Luke Skywalker Needs Rescued!

[KathrynD]

Hi everyone! **I'm sorry I don't know how to add pictures to a post, but if you visit my profile page there are pictures there.** I'm writing today about my second Senegal Chameleon. (The first one I had was purchased from a pet store and died from parasites, per exotic vet visit). Anyway this is Luke Skywalker and he needs help too. We ordered him from Backwater Reptiles with overnight delivery from Florida to Ohio. When we opened his box and container he looked about dead, yellow and black coloring, hunched over, barely moving. Once we took him out he moved around a bit, but soon I noticed his right eye was only open a tiny slit and would bulge out when he moved it around. The tiny piece of paper towel he was shipped with was bone dry and he was very dehydrated. He wouldn't drink so I soaked him (all but his head obviously) in warm dechlorinated water twice that night for about 10 minutes each time (some advice the vet had given us last time around). Finally he perked up and when I put him in his cage he just drank and drank drank from his dripper for what seemed like forever. That first day he also ate 3 crickets. The next day he only ate one cricket (these are 3/4in btw). The day after that he was not interested in eating at all and had only tried to escape from the same container we've consistently fed/offered food to him in.

Finally I gave up trying to feed him in the container (about 12" x 6") and instead just put a few crickets in his cage with cricket food and that gel water stuff they can't drown in. The day before yesterday he looked like skin and bones, so I added more crickets and he must have gotten one or two because he looked better the next day.

Two days ago I read up about his eye and found out it's most likely a) something in his eye or b) a sinus infection turned into eye infection. He doesn't have any other symptoms like coughing, sneezing or swelling anywhere else so I think it's a localized infection or something in his eye. That day I squirted saline solution (per board messages on this site) into his eye and he seemed to enjoy that. Then I let him rub his eye on my knuckle and he couldn't get enough of that.

Today he has no swelling but also he eye seems completely sealed shut!

What should I do?

(btw I'm using a repti-glo 5.0 and a day time basking bulb, but PLEASE do not try to say that is the cause of the problem as I've only had him a couple weeks and he CAME with this problem.)

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Hey there, sorry about your cham. I hope some of the more experienced members can help you out, but to get you started and save some time you should fill out this form https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Good luck!

 

[birdlover71]

Hi

Hi Where in Ohio are you?
I would like to point out two things first you said
"Finally I gave up trying to feed him in the container (about 12" x 6") and instead just put a few crickets in his cage with cricket food and that gel water stuff they can't drown in. The day before yesterday he looked like skin and bones, so I added more crickets and he must have gotten one or two because he looked better the next day."
Do Not put the gel water stuff in with your chameleon. It can kill him. That is if I read this correctly.

Secondly your said
"Two days ago I read up about his eye and found out it's most likely a) something in his eye or b) a sinus infection turned into eye infection. He doesn't have any other symptoms like coughing, sneezing or swelling anywhere else so I think it's a localized infection or something in his eye. That day I squirted saline solution (per board messages on this site) into his eye and he seemed to enjoy that. Then I let him rub his eye on my knuckle and he couldn't get enough of that."
I would definitely get some saline eye wash and try to clean his eye out as much as possible. But you really shoudl consider getting him/her to a vet. You can wet a Q-Tip and gently try and open up his eye while dripping saline in there. But he does need a vet to give him/her a check up....

Best Wishes.... Amy

 

[KathrynD]

thanks

Thank you, how could/does the gel stuff kill them? (source?) He's a senegal so he is not omnivorous.... Oh, and I'm in Akron. R U in Ohio?

 

[KathrynD]

Also, the guy from Backwater Reptiles said he "thinks he'll be just fine after a few sheds". I complained about his eye and also that he has what look like burn marks in various places on his body (visible in pictures on my profile). What do you guys think? What kind of reputation does BWR have for chams?

 

[CLP]

My first observation looking at your photos on your profile is that 3/4 inch crickets are way too big for that guy. I'd say 1/4" max.

 

[mcbdz]

What a cute guy. I am fairly new to chameleons but, looking at the side with his eye closed the black marking would concern me. If it was my baby, I would get him in to see a vet. I'm guessing only, but he'll need some antibiotics for his eye if nothing else.
And try some fruit flies. When I was worried about Zeke not eating I got a culture of the larger ones and hewent crazy. He LOVES them. Now I've finally gotten him eating more stuff but, I bet they will help get his appetite up.

