Napping.

[Dodger]

So...I've had Viggo for a year and a half now. He is a Madagascar Giant Spiny chameleon, and he's like an adorable little dinosaur. He and I have a very...special relationship. You see - Viggo is antisocial, independent, and he's kind of a grumpy old man. Since I brought him home, I have held him once - and that was when I put him into his new home. I know chameleons are independent creatures - I have no problem with that. And trust me - I've tried establishing a better relationship with him. I talk to him, I try coaxing him onto my hand. He just looks down at my hand, looks back up at me with a look that says "...dude, are you serious?" and he will turn around and crawl down further into his arboretum. I've accepted this lifestyle. I provide him with delicious worms of all kinds, crickets, and other assorted bugs. I mist his treetop home daily. I take care of him. Like I said, he's just a grumpy old man.

Recently, this grumpy old man has been living up to his name even further - he has been napping (I swear, one day I'm going to see him in there with a little cane). After doing a bit of research, I took a look at his eyes, and they looked a bit sunken in. After unsuccessfully trying to wake him up from his nap, I take the top of his tank off. I'm looking at him, and moving his branches and such around. Weirdly enough, he still moves. Like he's having dreams. I started petting him a little bit. Still sleeping. I started moving him a little bit. Still sleeping. I put my hand under him and made his little claws grab my fingers. Still sleeping. I took him out of his tank (!). Still sleeping. That's right, ladies and gents. For the second time in my life, I held him.

But he was still sleeping. I saw that his eyes are kind of sunken in. I gave him a little warm water bath in my hand. Still sleeping. But...responsive. He would move. It's the weirdest thing. I took him outside and sat down with him. Still sleeping. I was petting him and holding him and stuff. And finally.

His eyeball opened.

I honestly expected him to freak out a little. Like "OMG WHERE AM I."

He didn't. He looked at me, looked around, re-positioned himself at the top of my hand to get closer to the sun, and closed his eyes again.

I misted the arboretum. Put him back in it. Still sleeping. Put some food in his dish. Sprayed him a little to wake him up. He woke up. Looked around. And passed right back out.

CHAMELEON NARCOLEPSY?! What is this?!

Anyway. Thanks for reading my story. Any advice or insight would really be appreciated. Thanks =]

 

[Carlton]

Not narcolepsy, but possibly so ill he no longer has the energy to react to you as he usually would. This kind of non-reaction is NOT normal so we can only help you figure out what's wrong if you fill out the "how to ask for help" form describing your setup and husbandry. We will need all the details!

 

[carol5208]

sounds like you have a ill chameleon on your hands. please fill out this form so we can help you! I am already not liking the sound of "I took the top off his tank"....what are you keeping him in, an aquarium????????? https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[DavidBuchan]

The top can come off things other than an aquarium, Carol, and even if it is made of glass, it's temps and humidity that are really important.........



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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Dodger]

Thanks for the fast responses, everyone.

I'm currently looking for an exotic animal / reptile veterinarian in my area.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Madagascar Giant Spiny Chameleon, male, 1.5 years old (approximate); had him for almost a year now.
• Handling - I have held him once. Ever. He doesn't like to be handled and I don't pressure him to let me do so.
• Feeding - Mixture of mealworms, waxworms, crickets, baby roaches. Usually a few of each, every few days.
• Supplements - Using ExoTerra calcium + D3 and ExoTerra multivitamin powder. These are both used twice a week.
• Watering - I use a sprayer bottle to mist down his whole arboretum every day, and I do see him drinking.
• Fecal Description - Droppings look normal.
• History - Like I had previously written, he and I don't have much of a lovey-dovey relationship, but I take care of him.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 1 foot wide x 1 foot deep x 2feet tall glass arboretum with screen top.
• Lighting - Using an ExoTerra 50W UVA heat lamp and an ExoTerra UVB lamp, both are used at the same time. Approximately 12 hours on; 12 off.
• Temperature - Usually between 80-90 near the top of the habitat, and lower 70s, near the bottom with shade to hide. Lowest overnight temp might hit high 60s. Stick-on-glass-thermometer inside habitat.
• Humidity - After researching this species, I found out that they live in lower humidity climates, so I stick with misting his habitat down every day, but will sometimes do so twice.
• Plants - No live plants. All artificial, with vines and logs.
• Placement - Located on a tall dresser, so that when he is at his highest point, he is about six feet from the ground. Ceiling fan is nearby, so the habitat has sufficient circulation. Very low traffic area.
• Location - Detroit

