New Chameleon Advice

[Ps_123]

I recently was given a female vailed chameleon by a friend. She came with a 18 by 18 by 24 inch glass tank that she is living in temporarily until I buy her an XL reptibreeze.

Before I got her, she was living in the cage with a few vines near the bottom of the cage and I don't think she was able to get very close to her UVB light (reptisun compact bulb) except for on a cord from the waterfall. The only supplement I was given when I got her was repticalcium with D3 (no vitamins or calcium without D3). My question is about MBD. I've never had a chameleon before, so this may be normal, but it looks like her leg is in a very weird position. Could this be MBD or is this normal? If it is MBD should I give her Vitamins with D3 more than twice a month?

The only drinking water she is used to is a waterfall, but I know those are no good, so if I take it out, will she know to drink the water from me misting the cage?

Her nails also seem to be really long. Is this something I should worry about?

I did do lots of research but I just want to make sure I have this right:
1. Will a reptisun 10.0 (18" bulb with 20" fixture) work for the reptibreeze XL?
2. I should put calcium without D3 on every feeding, and vitamins with D3 twice a month?

I am trying to find a veterinarian that could see her for a health check, but there is not many exotic vets in my area, so I'm having a hard time.

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I'm taking good care of her Thank You

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I recently was given a female vailed chameleon by a friend. She came with a 18 by 18 by 24 inch glass tank that she is living in temporarily until I buy her an XL reptibreeze.

Before I got her, she was living in the cage with a few vines near the bottom of the cage and I don't think she was able to get very close to her UVB light (reptisun compact bulb) except for on a cord from the waterfall. The only supplement I was given when I got her was repticalcium with D3 (no vitamins or calcium without D3). My question is about MBD. I've never had a chameleon before, so this may be normal, but it looks like her leg is in a very weird position. Could this be MBD or is this normal? If it is MBD should I give her Vitamins with D3 more than twice a month?

The only drinking water she is used to is a waterfall, but I know those are no good, so if I take it out, will she know to drink the water from me misting the cage?

Her nails also seem to be really long. Is this something I should worry about?

I did do lots of research but I just want to make sure I have this right:
1. Will a reptisun 10.0 (18" bulb with 20" fixture) work for the reptibreeze XL?
2. I should put calcium without D3 on every feeding, and vitamins with D3 twice a month?

I am trying to find a veterinarian that could see her for a health check, but there is not many exotic vets in my area, so I'm having a hard time.

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I'm taking good care of her Thank You

Pics of her would help a lot as far as the MBD goes. But if you think it doesn’t look right you are prob correct, for a first time owner you seem to know what your talking about. Does her leg appear curved at all? That is a classic sign of MBD.

The waterfall- sounds like your aware of the dangers and getting rid of it, good move. It’s instinct for them to drink when it rains so she should be ok. Invest in a mistking, it’s worth every penny. When you mist her viv make sure you spray her too if she will tolerate it, mine drinks way more when I’m spraying her vs spraying just the leaves. Misting sessions should last for 3-5min. You can also spray her while she is chewing to sneak some extra water in there. Keep an eye on her urates, they should be white, if orange she is dehydrated.

Long nails are normal.

The Reptisun will work with the XL.

Yes dust without D3 at every feeding, with D3 twice a month. Multi vitamin every two weeks. You could do the multi once a week for the first month or two to get her caught up some...

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I recently was given a female vailed chameleon by a friend. She came with a 18 by 18 by 24 inch glass tank that she is living in temporarily until I buy her an XL reptibreeze.

Before I got her, she was living in the cage with a few vines near the bottom of the cage and I don't think she was able to get very close to her UVB light (reptisun compact bulb) except for on a cord from the waterfall. The only supplement I was given when I got her was repticalcium with D3 (no vitamins or calcium without D3). My question is about MBD. I've never had a chameleon before, so this may be normal, but it looks like her leg is in a very weird position. Could this be MBD or is this normal? If it is MBD should I give her Vitamins with D3 more than twice a month?

The only drinking water she is used to is a waterfall, but I know those are no good, so if I take it out, will she know to drink the water from me misting the cage?

Her nails also seem to be really long. Is this something I should worry about?

I did do lots of research but I just want to make sure I have this right:
1. Will a reptisun 10.0 (18" bulb with 20" fixture) work for the reptibreeze XL?
2. I should put calcium without D3 on every feeding, and vitamins with D3 twice a month?

