Meller's Question

[MTCham]

I have had chams for a few years now, and recently got a Sub Adult Male (well what I believe to be a male) CB Mellers. He is a big boy(?) at 18 inches and nice and plump! He has been doing good for me up until now. He has been keeping his right eye closed 90% of time. He opens it when he eats, but other than that it is usually shut. I noticed sometimes when it is open it swells up bigger than the left eye, and he will like squint and I assume try to push it back in.

I know Meller's are probably the heardest Chams to keep in Captivity, but I have done my research and after years of having chams I feel up to the challenge!

Here is some info about his setup:
He is in a screen cage 24 x 20 x 36. ( I am making a larger cage for him )
He has a basking light and tubular UV bulb (5.0)
he has plent of branches and plants to move through
Basking spot is about 86 - 90 (It depends on the temp in my room, it fluctuates a bit)
Ambient temp is about 82
He is eating with no problems, I am just concerend about that eye.

I plan on calling my herp vet soon, I just wanted to see if anyone here has had a similar problem, and if so what it was, and what was done.

Thanks!!

-Jeremy

 

[PardalisGirl]

Pictures of your boy

Welcome to the group. Melleri are becoming very popular on this forum. Where did you get your boy? Is that 18 inches snout to vent or total length? Melleri like things cooler than Panthers. The only thing I noticed about your information is that your temperatures may be a bit on the high side. They like cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Have you seen the Melleri Discovery website?

http://www.melleridiscovery.com/index.html

I have my ambient temperatures in the mid to low 70's and the basking spot in the mid-80 range. Melleri Discovery says ambient temperature of 65 to 80 degrees and basking 80 to 90 degrees. If my basking area is that hot I can tell that they feel uncomfortable. Mine will not occupy the basking area if it's higher than mid 80 degrees. Higher than desirable temperatures are one of the things that can cause stress and illness. I don't think the eye issue is related to the temperature issue though.

What are you doing for misting and humidity? Is he drinking normally? Closure in just one eye would indicate to me some sort of irritation issue. Eye issues are not something to ignore. If there is an infection or injury causing the eye closure, partial or total blindness can occur if not treated. I would give him some direct showers in a sink or shower and see if he will open his eye or pop out the turret and move it around (how they self clean their eyes). When the eye is open what does it look like? Clear? Or is there a film or discharge? With an eye that is closed as much as you say it is, I would not take any chances.

Please keep us updated and participate in this group. There are a growing number of Melleri fanatics here. We are kind of all learning about them together.

 

[MTCham]

Thanks for the welcome... ordinarily I introduce myself, but I want to get this check out ASAP!

18" is Total Length

I haven't seen that site before, thanks for the URL there, it'll be in my favs for sure! I will reduce the watt size for the basking bulb. I mist him a couple times a day for humidity, he drinks then, but I also have drip system for him which he does use. It drips onto a vine covered in leaves so the water moves a loot before dripping to the bottom, and he does seem to enjoy it!

I have heard of showering them before, I will try that tomorrow. I was moving some things around in my room and it seemed to bother him a bit, so I don't want to piss him off too much. Hopefully that will work, I am stilling going to consult my vet ASAP, but i want to see if I can help him out a little bit before shooting right out to the vet.

Thanks for your help! I'll be sure to keep you updated on him!!

-Jeremy

 

[PardalisGirl]

Sounds like a plan....

Sounds like a plan. Your misting and dripping sounds great. Sounds like that provides the humidity. Does not sound like he could have irritation from dry eyes. You must provide us with a picture when you can. We love to share our Melleri and don't get tired of seeing them. What makes you think you have a male? A lot of us are struggling to sex ours. I have one that I think might be a female, but until I see eggs I'm going to wonder. I've got one I think might be male, but am waiting to actually see the "goods" or other evidence to prove it. Sexing Panthers is a breeze compared to these creatures.

 

[Pure]

Yes pics please. Welcome to the site.

 

[MTCham]

Thanks... I will get some pics up when I can... I am usually pretty busy during the summer, but I hope to have some free days... when I do, I'll get some up!

Melleri from my understanding are indistinguishable between the sexes. I assumed this guy is a male. I got him from a Breeder in CT. Compared to most of the other Cams he had, this one was larger, brighter and seemed to have a slightly larger bulge at the base of the tail... you really have to look though.... So my guess was male.

-Jeremy

 

[laurie]

Welcome Jeremy. I don't have a mellers (yet) but enjoy the pictures along with the rest. We all watch each others chams grow up. After a while you only need the picture, not the name. Names however are always provided.
Sooooooo need apicture when you can. Where are you from and what if any other chams do you have?

 

[MTCham]

Hello! I will try and get some pics... I have some on my phone from when I got him... I'll try and post those within the next day or so! He is the only cham I have at the time. I am located in New England. Permits are needed in my state for Chams, I am not sure why, but they are.

-Jeremy

 

[MTCham]

Hello all, sorry I haven't posted pics yet! I just wanted to let you all know my Chams eye is better. For the past week, after rinses, and showings, he has had his eye open 100% of the time, unless he is sleeping of course..LOL. SO I wanted to post an update... I will try to get some pics soon!

-Jeremy

 

[PardalisGirl]

Great

That's good news about the eye! Happy to hear it. Please do post some pictures. We love to share them