage 18”Wx 18”D x 36”
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? -18” Reptisun 5.0; basking bulb is a 60 Watt grow bulb
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? –Basking spot is 80-85 degrees; night temps are in the mid-60’s not to go below 60.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? - Room humidity is about 40-50% during winter, I also have a coolmist humidifier with the mist piped directly into the cage. Humidity spikes on the schedule with the mistings.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? -One Ficus benjamina variegata, one hibiscus, one Schefflera arboricola, and one purple passion (Gynura aurantiaca), and one small pothos (Epipremnum aureum).
• 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 located in a “middle room” in between my living room and kitchen; not really high traffic; it is near an easterly facing window; top of the cage is about 6’2” off the ground.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? –New England
I appreciate any advice, and I am planning to take him to the vet next weekend if nothing changes between now and then. I'm including a couple of pics that I just took of him today, but it's kinda hard to tell that he does look a bit thinned out. His grip is still strong though.
Here's the info:
Chameleon Info (Drake):
• Your Chameleon – Male Jackson’s chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus), captive bred, ~1 year old. 7 months in my care.
• Handling – About once or twice a week on average
• Feeding - Dubia cockroaches are the staple, plus some superworms and butterworms, occasionally silkworms and hornworms are offered as well. Also crickets are still offered occasionally. The current feeding schedule is 1 dubia, 1-2 superworm every other day. (as stated above, he hasn't been eating lately) Dubia and crickets are gutloaded on a mixture of kale, dandelion greens, and carrots plus some butternut squash.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? –Miner-Al calcium w/o D3 dusting half of feeders 2x per week; Herptivite dusting one feeder 2x per month; Repcal calcium +D3 dusting on one feeder 2x per month.
• Watering - Mistking misting system (1 nozzle) which runs on the following schedule: 8 am (3 min.), 11 am (3.5 min.), 1 pm (1 min.), 2:30 pm (1.5 min), 4 pm (1 min). Room temp water is ran through a heater in order to raise the temp slightly before misting.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? -Solids look brown, urates white; honestly haven’t seen any feces in a while since he’s not eating, never tested for parasites
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Took him to a vet for a checkup 3 months ago and he was fine. The vet gave him a does of Panacur, just as a routine precaution to kill any parasites.
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? -Screen cage 18”Wx 18”D x 36”
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? -18” Reptisun 5.0; basking bulb is a 60 Watt grow bulb
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? –Basking spot is 80-85 degrees; night temps are in the mid-60’s not to go below 60.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? - Room humidity is about 40-50% during winter, I also have a coolmist humidifier with the mist piped directly into the cage. Humidity spikes on the schedule with the mistings.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? -One Ficus benjamina variegata, one hibiscus, one Schefflera arboricola, and one purple passion (Gynura aurantiaca), and one small pothos (Epipremnum aureum).
• 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 located in a “middle room” in between my living room and kitchen; not really high traffic; it is near an easterly facing window; top of the cage is about 6’2” off the ground.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? –New England
