New Chameleon being lethargic/ not moving

[LizsLovelyNoodles]

Hi everyone! Im a new Chameleon owner (but experienced reptile owner) and Im new to this forum. So please forgive me if Im not asking the questions correctly.
Current Problem - I recently got Dante from a neighbor that was moving. He is a big grump due to not being handled or socialized since he was a baby. Any motion near his cage he will show defensive signs. Just yesterday though i went to his enclosure, opened it up, and he was motionless with his eyes closed. No reaction to me touching him either. He was breathing but shriveled up in the corner motionless. I brought him to the Vet but since it was an emergency visit I was not able to see the exotic specialist. $250 later I got some antibiotic shots for him and wet formula. They weren't sure what could be the problem but mentioned his low calcium levels and a possible minor infection.

Thanks! I'm hoping someone may have an idea about what could be happening.

Sorry dont have a great photo. I took him to the vet right away

• Your Chameleon - Panthers Chameleon. He was given to me by my neighbor. He is a little over 1 year and has been in my care for only 1 week.
• Handling - none since in his new home
• Feeding - Previous owners were feeding him a variety of food but mainly crickets. I tried feeding crickets but did not notice any were eaten
• Supplements - His previous owners did not have him on any supplements or gut loading SMH
• Watering - Drip system and automatic misting
• Fecal Description - No notice of any fecal matter
• History - His previous owners had his husbandry close but not quite up to my standards. They got him from a breeder online

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 36Hx36Wx20D Glass enclosure with screen top. I know all mesh enclosure is better, this is what he has been in his entire life.
• Lighting - 100W Basking Bulb. ReptiZoo 5.0 UVB bulb
• Temperature - Resting day temp around 75-80. Hot spot of 95. Night temp between 65-70
• Humidity - humidity at 60%. Misting every couple hours with system.
• Plants - Umbrella plants, ficus. It is bio active and had about 5 inches of water in the dirt. Im working to drain it out, looks like a full year of drip water that they didn't drain.
• Placement - In a secluded reptile room with the rest of my collection.
• Location - North Carolina

 

[janjan20]

Welcome! Sorry to hear Dante is not doing well. I don’t own a panther so I’m limited on what advice I can give you but I’ll go through your husbandry and leave my suggestions in red.

• Your Chameleon - Panthers Chameleon. He was given to me by my neighbor. He is a little over 1 year and has been in my care for only 1 week.
• Handling - none since in his new home
• Feeding - Previous owners were feeding him a variety of food but mainly crickets. I tried feeding crickets but did not notice any were eaten Is his main staple crickets still? If so what are you feeding them? They should be gutloaded prior to feeding. I’ll leave pics below. It’s also best to provide a variety of feeders. Most common are roaches and silkworms with the occasional super worm. Since he is over a year old he can be fed every other day.
• Supplements - His previous owners did not have him on any supplements or gut loading SMH Are you currently dusting with plain calcium? You should dust with plain calcium no phosphorus or D3 every feeding. Dust with calcium D3 2x month and a multivitamin with PrEformed vitamin A 2x month. Most keepers just alternate the weeks. Repashy LoD is a good place to start.
• Watering - Drip system and automatic misting How long are you misting and how often? What type of water? Distilled or RO water is recommended. Have you seen him drink?
• Fecal Description - No notice of any fecal matter If you find a stool I would recommend getting it checked to rule out any parasites.
• History - His previous owners had his husbandry close but not quite up to my standards. They got him from a breeder online

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 36Hx36Wx20D Glass enclosure with screen top. I know all mesh enclosure is better, this is what he has been in his entire life. Glass is fine, you just have to make sure the temps and humidity are in point.
• Lighting - 100W Basking Bulb. ReptiZoo 5.0 UVB bulb 100w is kind of high, most keepers just use 60w incandescent bulbs. If you continue to use the 100w make sure it’s up off the screen. The UVB bulb needs to be replaced with a T5 HO linear light. This will provide uvb across the entire cage instead of one fixed spot.
• Temperature - Resting day temp around 75-80. Hot spot of 95. Night temp between 65-70 How are you measuring temps and humidity? This is critical in a glass enclosure.
• Humidity - humidity at 60%. Misting every couple hours with system. Day time humidity can drop to around 40-50 but 60 is ok. Higher humidity is typically recommended at night 70-100, this can be achieved with a fogger or cool mist humidifier.
• Plants - Umbrella plants, ficus. It is bio active and had about 5 inches of water in the dirt. Im working to drain it out, looks like a full year of drip water that they didn't drain. I am not really familiar with bioactive set ups but personally I would redo the entire bioactive layer. Maybe another member can chime in with some better recommendations on how to help.
• Placement - In a secluded reptile room with the rest of my collection. Since you have other reptiles I would quarantine him until he gets better or you can get a fecal done.
• Location - North Carolina

I may have missed some things but I think I hit the main points. If you can, send more pics of the entire cage from the lights down and more pics of the chameleon that would be great! I’m off to bed so I’ll check back in the morning.

 

[kinyonga]

I'd get rid of the substrate with all that water ASAP ...it likely is full of bacteria that the crickets will be walking around on and spreading throughout the cage....and clean the whole cage out.

Unless you can ask the neighbors you won't know if the UVB light is still good or not.

 

[LizsLovelyNoodles]

Thanks everyone.

Yeah i'm familiar with gutloading and the food they should be eating but those charts attached are golden, ill print them out . I have other lizards so I've done all my research as far as the dusting supplements and frequency of dusting. I do agree with Kinyonga about the substrate. I seriously don't think these people every changed out the dirt in the 1 year that they had him. Last night I spent about 3 hours removing all that nasty stuff and replacing it with just some potted plants. I do think that these was probably something nasty growing in that water.
Ill also make sure that the 100w isn't too harsh for him, he never seems to rest directly under it but a few inches to the side, so you might be right.

Attached are photos of the enclosure before and after

 

[Thehippie]

it definitely looks much better, make sure to keep him hydrated too, try offering something other than crickets. maybe silkworms or hornworms those can be very beneficial to them

 

[janjan20]

Oh it looks much better! How is he doing? Eyes open? Has he eaten at all?

 

[LizsLovelyNoodles]

Hes doing great actually since I cleaned up his enclosure. Eyes open but still sleeping during the day a bit.
I will try and feed him today, Ive been gut loading some dubias that will be ready to eat today. Hes a super shy eater so I need to put it in a feeder cup and leave the room. Still some socializing to do with him

 

[LizsLovelyNoodles]

He still seems to be sleeping too much during the day but Ill wait a week and give you guys an update. Thanks again! Sometimes I trust the users on here more than the vets that are "sorta familiar with exotics"

 

[janjan20]

Glad he’s perked up a little but closing his eyes during the day is not a good sign at all. Will you be changing the lights? It‘s worth a shot and might help. Where do you live? Maybe we can get you some info on a good exotic vet near you.