 

[Jac1582]

Thank you, how could/does the gel stuff kill them? (source?) He's a senegal so he is not omnivorous.... Oh, and I'm in Akron. R U in Ohio?

If the chameleon was to grab the gel cube with its tongue and ingested it, it will expand in it's stomach and literally burst it's stomach causing death sadly enough

 

[HolyToledo]

i'm not sure about exploding their guts but look for a thread by dr. o. he tells of how the gel got stuck and blocked the gut. and they hold water and the cham doesn't get to use all the water they take in.

the food you feed your cham should be no bigger than the space between it's eyes.

 

[birdlover71]

Hi neighbor

Also, the guy from Backwater Reptiles said he "thinks he'll be just fine after a few sheds". I complained about his eye and also that he has what look like burn marks in various places on his body (visible in pictures on my profile). What do you guys think? What kind of reputation does BWR have for chams?

I am in Brooklyn small suburb inside Cleveland. If your cham eats the gel water cube it can expand inside him/her killing it. It is non toxic but think about what it does when you add water to a tiny piece... It expands at least 10x it's size.

I wish I knew more about BWR but I cannot help you. All I do know is if I were to get another Cham it would only be of a forum member here... We all here have the best interest in our chams.... No Pet Shop can say that about themselves.

Amy

 

[Elizadolots]

Kathryn, Hi!

First: to post pictures you need to use the "post reply" button, not the handy quick reply box. There you will find an icon that looks like a paperclip...if you click that you can upload files from your computer. Note that they will appear in you post as thumbnails and they will not appear until you submit the post, so you won't be able to see they are there. (It's an exercise in trust.)

Second: I agree, smaller crickets are in order. That's a young one. He's adorable.

I don't know about that seller but you've done the right thing by letting them know about the problems from the start. It is possible that he'll straighten out in a bit. He already looks better than in the "first" picture.

 

[Trace]

First off you might want to start calling her Princess Leia. I don’t see the telltale hemipenal bulge indicating male in that one photo.

Apart from a very limited few specimens almost all Senegal Chameleons you see in pet shops, dealers and shows are wild caught and yours is no different. The black marks you are seeing are bite marks and scratches that were received by being held in too close quarters with other chameleons either during the importation process or at the dealer’s facility or both. Those will go away with subsequent sheds. Are any of them bleeding or oozing?

These wild caught animals are malnourished, dehydrated and sickly and this is the contributing factor to the demise of your first chameleon. It’s unfortunate that dealers either doesn’t recognize they are sickly or don’t care if they sell sickly animals to an unsuspecting public but that’s not really the issue at hand here. The best thing you can do for a wild caught chameleon is to find a decent reptile vet and start a health directive. Until then water is the best thing to give to your new chameleon and you can do this by extended misting sessions or showers. Showers might be the easiest option if you don’t have an automatic mist system. Simply place a plant or perch into the bathtub or shower stall. Aim the showerhead against a wall so the water bounces back against the plant or aim so the water is partially showering the perch. Allow an area for the chameleon to escape the water should they choose. Turn on the water and set to lukewarm (warm and hot water will burn your chameleon!) and place your chameleon on the plant. Keep a close eye on the animal so they don’t escape the bathtub but most chameleons find this time to be relaxing and settle into a good rehydrating drink and don’t try to escape. The water will not only rehydrate the animal but also clean their skin and eyes. If you notice their eyes bulging and moving awkwardly in the socket, it is a normal action and is just the chameleon removing dirt and debris from under the eyelid. Depending on how severely dehydrated the specimen; showers should be given daily until fully recovered.

Is he eating on his own yet? If not you might want to consider force feeding bugs, bug juice or another over the counter liquid diet. Your vet may have something for just this purpose.

While it is exciting to have a new pet (I see you have kids) handling should be kept to a strict minimum! Handling causes stress which lowers her immune system which causes her to remain unhealthy. Let her relax in her cage and learn your family’s habits from afar. Put your hands in her cage to provide water and food and pick up any errant poops and that is all.

Hopefully this gets you started in the right direction but if you have further questions please don’t be shy.