Thanks for everything. I am taking her to a vet within the next hour. I talked to the vet on the phone and he said that he will take an xray to see if she has eggs. I went out yesterday and bought a Zoo Med Reptisun Hood and a 15w 10.0 UVB tube. I am definatly going to redo her whole enclosure and read up on the proper way to keep a chameleon so I don't do anything stupid like this again. I'm taking out all of the fake plants and getting real approved plants, rethinking her diet, and putting different substrate in. Thanks for everyones help. I'll keep you posted on what happens.
Need Help!
- Thread starter Skim302
- Start date
Chameleoco
New Member
(no substrate is best! and i think a 10.0 uvb could be too high
) Good luck i hope she is ok!
) Good luck i hope she is ok!
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Good luck at vet!
Good luck at the vet! Let us know what he/she has to say when you get back. We are all rooting for your girl. Regarding the 10.0 light. If you look at the pictures of the cage. It's one of those heavy black mesh Flexarium cages. Those cut the UVB light output in half. I don't think it will be too much. I would have worried that a 5.0 might not be enough to for the recovery of a gravid chameleon that did not previously get enough UVB. When you put new plants in the cage post of picture of it so we can check out the distance between her perches and the UVB.
Good luck at the vet! Let us know what he/she has to say when you get back. We are all rooting for your girl. Regarding the 10.0 light. If you look at the pictures of the cage. It's one of those heavy black mesh Flexarium cages. Those cut the UVB light output in half. I don't think it will be too much. I would have worried that a 5.0 might not be enough to for the recovery of a gravid chameleon that did not previously get enough UVB. When you put new plants in the cage post of picture of it so we can check out the distance between her perches and the UVB.
Alright, I have a pretty funny story. The only place around me that did reptiles is called Banfield. Where I live it is inside of a petsmart, which is where I bought the chameleon from. The vet looked her over and said she doesn't look like she is carrying eggs but she might have some intestinal problems. He goes on to bash petsmart by saying that animals bought from there have a high chance of having giardia. He acctually said that the majority of animals bought from petsmart have giardia. I found that funny/frightening because he is pretty much telling me not to buy pets from petsmart but she might have giardia. He gave her a shot of antibiotics and one for dehydration because she hasn't been eating. He also gave me an antibiotic, some sort of super drug that is supposed to wipe out any thing that is not supposed to be in her, and a vit. B booster to help with her appetite. So hopefully this will all work out.
And I wanted to tell everyone about my new set up. I took out all of the bark that I was using for substrate and replaced it with newspaper. Took everything that is fake out and replaced it with a hibiscus. She has the UVB lamp and the heat lamp for basking. I would take a picture but her lights are out already and I don't want to wake her because she has had a long day. And I also took her outside today and let her climb on a small apple tree in the sun for about 30 minutes. So hopefully I am on the right track and soon I hope to have a very happy and healthy chameleon.
And by the way, I am NEVER buying any animal from petsmart again.
And I wanted to tell everyone about my new set up. I took out all of the bark that I was using for substrate and replaced it with newspaper. Took everything that is fake out and replaced it with a hibiscus. She has the UVB lamp and the heat lamp for basking. I would take a picture but her lights are out already and I don't want to wake her because she has had a long day. And I also took her outside today and let her climb on a small apple tree in the sun for about 30 minutes. So hopefully I am on the right track and soon I hope to have a very happy and healthy chameleon.
And by the way, I am NEVER buying any animal from petsmart again.
Are her feces really stinky?
Did he get/suggest getting a fecal sample and test/testing it?
With the shaking you said she was doing, the lack of calcium from you not dusting very often and no UVB...I still think she has MBD and she still looks chubby enough to be carrying eggs.
I don't like it that her eyes are somewhat sunken in either.
I hope the vet's diagnosis without testing, etc. was good. Do you know what the antibiotic was? Was it metronidazole or flagyl?
Did he get/suggest getting a fecal sample and test/testing it?
With the shaking you said she was doing, the lack of calcium from you not dusting very often and no UVB...I still think she has MBD and she still looks chubby enough to be carrying eggs.
I don't like it that her eyes are somewhat sunken in either.
I hope the vet's diagnosis without testing, etc. was good. Do you know what the antibiotic was? Was it metronidazole or flagyl?
Yes her feces is pretty stinky.
He wanted a fecal sample but I did not have one with me and I live almost an hour away from petsmart. He is checking her out again in a week to see how she is doing so if he wants one then I'll get it to him.
He didn't really say much about the shaking. And why is it a lack of dusting? I've read everywhere that you are only supposed to dust twice a week. She isn't as chubby as she was last time she was carrying eggs at all. There are no bumps or anything indicating eggs either.
I don't think the pictures did any justice to the way her eyes look. She was sleeping in both of them. I've seen pictures of dehydration in chameleons and she looks nothing like that. I have been misting her twice a day but recently started misting her almost 5 times a day once I thought she was sick.
The antibiotic he gave me was metronidazole.
I really don't have an option. It was Banfield or nothing. The antibiotic he gave me will remove any parasites if she does have them.
Syn
Avid Member
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/delaware.shtml
Do you live near either of these places? I have no knowledge if these guys are good or not, but herpvetconnection is a great place to find vets..
Too bad there aren't many Delaware-ians here. (That I know of.)
Do you live near either of these places? I have no knowledge if these guys are good or not, but herpvetconnection is a great place to find vets..
