new captive treatments (repost)

[mczoo]

I posted this in wrong section

Unfortunately i recently purchased 3 chameleons that i later realized were on a three day trip fron New York in small deli cups having been out and misted infrequently, possibly overhandled.
My question is for those with experience of really stressed chams such as imports. what do you do to hydrate, acclimate and get best chance for survival. one of my chams was looking bad this AM and i fear she in already gone.

Thanks for your imput

Sean

 

[chamlover]

First, how is the one you said might be gone already? Is she ok?

You might also want to fill out the form on how are you taking care of your cham to give everyone all the info. That can be extremely helpful.

I have dealt with alot of w/c and have pretty lucky so far, but alot of that is due to buying from a reptutable importer. I would first try the shower method, for up to at least 1 hour, more if you think it is very dehydrated. Sometimes i put the whole cage cage in the tub if he is small and is in a smaller cage that way you don't even have to take him out. If he is too big you will have no choice but to take him out. Also make sure he is in a very quiet place and just leave him alone. If he is extremely dehydrated and you don't think a shower is enough, call for a vet appt asap. You are going to have to figure out which is worse, his stress or dehydration. That is all i do and have not lost a w/c yet. Knock on wood.If he doesn't get too stressed during the shower you could even do it a coupleof times a day.

Keep us informed.

Debby

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

first things first
leave them alone... stop messing with them!
basically you've got to deal with two issues to deal with:
psychology and their physiology.

They're alone, and scared after being bounced around in a dark box all day/night
only to get futzed with by a monster hand held up in front of two big monster eyes
with teeth that are always looking like they're going to eat you at any time
and nowhere to hid and chill for a moment and rest.

How would you feel if that were to happen to you as a kid?

Try this.
get a 5 gallon bucket
cover the bottom with paper towels (potos?)
put a nice sized leafy plant in the bottom of the bucket
spray down the walls and plant until the paper towels are damp & there's droplets all over.
set up a small reading light in the center of the bucket or a small light bulb on the edge
so that the top most leaf or branch is able to get a *slightest amount* of warmth.
then place your new friend inside by opening the deli cut and placing the entire thing inside.
let the cham crawl out on it's own.

leave it alone... try not to stare at it.
only check on it every now and then.
add some fruit flies in about an hour's time.

this will create a humid place for the young guy..
where it can feel safe and rest away from prying eyes.
give it a few days to recover with some misting
before handling it again or moving it up to a larger cage.
they really just need to get comfortable with human contact
I don't think that most breeders handle their animals much
or are not used to positive human contact when sold.

 

[mczoo]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - temporary open cage(rubbermaid container) 18x28 with ficus plant in center open top
Lighting - reptisun 5.0 baskilng 40watt incadescent
Temperature - ambient 70, basking 78 night 66
Humidity - misting 4 times daily 5 min, live ficus in centerPlants 60-80%
Location -basement reptile room
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Female Montium about 4 months purchased 5/18/08
Feeding - crickets only so far
Supplements - not yet had only 2 days
Watering - misting, humidifier
Fecal Description - slightly yellow urates for one doing better the other had no bowel movement yet
History - Chameleons bought at cleveland reptile show after they traveled from new york on friday, to columbus on saturday purchased 4pm sunday in cleveland. brought home misted but not agressively, one definitely ate and the other hunted yesterday. this morning one was barely holding on did not take fluids wife reported when misting today was not moving second was drinking and appeared to be hunting crickets....new cages on way

in retrospect beside the rarity of the chams and my excitement i had no good reason to purchase particularly from this wholesalers....after the treatment i saw the seller give my new chams for the last few days. they were in deli cups all day and (presumptively)night probably misted only infrequently (never saw misting) and handled by several people.

i posted this at my first chance because i was just grasping for straws after their sudden change in health this am

any thoughts

 

[mczoo]

Thanks for the previous imput,

Jeweled i wish i would have asked Sunday maybe one of my chams would be better off.

Sadly i came home to one dead montium

on the other hand my other female montium was on top of her ficus plant basking with eyes wide open

i will mist more agressively but otherwise leave her alone

any other ideas

Thanks

Sean

 

[Cainschams]

Mc I just delt with some wild caughts. Sadly my 2 gracilis died of URIs. They were bad when they got to my house and unfortunatly died before the vet visit. But the other 2 I have are doing pretty well. I had there new cages set up befor they got here and after that just fed watered cleaned. 2 weeks later for a shy species they are already getting used to me or atleast me taking there containers and puttting food in it. Unfortunatly some just dont make it. I recently posted pics of my 2 that are doing good. The female has some nicks and dings that were pointed out but besides that they both doing good. The female actually laid 11 eggs the 4th day. They are tavetana. I would be glad one lived and seems to be doing okay. I dont know about the montiums but these things are collected, shipped overseas, caged with many cagemates then shipped to our houses or taken to a show to sell. They have gone through lots of stress and only the strong survive. Good luck I know you have a male monty from Justin. I hope you can get some babies.

 

[mczoo]

so far still improving when i misted this am. its hard for me to walk i way but i am continuing to mist and leave them alone (the montium and new female Xantholophus)

Thanks for the advice

Sean

 

[chamlover]

Have you taken them to the vets yet? Do you plan to? If the seller wasn't that good at the very least i would do a fecal.

Debby

 

[chamlover]

Sorry to hear about you losing one. That always stinks.

 

[mczoo]

leaving for the vet with number 2 although she looks a little better,

will update later

Sean

 

[mczoo]

vet appointment

well the vet appointment went well. The vet knew his stuff. my female montium has both dehydration and malnutrition. She was week but actuallly took a handfed silkie. 2 shots calcium and b complex. she looked a little better. i hand fed 2 more silkies injected with water and she took both (vets orders.

will update in am

Sean