Hello all, i just recently got a chameleon and noticed a few things that concern me. One, I think his arm is broken and/or dislocated. He keeps accidentlly grabbing it, cant climb and stays at the bottom of his tank. Ive also noticed he is terribly skinny, despite eating. I feed him roughly 75 crickets every two weeks (live) and just recently started feeding him dry crickets too. Please help. Im very concerned for the little guy and want him to be happy.
New Chameleon Broken Arm, very skinny
- Thread starter Smf
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jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome to the forums. I am sorry to hear that your little guy is having problems. Would you please fill out this forum?https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/. And post some photos of him so that we can better help you to help him. It sounds like he might have MBD and possibly parasites too. Do you have a chameleon vet already?
If not let me know where you live and I might be able to refer a vet. He is probably going to need a vet visit.
Info on MBD: https://www.chameleonforums.com/wha...ase-mbd-looks-like-how-happens-how-fix-95071/
If not let me know where you live and I might be able to refer a vet. He is probably going to need a vet visit.
Info on MBD: https://www.chameleonforums.com/wha...ase-mbd-looks-like-how-happens-how-fix-95071/
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Please fill out the ask for help form Jannb requested you to do. It does sound like MBD unfortunately. Taking in a chameleon and not being able to provide vet care is not in the best interest of the animal, especially one who it sounds like has problems. These creatures have many ailments during their lifespan which requires a veterinarian. You can post a pic by hitting post reply and then scroll down to manage attachments on the bottom of the page and attach the pics from your computer. Or you can click on the paper clip next to the white smiley face on the top of the page and attach from your computer also. A pic of your cage would be helpful too so we can make sure you have everything set up properly.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
You need to find the money to take him to a vet. Maybe the vet will work a payment plan for you. If you can not be a responsible keeper and take care of your animal then you need to give him up to a rescue. Talk to Elisa at ChamEO. That is the best rescue out there. She will take him and get him the help that he needs and then place him in a forever home once he's well. http://www.chameo.org/
Here's a vet not to far from you recommend by a member here. I drive 4 and a half hours to my specialist.
I was pleased to find a reptile vet in the Asheville NC area. Lee Bolt was my herp vet for years, but he's semi-retired these days. I took my last cham in for a check-up with Ginny Grant, DVM; All-Pet Animal Hospital.
828-645-5252
7 Reynolds Mountain Rd
Asheville, NC 28804
http://www.allpetsasheville.com/
Here's other reptile vets you can check out but I don't know about their experience.
http://www.arav.com/find-a-vet/#NorthCarolina
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Welcome to the forums! I concur that it sounds very classic for metabolic bone disease from inadequate calcium and/or UVB. There are several ways that this can occur. Please read here for more information on MBD and its treatment: https://www.chameleonforums.com/wha...ase-mbd-looks-like-how-happens-how-fix-95071/
I'm hoping what you mean is that you get that many every two weeks and feed him allotments of that amount over that time? Hopefully not that you are only feeding him once every two weeks? Snakes are really the only animal that eats like that and it is very inappropriate to feed a lizard that infrequently. A growing chameleon needs to be fed every day. And adult still every other day. Dry crickets are a very poor feeder choice as they are filled with preservatives and cannot be gutloaded. Barely any chameleons will even consider eating something that is not moving so I suspect your chameleon is so very hungry that it is desperate to eat anything at this point.
Please read up with n veiled chameleon care specifics: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
I'm hoping what you mean is that you get that many every two weeks and feed him allotments of that amount over that time? Hopefully not that you are only feeding him once every two weeks? Snakes are really the only animal that eats like that and it is very inappropriate to feed a lizard that infrequently. A growing chameleon needs to be fed every day. And adult still every other day. Dry crickets are a very poor feeder choice as they are filled with preservatives and cannot be gutloaded. Barely any chameleons will even consider eating something that is not moving so I suspect your chameleon is so very hungry that it is desperate to eat anything at this point.
Please read up with n veiled chameleon care specifics: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
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