Looking for some opinions...

[mattj]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and had a few questions regarding a small veiled I bought a few days ago.

I had a veiled a few years ago and since day 1 had no problems with her.

This little guy is different so far and I'm just wondering if any of this is normal.

I bought him at Petco after looking around at a few places and feeling that he was the healthiest male I saw.

Got him home into a half set up rept-ibreeze 16x16x30 mesh cage. So hes been handled a few times within the past few days. From what I read on here so far, I think my cage set up is pretty good.

I have the repti-sun 5.0 bulb a fair amount of coverage. A drip system and misting. Keeping the humidity around 70%. ( I never even had a humidity gauge for my first cham and she never had a problem).


So far he hasn't eaten anything. Not interested in crickets or waxworms at all. Im hoping this is still due to him settling into his new home?? He did drink the other day from the vine from the drip. He also hasn't moved from the highest vine in the tank in the past two days.

He has been making a gasping/weird breathing sound. But hell do it once and only once everyone once in a while. Ive checked for any extra saliva or anything like that and didn't see any.

Also what I noticed last night was that there was some feces kind of stuck to him, like he didn't get it all the way out. I gave him a nice misting and later it was gone. Today I came home from work, and the same thing only this time it didn't look hard.

His color looks good a majority of the time, nice and green, all his limbs look fine, he walks and climbs fine. His eyes are always moving.

Any input or questions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Pilotman800]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and had a few questions regarding a small veiled I bought a few days ago.

I had a veiled a few years ago and since day 1 had no problems with her.

This little guy is different so far and I'm just wondering if any of this is normal.

I bought him at Petco after looking around at a few places and feeling that he was the healthiest male I saw.

Got him home into a half set up rept-ibreeze 16x16x30 mesh cage. So hes been handled a few times within the past few days. From what I read on here so far, I think my cage set up is pretty good.

I have the repti-sun 5.0 bulb a fair amount of coverage. A drip system and misting. Keeping the humidity around 70%. ( I never even had a humidity gauge for my first cham and she never had a problem).


So far he hasn't eaten anything. Not interested in crickets or waxworms at all. Im hoping this is still due to him settling into his new home?? He did drink the other day from the vine from the drip. He also hasn't moved from the highest vine in the tank in the past two days.

He has been making a gasping/weird breathing sound. But hell do it once and only once everyone once in a while. Ive checked for any extra saliva or anything like that and didn't see any.

Also what I noticed last night was that there was some feces kind of stuck to him, like he didn't get it all the way out. I gave him a nice misting and later it was gone. Today I came home from work, and the same thing only this time it didn't look hard.

His color looks good a majority of the time, nice and green, all his limbs look fine, he walks and climbs fine. His eyes are always moving.

Any input or questions would be appreciated. Thanks

Him not eating is normal. When chameleons are introduced into a new environment, they may be stressed and refuse to eat for a few days.

About the breathing, did he just drink water? Maybe he accidentally aspirated a bit somehow. If not, even though you didn't see any extra saliva or mucus, he may have an R.I. I would get it checked out by a vet. It is not normal for them to make sounds. (Other than hissing)

Feces stuck to him? Can you upload a picture? It may have been a prolapse that decided to go back in.

 

[mattj]

Well the feces is no longer on at the moment. Last night when he had it, I had actually taken him out and while he was on my hand it came off. So that might rule out the prolapse.

No he made the noise, without any water. He kind of puffs up a little bit and then lets out a little noise with his mouth open. As for a vet, I just got him from the store a few days ago. Would you recommend the vet or taking him back to the store. Id like to keep the guy I picked out originally but not looking forward to a crazy vet bill.

 

[Moeby1326]

I don't know about the Petco where you live but where I got mine it gives you I think 30days and if there looks like there might be a problem you can take them into Petco and have a vet check them out and Petco pays.

 

[lindawaz]

I think he is just not use to his new surroundings. Drinking is a good sign. Not eating is normal in the beginning. Are the feeders the right size? if too big he will not eat them- should not be bigger than the space between their eyes

He puffs then makes the noise with his mouth open is it just the air escaping or is he still really puffed afterward?

 

[sandrachameleon]

how old would you guess he is?

 

[mattj]

Moeby- Yea I have 15 days. I didn't want to jump the gun. I was going to wait until maybe sunday. As I have off that day and can get there. Im also hoping to try some more crickets in another day or so. Maybe be built up an appetite. But if conditions dont change, I will be talking to petco. Thats cool that they have a vet check them out. Id rather do that than get rid of him and get another.

Linda the crickets are pretty small. And the same size that were in the cage at the store (not that that says anything). I never heard of the eye measurement thing. Do you mean length wise or thickness?

And no after he exhales, his body goes back to normal, doesnt retain any puffiness.

Sandra- I wish I knew, or even had an educated guess. I meant to ask the rep at petco, but I was sure that I was more knowledgeable in regards to chameleons. She had no idea about them and was merely just the closest person with a key to the display case. If i had to take a sheer guess id say 3 months, based on estimates from my reading.

 

[lindawaz]

width wise

 

[mattj]

Yea Linda they should be fine then. They're pretty small.