Need help

[Sabre]

I have a chameleon who is about 4 months old. I've noticed that his casque is crooked.

I spray him, feed him, give him his calcium, and even gutload his crickets.
I feed him everyday and monitor his temp and humidity.

I am worried that it might be MBD, but he has not shown and other abnormalities. His grip is very strong.

I'm not sure what to do.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

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.



Can you post pictures?

 

[Sabre]

Not at the moment, but ill be able to very soon. I could post them within the next day or so.

It seemed normal one day and crooked another, but i could be mistaken.

Another thing im thinking is that he hurt himself. Im not certain.

I am very worried for my little guy.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Can you fill out the posted form please?

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi! Can you provide your answers to the "questions" posted by Karma? Those are the board's standard "how to ask for help" questions. Just copy and paste into a reply, add your appropriate information.

Be specific (names of supplements and lights). Take pictures of things if you don't know exactly what they are. "Fecal description" is a "what does the poop look like?" If you could post a picture of the poop that would be helpful (yes, it's okay to post pictures of chameleon poop) Give us all the information you can.

It will help keep you from having to answer a load of questions and so get answers to your question sooner.

**edited to add**

Hey, this is my 4,000th post! I may post too much.....

 

[jessica]

Hi Sabre,

Sorry your little guy isn't doing well. Being that he had a bent caque it is more then likley he has the onset of mbd. How old is your UV bulb?

Here are a couple good links about mbd and some pictures

https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplementation-mbd-1-a-2451/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/what-mbd-looks-like-38000/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/mbd-526/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/what-mbd-33052/

May be we can help you narrow down the cause if you fill out the form Karma gave you

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Elizadolots, Im chasing you around your posts to say Happy 4000 post

 

[Sabre]

Your Chameleon - About 4 months, Male, 3 and a half months

Handling - a fair bit, once every 1 to 3 days

Feeding - i feed him 5 to 7 crickets a day, i powder them two times a week.
not sure of calcium brand since im not home at this time.

Watering - water bowl that is changed daily, and i spray him 2 to 3 times everyday.

History - continues to eat and drink normally.

Cage Info: 20 gallon glass tank with mesh top.

Lighting - heat and uvb lamp for 12 hours(roughly).

Temperature - temp range from 70 degrees to 80.

Plants - synthetic plants

Placement - about 4 and a half foot dresser

Location - Northern Cali?

 

[Sabre]

My uvb bulb is about 3 months old since i got it at the time i got him.

 

[Sabre]

His poop is little brown nuggets (not sure how to describe them) with a little white nugget usually after his main movement.

 

[Elizadolots]

Thank you, STPC!

It sounds to me like you are underfeeding him, though I don't know what size crickets you are feeding. I would think a baby like that would need 10 to 15 small crickets a day, perhaps more. I would recommend dusting with calcium every cricket every day, especially when they are babies. Once they are adults, you might be able to cut back to only dusting a few crickets every feeding.

They don't usually drink from water bowls, though some do learn to do so. The best idea is probably to set up a "dripper" system so water is falling from leaf to leaf in the enclosure. They like moving water.

That enclosure is probably acceptable for now, but won't be for much longer. Also, you need to make sure there is good airflow. With that type of enclosure that means putting your heat light dramatically off to one side so that the warmth of the bulb will pull cool air from the other side of the enclosure.

 

[Sabre]

I feed him large crickets. Should i dust the crickets everyday? wouldnt that be giving him too much calcium.

 

[Sabre]

also ive witnessed on many occasions, him drinking out of his bowl.

 

[Sabre]

Im leaving to go to my place from my girlfriends house, so i should be home to take pics of him and i can tell you the brand of his calcium.

 

[Sabre]

pics should be up in about 30 mins to an hour.

 

[Sabre]

Here are all of the pics, including enclosure and recent poop.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Chameleons have tall enclosures, usually mesh, that looks kind of like a fish tank, is it?

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

They also need plenty of foilage (plants), so they can climb, and hide from predators.

 

[Sabre]

Hi, this is his girlfriend, I'll answer to the best of my ability.
I think I could be used as a fish tank, but the lady that was the reptile specialist where he bought him from pick out the tank. I thought that it was weird that that was what she picked out but we didn't question her because she had I think 10+ years as a specialist, Matt and I both did research before he bought Sabre.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

She may be a reptile specialist, but chameleons are plenty different from most reptiles. Try to get a mesh enclosure when you can, and plenty more foilage, there's threads with safe plants for chameleons.