new chameleon, having some concerns

[brieanna]

Hey guys! Another newbie here. I adopted a beautiful Veiled Chameleon about a week ago from a pet store here. I've had several iguanas in the past and wanted something a little different and had my heart set on a chameleon and when I went to the pet store near my house they had none to sell. I asked one of the employees if they'd be getting chameleons any time soon and she told me they actually had one that was up for adoption!

So, I got to meet the little guy who was kept in the back of the store. Apparently, he was really sick around December (of 2013) and had to be force-fed (with a syringe, I'm not sure what they were feeding him). The employee told me that he was calcium deficient but that he had already overcome the worst of it and had just completed his first successful shed. One of my iguanas had a calcium deficiency and I managed to nurse him back to health so I didn't think it'd be much different with a chameleon and agreed to adopt him that day.

He's doing a lot better now! He eats large crickets on his own, hunts for them through his little enclosure (about seven-ten a day!) I've been making sure to gutload the crickets and picked up some gut-loading calcium block at the pet store in addition to sprinkling the Calcium D3 powder on to the crickets before he eats them.

I guess, what my concern is, I'm not exactly sure how to tell when/if he's getting better or what to look out for if he's getting worse. I've been googling things like crazy and reading every thread I can on this site and was very impressed by the community here and how helpful/friendly everyone is which is why I decided to sign up and ask you guys for help!

I'm worried because when I looked up conditions and read about MBD I'm afraid my chameleon's legs look similar to the ones that are said to be sick/have the bone disease. Also, I'm probably freaking myself out but is it normal for their eyes to have a darker ring around them? I keep holding up my chameleon to try to determine whether his eyes could be considered "sunken in" though really, I think I'm just over-worrying.

I have these two pictures below and I'm sorry they're really not the best quality. The chameleon has an attitude, I assume from being force fed and likes to hiss a lot and isn't very fond of taking pictures so I haven't bothered to even attempt to do so yet with my actual camera.

I would really appreciate any/all suggestions or any feedback you guys could give me to ensure the little chameleon stays on the path to recovering (if he can recover completely?) I have him in an 65x65x70 screen enclosure that has a hibiscus and little ficus tree as well as a uvb bulb on one end and a low wattage basking light on the other and have been following the recommendations for turning his lamps off at night for him to sleep. I'm not sure what the humidity is for him because I have yet to get a thermometer for that but I do have a humidifier that runs beside his cage and I mist him about 3-5 times a day.

my apologies for my messy room, I'm in the middle of getting new furniture, it's been a crazy week!

 

[SaintJimmy]

He does look like he has mild MBD. Just make sure you're dusting his food with NON-D3 calcium every day. Yes, NON-D3 calcium every day.

Twice a month, dust with D3 calcium. They should not get D3 calcium every day.

Just making that clear

Also, your cage (if measured in centimeters) is too small. If you measured your cage in inches, it's plenty big. But a 25x25x25 (about) inch cage isn't big enough.

He needs a cage that is 24x24x48 inches eventually.

Also, you might want to invest in a mistking. Those things are great! Saves tons of effort and is DEFINITELY worth the 100$. Never mist again. Only refill buckets and empty buckets.

If you have any sort of substrate in your cage, I suggest you remove it (many others here will suggest the same) because there are many harms that come with it. While they are small risks, it's not worth it to have a dirt bottom.

Just in case you don't know this, you will need a UVB tube 5.0 or 10.0. Some stores sell them in packs so they come with the case that holds the tube.

As for a heat bulb, I'd say he looks around 7-8 months old or older, so you can go with any wattage bulb that gives him around 90 degree heat basking spot.

Veileds don't really *need* too much humidity, but it's a good thing that you're spraying him. Just make sure he drinks and eats.

Some good things they can eat are dubia roaches, crickets, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, mantids, rollie pollies, grasshoppers, etc.

 

[Carlton]

So, I got to meet the little guy who was kept in the back of the store. Apparently, he was really sick around December (of 2013) and had to be force-fed (with a syringe, I'm not sure what they were feeding him).

I've been making sure to gutload the crickets and picked up some gut-loading calcium block at the pet store in addition to sprinkling the Calcium D3 powder on to the crickets before he eats them.

What are you gutloading the insects with? Most commercial gutloads are terrible. Check out the options available from forum sponsors instead. I don't know what "gutloading calcium block" is. Never heard of it and suspect it is just plain calcium carbonate. There is lots of forum info on how to feed your insects properly using fresh greens, fruit, fortified grains, etc. Check out the "cham care basics...start here" link.

You also do not want to dust with Calcium with added D3 every day. It will be an overdose of D3 which can cause as many problems as MBD can. The correct dusting schedule is to dust lightly with plain calcium (no added D3) every meal. Dust with calcium with D3 every two weeks, and also dust with a herp multivitamin every 2 weeks.

I'm worried because when I looked up conditions and read about MBD I'm afraid my chameleon's legs look similar to the ones that are said to be sick/have the bone disease.

His legs show some signs of MBD, but you can halt the disease with proper care. His legs and casque may always show some signs of past disease, but it won't progress.

Also, I'm probably freaking myself out but is it normal for their eyes to have a darker ring around them? I keep holding up my chameleon to try to determine whether his eyes could be considered "sunken in" though really, I think I'm just over-worrying.

It may be partly due to dehydration or general poor body condition. Compare a photo of him later once he's doing better.

I have these two pictures below and I'm sorry they're really not the best quality. The chameleon has an attitude, I assume from being force fed and likes to hiss a lot and isn't very fond of taking pictures so I haven't bothered to even attempt to do so yet with my actual camera.

Having the energy to have an attitude is good! He is in a strange place and doesn't know you or the daily routine. He may mellow out once he feels better, but he might just get more opinionated!

Yes, watching the humidity level is necessary so get that hygrometer. You want to keep him hydrated so he can digest the better diet he's going to get.

 

[ChameleonsByVanGogh]

non d 3

Your doing a good job! Spay calcium or calcium with low phosphorus everyday!! He needs it to straighten out....litterally his color is good and he looks hydrated so good job make sure you are using a quality light and get him out in the sun as much as possible.

 

[kinyonga]

Not sure but I think some of the toes are swollen and maybe the left front leg has a swelling that I think might not be related to the MBD. Maybe a vet visit would be a good idea?