Too bad there aren't many Delaware-ians here. (That I know of.)
You said..."He didn't really say much about the shaking. And why is it a lack of dusting?"...since you were giving it no UVB your chameleon couldn't produce D3 so it couldn't use the twice weekly calcium you were using...and I explained..."Many/most of the feeder insects we use have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous...so dusting at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder helps to make up for this."
You said..."She isn't as chubby as she was last time she was carrying eggs at all. There are no bumps or anything indicating eggs either"..well, hopefully she doesn't have eggs in her...but I think she might.
You said..."I don't think the pictures did any justice to the way her eyes look. She was sleeping in both of them"..perhaps that's true. Can you post a picture of her when she's awake please?
You said..."I have been misting her twice a day but recently started misting her almost 5 times a day once I thought she was sick"...dehydration isn't the only reason for sunken eyes.
I hope your chameleon will recover!
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This is from my previous post....it explains a lot about calcium/D3, etc.
"Exposure to UVB either from an appropriate UVB light or direct sunlight allows the chameleon to produce D3 which allows it to use the calcium in its diet. The UVB from the sun or the bulb should not pass through glass or plastic".
"Many/most of the feeder insects we use have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous...so dusting at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder helps to make up for this".
"Preformed vitamin A...and D3 from supplements can build up in the system...so those ones you have to be careful with. Vitamin A from beta carotene (prOformed) won't build up in the system because only the amount needed should be converted, but its not proven whether any/all chameleons can convert it or not..so some people give a little prEformed vitamin A once in a while. Excess prEformed vitamin A can build up (as I said) and prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. Some of the species of chameleons are more sensitive to vitamins than others.
Many people use vitamins (with a beta carotene source of vit. A) and phos. free calcium/D3 twice a month lightly".
"Gutloading/feeding your insects a nutritious diet will also help provide the chameleon with the nutrients it needs...as will appropriate temperatures which allow for proper digestion thus plays a part in nutrient absorption".
Here are some sites that may help you to understand it better...
http://web.archive.org/web/200604210...d.Calcium.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=93
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=96
You said..."She isn't as chubby as she was last time she was carrying eggs at all. There are no bumps or anything indicating eggs either"..well, hopefully she doesn't have eggs in her...but I think she might.
You said..."I don't think the pictures did any justice to the way her eyes look. She was sleeping in both of them"..perhaps that's true. Can you post a picture of her when she's awake please?
You said..."I have been misting her twice a day but recently started misting her almost 5 times a day once I thought she was sick"...dehydration isn't the only reason for sunken eyes.
I hope your chameleon will recover!
-
This is from my previous post....it explains a lot about calcium/D3, etc.
"Exposure to UVB either from an appropriate UVB light or direct sunlight allows the chameleon to produce D3 which allows it to use the calcium in its diet. The UVB from the sun or the bulb should not pass through glass or plastic".
"Many/most of the feeder insects we use have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous...so dusting at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder helps to make up for this".
"Preformed vitamin A...and D3 from supplements can build up in the system...so those ones you have to be careful with. Vitamin A from beta carotene (prOformed) won't build up in the system because only the amount needed should be converted, but its not proven whether any/all chameleons can convert it or not..so some people give a little prEformed vitamin A once in a while. Excess prEformed vitamin A can build up (as I said) and prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. Some of the species of chameleons are more sensitive to vitamins than others.
Many people use vitamins (with a beta carotene source of vit. A) and phos. free calcium/D3 twice a month lightly".
"Gutloading/feeding your insects a nutritious diet will also help provide the chameleon with the nutrients it needs...as will appropriate temperatures which allow for proper digestion thus plays a part in nutrient absorption".
Here are some sites that may help you to understand it better...
http://web.archive.org/web/200604210...d.Calcium.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=93
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=96
thealissa
New Member
Definitely agreed. By feeding her the amount that you are and providing higher temps, she's most likely to produce clutches about 3 times per year.
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Other comments...
You've already gotten excellent advise on the calcium and possible egg situation. So I'll skip all that. The vet you went to diagnosed her as having Giardia without a fecal. It's impossible to diagnose Giardia without a fecal. Maybe the vet knows that all the Petsmart reptiles have it because of unsanitary conditions. She may have Giardia. She could have other things too though. A fecal test is the thing to do. Especially with health issues and stinky poo. Are you supposed to give her a Metronidazole treatment every 7 days? You also need to disinfect her cage between or after each treatment to prevent reinfection. I'd like to see pictures of her too
You've already gotten excellent advise on the calcium and possible egg situation. So I'll skip all that. The vet you went to diagnosed her as having Giardia without a fecal. It's impossible to diagnose Giardia without a fecal. Maybe the vet knows that all the Petsmart reptiles have it because of unsanitary conditions. She may have Giardia. She could have other things too though. A fecal test is the thing to do. Especially with health issues and stinky poo. Are you supposed to give her a Metronidazole treatment every 7 days? You also need to disinfect her cage between or after each treatment to prevent reinfection. I'd like to see pictures of her too
He asked for a poop sample but I didn't have one. He never said that it was giardia, he just said it could be. When he looked at her he said she doesn't look like she has eggs so he guessed intestinal. He gave her stuff to get everything out that isn't supposed to be there. Its not just for giardia, I think beacause he didn't really know what it is he is just covering the basics. And I am supposed to give her the methonidazole once and day for 7 days.
