New and NEED HELP PLEASE

[Rslafuria13]

Hey. My name is Reggie I am a mgr of a pet store and I know a lot about stuff but I was just given a Veil Chameleon form a lady that had no idea what she was doing. I dont know how old (what I think is a he) is but she had him for 2 months and its a baby so Im guessing like 3-4 months. The "cage" he was in was tuck taped together and lets just say busted. I know he did not have a UVB light and I dont know how he could have been in the right temp. There was no support on the ground and the plastic leaves were stapled to the wood that was again tuck taped. When I asked if he had been getting calcium she ask why he needed it.....anyways he must have fallen and now his leg is broken. He climbs around just fine but it dangles around and he does not use it to walk. I will be getting a bigger set up tomorrow when it comes in on our delivery but I have a Exo Terra tall tank with coconut fiber pith and on top of that I have moss. I have vines securely attached to the sides in a zig zag kind of way a 60w repto sun light and a 13w uvb light going. the temp is around 92f. I also have a zoo med foger hooked up so I can give him some humidity but Im unsure what it needs to be at exactly. When I got him home I got him settled I though he might be hungry so I feed him 1 cricket he did not seam that in to it so I tried a meal worm and he like really went for it so I gave him like 8-10 small meal worms...Is that ok.....wow I kind of really went on any way I had planned on doing me research before I got a chameleon but I could not let that guy leave my store with her.....can anyone help?

 

[Swayne8998]

Ok, first off, post some pics. This is what he needs to be healthy:
-5.0 UVB light
-Calcium with no D3 every day, Calcium with D3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month
-Lots and lots of foliage and vines
-A basking temp of mid 80's to 90 degrees
-Ambient temp of low 70's
-NO substrate, you risk the chance of impaction
-Humidity of around 60% daytime, around 80% at night or higher
-Mesh cage, 18" x 18" x 36", 2' x 2' x 4' when adult
-Mist the cage 3-6 times a day with warm water so it drips off of leaves, etc. for 30 seconds to 1 minute; let the cage dry out completely between mistings

Mealworms are not an ideal diet. Small crickets should be what he primarily eats. As for the broken leg, get a herp doctor to overlook him. Look on the back of his back heels. If there are little "spurs" on the back, he is a male. No spurs, female. Best of luck

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi!

What Swayne said.....

There's always an adjustment period when a chameleon goes through a move so don't sweat the "not eating" thing until it's been 4 or 5 days. I would withhold mealworms and only offer crickets or roaches or silkworms for a week. You should keep the mealworms to a once a week treat, maybe as a way to reward him for coming out to be with you or something like that.

One of our members used plastic straws to "splint" broken limbs. I've also seen people use tape on little legs. I would suggest that tape that is used to keep bandages on. You don't want to risk ripping delicate baby skin. You might discuss that with your vet.

 

[Rslafuria13]

Thanks for the help. I think he is doing well he seams a lot happier this morning moving around and checking out the new environment. Ill try to get some pics up today.

 

[Rslafuria13]

I dont know if this will work.

 

[froggielog]

***Does anyone agree that he kinda of looks like a sengal or something? ***

First off remove the substrate!!!! Thats very harmful to them as they can ingest it and become very sick.
This is a good example of how that cage should look while he is young.

I also believe the swelling in his ankles is caused by gular edema...he needs a vet

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

I agree that does look like a Senegal.

 

[Swayne8998]

***Does anyone agree that he kinda of looks like a sengal or something? ***

First off remove the substrate!!!! Thats very harmful to them as they can ingest it and become very sick.
This is a good example of how that cage should look while he is young.

I also believe the swelling in his ankles is caused by gular edema...he needs a vet

He already needs a vet. The leg is broken.

I agree that does look like a Senegal.

Yeah he does look like a senegal... In that case it changes a little :/

 

[Rslafuria13]

ok I got him a vet appointment tomorrow so hopefully we will be able to get things figured out for him or her....


But I already am in love with him and just want him to be ok.

 

[Wykd]

Go ahead and remove that substrate also, that way they don't get impacted possibly. And it will be easier to soak up the water from misting sessions without it in there.

Good luck with the lil guy!

 

[chameleonkev]

I will be honest it's nice to hear of a pet store owner/manager that cares about the chameleon, no disrespect as I'm only talking for a lot of peoples experiences of some pet shops but they don't seem to care about their reptiles And arnt willing to take advise but you put some faith back in me

 

[froggielog]

He already needs a vet. The leg is broken

Ah I thought the swelling was on all ankles, I see now.


Good luck, I hope for a full recovery!

 

[Wykd]

I will be honest it's nice to hear of a pet store owner/manager that cares about the chameleon, no disrespect as I'm only talking for a lot of peoples experiences of some pet shops but they don't seem to care about their reptiles And arnt willing to take advise but you put some faith back in me

He's from North Carolina, what do you expect? We do things better in the Carolinas!

 

[Swayne8998]

ok I got him a vet appointment tomorrow so hopefully we will be able to get things figured out for him or her....


But I already am in love with him and just want him to be ok.

Haha I understand. I was at PetSmart today getting crickets, and one of their juvenile veileds was really asking for attention. I just HAD to hold her! I already miss her