Minimal-stress hydration?

[carol5208]

make sure you remove the plastic piece that are on most aquarium hoods. That will block out your uvb completely!!

 

[Trillian]

Plastic piece?! The tube is only separated from the cham by the viv mesh. That okay?

 

[carol5208]

yes. What I mean is aquarium hoods have a plastic piece that is kinda clear and it covers the bulbs so they dont get wet. If you have that is has to be removed. Can you touch the bulb in thge fixture with your hand or is it covered by the plastic?

 

[Trillian]

Yes, it's just a black hood with clips and wiring, so aside from it not fitting neatly on the viv, it seems good.

 

[Trillian]

I took this pic today, do you think her turrets look better? She's spending slightly less time at the bottom of the viv since I changed to the Reptisun 5.0, so I'm confident I made a good decision there. I bought some of that hermit crab walling stuff that was mentioned on another thread, I thought it might help her feel a bit more secure, and it does, because she pulled it off the wall and crawled behind it. But she's still at the top, and the UV light can get to her and I'm monitoring the temperature.

In other news, I was so worried about leaving her by herself all day without being able to monitor her temperature and water situation that I had to break into my own house through a cracked basement window when I left my keys behind on the school run this morning. Awesome job. Tiny chest-high window? Check. Overlooked by every train headed to Grand Central station at rush hour? Check. Fat arse and chunky wellington boots waggling around as I slithered reptile-like through the tiny window? Check...

I like to think I cheered up a fair few commuters this morning. Much funnier for them than when I moon at passing trains because I get bored easily during the day...

 

[Trillian]

Forgot the pic!

 

[Trillian]

Just taken another pic of her, feedback would be appreciated! I have yet to see her drink, but she's still quite shy, and as she doesn't seem to have deteriorated, to my inexperienced eyes anyway, I'm hoping she sneaks drinks when I'm not looking. I ordered some hornworms and silkworms that I'm hoping will be here really soon. In the meantime she's having gutloaded crickets (bug burger) though I haven't seen her eat them, they are disappearing from the viv.

 

[Trace]

Does s/he have little ears flaps? You may actually have a Graceful Chameleon and not a Senegal as originally assumed. Are there little bumps on it's back feet were the heel would be?

I think s/he looks a little better. Makes sure s/he gets plenty of water - you really can't over water these wild caughts initially. Do you live in a warm area? Can you take her outside for some fresh air and sunshine. That sometimes does wonders too.

 

[Trillian]

I'm in NY, some sun occasionally, but we're in for a stormy week (was 35C a few weeks ago!) so sunbathing will be sporadic at best...

I'm totally going to check her for ear flaps and heels now... Fairly sure it's female, regardless, as there are no hemipenal swellings.

Edit: No ear flaps or holes and no heel bumps.

 

[Trillian]

I'm so pleased! I spied on her just after I misted the viv and she thought I'd gone and I saw her drinking a few droplets from the glass! And she forgot herself for a minute and drank a drop that I dripped on her nose from the syringe too! She was still backing away slowly as I loomed over her wielding a water-filled syringe, BUT she was at the top right of the viv on a perch watching me the whole time I cooked dinner, usually she's at the back, if not at the bottom trying to tunnel to freedom through the glass. And I just checked on her, she's roosting right in the centre of the viv on a loop of vine, rather than on the floor under a fern, which was her preferred spot!

I've had her nearly a week now, so still really early days, but I'm really glad that she seems to be settling in a bit and feeling a bit more secure now.

Just hope the silkworms and hornworms turn up tomorrow, they'll do her lots of good.

 

[okiroo]

from that picture she looks like she might be gracid. Jann hasa gr8 blog on laying bins. you'll need to look over it to prevent eggbinging. the eggs are probally viable. that or in the pic shes just puffed a little. any eggs shaped on her sides by her legs? anyone else think shes gravid?

 

[Trillian]

She's very narrow usually, think she puffed up a bit for the camera. I've been reading up on laying bins tho, sounds like she'll lay eggs sometime. I felt her stomach gently earlier and it felt soft, so if she is gravid it's still early days. Figure my best bet is assuming she's gravid, better safe than sorry!

 

[okiroo]

She's very narrow usually, think she puffed up a bit for the camera. I've been reading up on laying bins tho, sounds like she'll lay eggs sometime. I felt her stomach gently earlier and it felt soft, so if she is gravid it's still early days. Figure my best bet is assuming she's gravid, better safe than sorry!

good attitude !

 

[carol5208]

well it is sure nice to see all you are doing for her. She is lucky to have you as her keeper. I think she looks pretty good in he last pic too. You have only had her a week and it can take them a long time to get used to you. I hope she will continue to progress and you will not worry so much...

 

[Trillian]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm very aware that I'm new to chameleon keeping. I'm relieved that she's not deteriorated, like the others did, I think that once I've had her a month or so and she's thriving I'll feel much happier!

 

[carol5208]

well we all started out new at some point. These creatures can wreak havoc on your nerves like no other! I guess cause there are so many things that can happen to them you are constantly looking for things to go wrong! I check both my guys over everyday. I pick them up and check out their whole bodies. They stare at me like what the "heck are you doing"? but I like to stay on top of things!!!

 

[Trillian]

I'm still quite worried about her. She doesn't look worse (the other chameleons went downhill quite quickly) but she doesn't look better. I haven't seen her drink for a while, and she's spending more and more time at the bottom of the vivarium scratching at the sides. I'd put it down to eggs, but she only scratches at the sides, never the substrate. I've been putting a couple of crickets in per day, and they have been disappearing, but she's very shy about eating, and I'm not sure if she's picking them off when I'm not around or I'm going to pull out the viv and find a thriving colony of crickets behund the back board or something!

