Need some advice!

S

Sonicsparents

New Member
Our chameleon got a small burn on his head that has now become larger, even after we made sure he could not reach the top of the enclosure. We have been reading up as much as we can and doing our best, but he wont open his eyes today to eat or drink. We now know we were not prepared to take care of a chameleon, but it's too late for that. So we are doing our best to help him get better. We know we need to take our chameleon to the vet, but we are looking for advice on what we can do until he goes in.
 
Not sure how the burn could get larger unless it is infected and the infection is spreading. A burn on the head should not effect his eyes unless he somehow burned his eyes. Closing of the eyes is ususally a sign of some type of illness or it could be your lighting is incorrect and irritating his eyes. There are other reasons also such as parasites. Would be helpful for you to fill out the form attached and also post a pic of your chameleon and set up so we can better assist you.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
 
Closing his eyes could also mean he is sick and feeling bad from an infection due to the burn. And if that's the case he needs medical attention asap before it's too late.
 
Sonics info

We have had Sonic for about 2 months and he has been very happy and healthy for a large majority of this time. We have been using the reptoCal calcium powder by tetra fauna once a week on meal worms that we feed him once a day and we feed his crickets on the weekends. We feed the crickets an oatmeal. Since his eyes has closed we bought the zoo med eye drops which we applied two drops per eye today. We use a spray bottle the spray down his enclosure twice a day and I have just installed a dripper all with treated water. We think he is less than a year old and honestly do not know the sex. We use a small glass terrarium with screen lid and a UVA heat lamp and a UVB bulb. His poop has not really changed in consistency since we got him but lately it has been a little less frequent.
 
Please give advice!?!

Our chameleon got a small burn on his head that has now become larger, even after we made sure he could not reach the top of the enclosure. We have been reading up as much as we can and doing our best, but he wont open his eyes today to eat or drink. We now know we were not prepared to take care of a chameleon, but it's too late for that. So we are doing our best to help him get better. We know we need to take our chameleon to the vet, but we are looking for advice on what we can do until he goes in. We have had Sonic for about 2 months and he has been very happy and healthy for a large majority of this time. We have been using the reptoCal calcium powder by tetra fauna once a week on meal worms that we feed him once a day and we feed his crickets on the weekends. We feed the crickets an oatmeal. Since his eyes has closed we bought the zoo med eye drops which we applied two drops per eye today. We use a spray bottle the spray down his enclosure twice a day and I have just installed a dripper all with treated water. We think he is less than a year old and honestly do not know the sex. We use a small glass terrarium with screen lid and a UVA heat lamp and a UVB bulb. His poop has not really changed in consistency since we got him but lately it has been a little less frequent. He is a veiled chameleon, his heat is kept at 85 and humidity at 80 and he is kept in our bedroom
 
Tetsuo said:
Not to steal the thread but if a cham is basking with it's eyes closed is that bad?
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is it just basking? What kind of light are you using and what are your temps?. If the light is too intense it could cause that. You might wann start your own thread.
 
To the OP post a pic of your chameleons back feet and we will tell you if it is a male or female. Males have little spikes or spurs as they are called on the back of the back heel. Females do not.
 
you have not been supplementing enough with calcium and feeding your crickets oatmeal is not enough as far as "gutloading"(feeding your feeders) what size is your enclosure?. 80% humidity is high. Is it constantly kept at that? Please post a pic of your chameleon and your set up so we can help you further.
 
carol5208 said:
is it just basking? What kind of light are you using and what are your temps?. If the light is too intense it could cause that. You might wann start your own thread.
Click to expand...

I just got them today and yes it is just when basking and he is a lively fellow. Never mind the basking temp was too high. (still working on it. heh)
 
pics

are these good enough
 

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Cannot see the back feet so cannot tell you male or female. Your chameleon unfortunately looks very ill, putting the burn aside. There is something seriously wrong with its mouth. Its top and bottom lip are not meeting properly. There is a condition called mouth rot but your pics are not clear enough to determine that. What kind of UVB light are you using?
 
more pics

heres some more
 

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Oh my gosh, I hate to say this but your chameleon looks near death. He is very very sick and so malnurished looking. He appears to have a large bump on his head also along with the mouth problem. 100watt bulb is WAY too hot for a glass cage. What specifically are you using for uvb? What is the name of the bulb? his front leg also looks to have the start of metabolic bone disease.
 
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