My Guy is in Trouble

[Caeruleus]

I’ve had my male panther for a year now and overall things have gone well. I got him when he was (supposedly) a year old from a breeder in Florida so he should now be 2. He’s been in great shape and vibrant until I asked the people at my reptile store if he would like flying prey, and they advised me on hatching BSFL. Oh my, he was JAZZED about having flying bugs in his enclosure and ate them preferentially over the usual dubias and crickets. I started to notice that he was looking a little skinnier but he was lively and enjoying the flies so I let that be his only food source most days (5-10 would hatch daily). Now I think he’s in big trouble. He lost his vibrant color but I chalked it up to thinking he might shed. I have his water set to drip daily while I’m at work so I haven’t observed him drinking in the last few weeks but his poops still have white urates. I am unable to spend the $500 on a fecal panel that the reptile vet quoted me about 10 months ago when he developed a respiratory infection (I didn’t know the difference between cold humidity and hot humidity but after adjusting his lights/misting and a round of antibiotics, he’s never had that problem again). I have Critical Carnivore being delivered tomorrow. He is slow and kind of clumsy with his tongue (new problem). His grip strength is still good and he doesn’t have bone problems. I faithfully gut-load crickets and dubias with daily Bug Burger and a salad mix that my reptile store makes, and dust them 1x/week with vitamin D and several times/week with calcium. His UV bulb tests good. I also offer silkworms, hornworms, and every once in awhile, wax worms. What do you recommend as far as turning this guy’s weight loss around? This is him today.

 

[Caeruleus]

This was him on March 1st. I started feeding him the black soldier flies at the end of March.

 

[Caeruleus]

May 2nd

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome. I’m sorry that your guy isn’t doing well. Under the circumstances, the best way to try to determine what may be happening is to do a full husbandry review. The bits you provided just aren’t enough info to go by. Copy and paste with your answers please. If you could include some pics of his enclosure, including lights and all, that is a huge help too.
Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

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Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[Carlton]

IMHO as a 2 year old, he was quite lean before you started feeding the flies. Look at the before photos showing his casque. It was concave, not full. Something was probably going on already. Be careful. Hoping to pin the "blame" on a new feeder is easy, but it's also simplistic...low hanging fruit.

Please flesh out more of your husbandry details.

Has he ever been tested for parasites? He could have a belly full that's been getting more out of his food than he has. What might be a tolerable parasite load can gain the upper hand on a host while it is fighting an infection (his previous RI). New and different food won't get rid of them. It will feed them. Now due to exhausted reserves, treatment may be harder on him. You may have fewer options that are safer.

Hard to imagine a fecal float would cost $500! What other testing did the vet recommend at that time? Unfortunately, so often it's a matter of pay now or pay later.

Here's hoping the experts here can help. Good luck with him, he's beautiful!