She's been pretty routinely awake 7-7 until today, when I noticed her asleep in her usual roost at 5. I was worried, so put the shower attachment on my kitchen sink running into a sturdy dish, coolish warm water running, and let her walk around the edge of the dish, away from direct spray, but within the mist. She didn't seem to hate it entirely, and I saw her swallow a few times, but only opened her mouth slightly twice, and it wasn't until her third attempt to climb the stream of water that she finally got cross enough to let go of the bowl and signal that she was ready to get out.

I'm desperately hoping the silkworms and hornworms I ordered last week get here tomorrow, I was really hoping they would only take a few days to arrive. She's also having 3 waxworms per day, which she takes from my hand. I know they have minimal nutrition, but they mean I see her eating and they have more water than crickets, and even though they are the invertebrate equivalent of a bag of chips, I'm just glad to get any sort of calories into her at this point.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

I'm still quite worried about her. She doesn't look worse (the other chameleons went downhill quite quickly) but she doesn't look better. I haven't seen her drink for a while, and she's spending more and more time at the bottom of the vivarium scratching at the sides. I'd put it down to eggs, but she only scratches at the sides, never the substrate. I've been putting a couple of crickets in per day, and they have been disappearing, but she's very shy about eating, and I'm not sure if she's picking them off when I'm not around or I'm going to pull out the viv and find a thriving colony of crickets behund the back board or something!

She's been pretty routinely awake 7-7 until today, when I noticed her asleep in her usual roost at 5. I was worried, so put the shower attachment on my kitchen sink running into a sturdy dish, coolish warm water running, and let her walk around the edge of the dish, away from direct spray, but within the mist. She didn't seem to hate it entirely, and I saw her swallow a few times, but only opened her mouth slightly twice, and it wasn't until her third attempt to climb the stream of water that she finally got cross enough to let go of the bowl and signal that she was ready to get out.

I'm desperately hoping the silkworms and hornworms I ordered last week get here tomorrow, I was really hoping they would only take a few days to arrive. She's also having 3 waxworms per day, which she takes from my hand. I know they have minimal nutrition, but they mean I see her eating and they have more water than crickets, and even though they are the invertebrate equivalent of a bag of chips, I'm just glad to get any sort of calories into her at this point.

-I'm thinking it's way too hot in there for her. With a 25 watt bulb in my 18x18x24 Exo Terra it stays around 85 F. I've even seen it get up to 90. My house usually stays around 70-72 degrees. The highest bulb I would ever put in there would be a 40 watt. Because it is glass, it heats up very quickly and spreads. As you probably already know, Chameleons thermo regulate. They need it to be a certain degrees in the basking spot (depending on species), and about ambient temp towards the bottom. The middle of the cage should be somewhere in between.

I see you mentioned earlier about the temp gauge you have. The crappy plastic ones are horrible. I seriously think they should be illegal. I had those stuck on my cage for a week with my first Cham. The gauge never went above 82 F so I thought it was fine. Well I bought the digital thermometer and hydrometer, come to find out.. it was 100 F! The hydrometer didn't read correctly either. It may be much more hotter in there than you think. I just wanted to let you know my experience so it didn't happen to you too. It was a good thing I noticed him holding his mouth open and scratching at the walls of his cage. Not everything works as advertised.

-With the hydration issue, check her urate. When she poops, the white part attached should be white. If it is yellow or orange that means she needs water. I didn't see this mentioned, so I apologize if you already know.

--Side note: Does anyone know a way to add fresh water to feeders? Like sticking a needle and filling them with water before she eats them, or any other method? That might help boost water intake. I'm sorry if that sounds nuts, but just an idea.

-You are doing great by the way. It will take time, but just try to be patient. She seems to be doing better already. It will definitely be a long road for her, but with an owner like you she has a chance. The forums will be here for any question or problem along the way. I know you are new to Chameleon keeping, but the forum has many experienced keepers. It seems like you are really listening to their advice and doing what you can. I applaud your efforts. Keep it up girl!

 

[Trillian]

I have been looking for poop, it sounds like their poop is very similar to geckos, with a mushy pellet and white goo, and I've been given gifts of those a few times. The only things I've seen in her viv that look like poop was one brown too-soft lump, with no visible urates, and one hard white pellet that I noticed today, looked a bit like cheese. Grossing myself out now... glad I've already eaten...

Thank you so much for the nudge about the thermometer, I've been relying on those crappy discs, I had no idea they could be so inaccurate. According to that it's around 80 in her basking spot. I'm definitely going to go digital. Is there a brand or source that is reasonably priced?

A few other posters inject water into their feeders, I think, which I'm tempted to do if those blimmin hornworms don't turn up soon!

 

[Trillian]

Still waiting for those hornworms to arrive. I ordered them on the 1st May from that Educational Science place.

Here are pics of her I just took, she has her grumpy spots on because I just gave her a shower, but she opened her mouth a few times while in the mist, so I'm assuming she drank something.

How does she look to you guys? I'm a little worried about her head, it still looks skeletal and worn, but I'm happier that her legs are starting to look a bit more filled out.

I ordered a digital thermometer and hygrometer, so that should arrive this week. YOu guys weren't wrong when you said that if you look at non-reptile branded stuff you get a much better deal! I made sure the operating parameters were within the usual viv requirements, and I didn't bother ordering her the one with an alarm clock radio integrated, her taste in music is too different to mine, and it's not like she has a job to get up for.