I am trying to find a veterinarian that could see her for a health check, but there is not many exotic vets in my area, so I'm having a hard time.

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I'm taking good care of her Thank You

And never apologize for asking questions, it’s what we’re here for!

 

[Ps_123]

Pics of her would help a lot as far as the MBD goes. But if you think it doesn’t look right you are prob correct, for a first time owner you seem to know what your talking about. Does her leg appear curved at all? That is a classic sign of MBD.

The waterfall- sounds like your aware of the dangers and getting rid of it, good move. It’s instinct for them to drink when it rains so she should be ok. Invest in a mistking, it’s worth every penny. When you mist her viv make sure you spray her too if she will tolerate it, mine drinks way more when I’m spraying her vs spraying just the leaves. Misting sessions should last for 3-5min. You can also spray her while she is chewing to sneak some extra water in there. Keep an eye on her urates, they should be white, if orange she is dehydrated.

Long nails are normal.

The Reptisun will work with the XL.

Yes dust without D3 at every feeding, with D3 twice a month. Multi vitamin every two weeks. You could do the multi once a week for the first month or two to get her caught up some...

Thank you so much, I will try to upload a picture when I can get one. She is hiding right now and is pretty stressed out from being moved. If she does have MBD, will she need any special care other than the proper supplements and lighting? I just fed her a little and she is eating great! So that’s a good sign.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

MBD also causes them to loose their grip strength so if it is MBD and she is not to the point that she is loosing her grip then no, to my knowledge no additional precautions are needed. Just plenty of quality gutloaded feeders covered in calcium and lots of uvb light. Sunlight is even better!

 

[Ps_123]

Pics of her would help a lot as far as the MBD goes. But if you think it doesn’t look right you are prob correct, for a first time owner you seem to know what your talking about. Does her leg appear curved at all? That is a classic sign of MBD.

The waterfall- sounds like your aware of the dangers and getting rid of it, good move. It’s instinct for them to drink when it rains so she should be ok. Invest in a mistking, it’s worth every penny. When you mist her viv make sure you spray her too if she will tolerate it, mine drinks way more when I’m spraying her vs spraying just the leaves. Misting sessions should last for 3-5min. You can also spray her while she is chewing to sneak some extra water in there. Keep an eye on her urates, they should be white, if orange she is dehydrated.

Long nails are normal.

The Reptisun will work with the XL.

Yes dust without D3 at every feeding, with D3 twice a month. Multi vitamin every two weeks. You could do the multi once a week for the first month or two to get her caught up some...

I recently was given a female vailed chameleon by a friend. She came with a 18 by 18 by 24 inch glass tank that she is living in temporarily until I buy her an XL reptibreeze.

Before I got her, she was living in the cage with a few vines near the bottom of the cage and I don't think she was able to get very close to her UVB light (reptisun compact bulb) except for on a cord from the waterfall. The only supplement I was given when I got her was repticalcium with D3 (no vitamins or calcium without D3). My question is about MBD. I've never had a chameleon before, so this may be normal, but it looks like her leg is in a very weird position. Could this be MBD or is this normal? If it is MBD should I give her Vitamins with D3 more than twice a month?

The only drinking water she is used to is a waterfall, but I know those are no good, so if I take it out, will she know to drink the water from me misting the cage?

Her nails also seem to be really long. Is this something I should worry about?

I did do lots of research but I just want to make sure I have this right:
1. Will a reptisun 10.0 (18" bulb with 20" fixture) work for the reptibreeze XL?
2. I should put calcium without D3 on every feeding, and vitamins with D3 twice a month?

I am trying to find a veterinarian that could see her for a health check, but there is not many exotic vets in my area, so I'm having a hard time.

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I'm taking good care of her Thank You

here are some pictures. The only one where the leg looks weird is the really dark one, and the other one is just a clearer picture so you can see her better. Her leg is not always like that, just when she’s in certain positions.

MBD also causes them to loose their grip strength so if it is MBD and she is not to the point that she is loosing her grip then no, to my knowledge no additional precautions are needed. Just plenty of quality gutloaded feeders covered in calcium and lots of uvb light. Sunlight is even better!

Ok, thanks so much for the help! I'll make sure to stay on top of the supplements and get the proper lighting asap just in case it is MBD

 

[Ps_123]

Sorry, I did not mean to post that part about the pictures. I'm doing this on a phone and it's acting up I still cannot get any cleat pictures