Just got a new chameleon and I m very worried HELP?

[klaysny]

So this is my first chameleon. I ve had multiple reptiles before and I did a ton of research weeks prior to getting him. I just got him last night from a woman on craigslist.

Now for some reason he will leave his foot open suspended in the air and not grab on to a branch. Sometimes his front and back left legs will just be frozen in air as if to grab something but not moving while the other two are hanging on. Sometimes he'll just set them on a branch and not grab them. I noticed he is missing some claws on some of his feet. This has caused him to fall twice. (leading me to believe he might be rather weak)

He has very very slow movements (slower than average chameleon old man speed) and will reach for a branch and miss at times then give up and hold it mid air. He also tends to have his eyes closed a lot. But he will open them and look around fine occasionally.

I woke up this morning and his colors were very dull and he was at the bottom of the enclosure on the floor where it is very wet i assume he fell and didnt have energy to climb back up.? And yesterday before I went to sleep i noticed he was hanging completely suspended by his tail and not moving. Later today I was observing him and watched as his only two claws (his others were doing that mid air thing) that were grasped on a branch slowly let go and he let himself fall back and hang from his tail once again. Although if I put my hand underneath him he begins to move.
What is wrong with this guy and what can i do??

4ftx2ftx2ft reptibreeze enclosure, reptisun 5.0 uvb, 60w red night bulb, unsure what the basking light entails so buying a new one today, water source is a dripper and wetting of the cage as I am trying to fix the exo terra monsoon,
He is a 3yro Nosy Be panther
Handling: The prior owner said he loves handling and being out in the sunshine. He hasn't opened his mouth at me at all and seems to crawl on to my hand easily (very very slowly though)

Does anyone know what might be wrong?? If mbd might be an option id like to point out his limbs and bone structures are totally in tact and there are no oddly bent bones. Other information: He has a bruise on his spine/side gray in color, the woman said it gets smaller and smaller each time he sheds..

 

[NHenn]

I'm sorry to hear about your new panther having these problems. Can you post some pictures of him by chance? I have a feeling he is having some major internal health issues which unfortunately might be too late to correct.

 

[Carlton]

So this is my first chameleon. I ve had multiple reptiles before and I did a ton of research weeks prior to getting him. I just got him last night from a woman on craigslist.

Now for some reason he will leave his foot open suspended in the air and not grab on to a branch. Sometimes his front and back left legs will just be frozen in air as if to grab something but not moving while the other two are hanging on. Sometimes he'll just set them on a branch and not grab them.

Chams who are uneasy in strange surroundings often do this. They are trying not to look like an animal.

I noticed he is missing some claws on some of his feet. This has caused him to fall twice. (leading me to believe he might be rather weak)

Missing claws happen, but if those toes look larger (swollen) than the normal toes he could have some infections from the damaged claw. Stumbling, falling, poor coordination are signs of nutritional deficiencies, but he's new to you so hard for you to judge what would be normal for him.

He has very very slow movements (slower than average chameleon old man speed) and will reach for a branch and miss at times then give up and hold it mid air. He also tends to have his eyes closed a lot. But he will open them and look around fine occasionally.

Eyes closed...A very bad sign. Reaching and holding a foot in midair isn't necessarily a bad sign as again, chams tend to move slowly, pause, hesitate, and freeze if they are feeling exposed to view.


I woke up this morning and his colors were very dull and he was at the bottom of the enclosure on the floor where it is very wet i assume he fell and didnt have energy to climb back up.? And yesterday before I went to sleep i noticed he was hanging completely suspended by his tail and not moving. Later today I was observing him and watched as his only two claws (his others were doing that mid air thing) that were grasped on a branch slowly let go and he let himself fall back and hang from his tail once again. Although if I put my hand underneath him he begins to move.
What is wrong with this guy and what can i do??

If you can, call his previous owner and get details of his past diet, nutritional supplements, what lighting they used. The problem is, they might tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth. He does seem to show signs of long term problems. Chams tend to hide their problems until they are severe.


4ftx2ftx2ft reptibreeze enclosure, reptisun 5.0 uvb, 60w red night bulb, unsure what the basking light entails so buying a new one today, water source is a dripper and wetting of the cage as I am trying to fix the exo terra monsoon,

Don't use any heat or light at night unless your room gets colder than 55F. That will keep him awake and add to his stress.


He is a 3yro Nosy Be panther
Handling: The prior owner said he loves handling and being out in the sunshine. He hasn't opened his mouth at me at all and seems to crawl on to my hand easily (very very slowly though)

Does anyone know what might be wrong?? If mbd might be an option id like to point out his limbs and bone structures are totally in tact and there are no oddly bent bones. Other information: He has a bruise on his spine/side gray in color, the woman said it gets smaller and smaller each time he sheds..[/QUOTE]

A bruise would not last longer than a week. If this spot is constantly grey it could be an old injury or a healing burn. Pictures of this cham would help a lot.

 

[Lathis]

Since he's new to you and you can't be sure of his past care, a "well lizard" checkup at a vet would be a good idea to look for signs of MDB, parasites, respiratory infection, etc. If you can get fresh droppings (the brown part), take those with you for a fecal check.

It's a good way to check out a vet, as well. Eventually you will need one, so finding one before it's an emergency is a good idea.

 

[repdog]

I second a "well lizard" check up at a vet. All the rescues have to go that I take in.