Current Problem - Concerned with his lethargic state, to the point where he doesn't react to handling (which to him is a big deal, hence my concern), and slightly sunken eyes. I am being sure he has more than enough water, to hopefully rule out dehydration.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I don't know the species myself, had to look it up on youtube. You have a very small glass viv - it would be much better to have a large screen one. Do you have pics/ can you get some temporary but secure free-range going on until the vet?

 

[DavidBuchan]

sounds like you have a ill chameleon on your hands. please fill out this form so we can help you! I am already not liking the sound of "I took the top off his tank"....what are you keeping him in, an aquarium????????? https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

The top can come off things other than an aquarium, Carol, and even if it is made of glass, it's temps and humidity that are really important.........

And Carols instinct in these matters is proven correct again.......

 

[Dodger]

Don't let his name fool you - he's a very small chameleon. I've been trying to find the right kind of open-air (or more open, anyway) habitat for him.

Trying to get a picture off my camera.

I will be looking into a secure free-range this weekend. Any suggestions?

 

[DavidBuchan]

Don't let his name fool you - he's a very small chameleon. I've been trying to find the right kind of open-air (or more open, anyway) habitat for him.

Trying to get a picture off my camera.

I will be looking into a secure free-range this weekend. Any suggestions?

They grow up to 2 feet long in the wild. I would have thought he should be far too big for that size at 1.5 years.
Keep it indoors for now at least, easier to fix lights and make it secure. Better for humidity control too. Some natural sunlight might help, if you can do it for a short time each day. Give as much room and choice to Viggo as you can. As long as there is enough leaf cover he might still take a few days to settle into a new home, especially if he's a particularly territorial kind of guy.....

 

[Dodger]

I will definitely do so.

Until then, I suppose I'll check him into a reptile vet if I can find one in the area.

Thanks for the help. Greatly appreciated.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Oh, and healthy Chameleons do sometimes 'dream' like you described - I can see mine twitch and move his (closed) eye turrets around.........
Sleeping during the day is often a sign of overheating and or underventilation. If you get him better housed in time and you can take him outside for some sun then when he recovers he may even like you more....

 

[carol5208]

And Carols instinct in these matters is proven correct again.......

just had a feeling. That is a very small enclosure. Not sure of the supplementation schedule of these guys. Would cut back some on the d3 though and get a plain calcium to substitute for the calcium with d3. Along with what David said, a sleeping chameleon can mean a sign of illness, such as parasites. If you get him to a vet, and he recovers, one of the first changes I would make is get a new cage! That is WAY to small. 1 ft X 1 ft X 2ft? That poor little guy has no where to move. They live in trees and like heighth. You have been depriving him of what he does naturally, and that is climb.

 

[kinyonga]

The chameleon should not be sleeping during the day. He also should have reacted to you waking him up with more "enthusiasm" IMHO.
How long have you been using the Exo terra UVB light? Is it the compact?

You said..."Using ExoTerra calcium + D3 and ExoTerra multivitamin powder. These are both used twice a week"...you may be overdoing the D3 and not using enough calcium.

Is this the vitamin powder?
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/powder_multi_vitamin.php

The calcium/D3?
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/powder_calcium_d3.php

You don't have a dripper...although they may come from a dry area, they are still quite heavy drinkers.


Can you post a photo of him please?