New Chameleon Owner

[Wtfqueso]

Just joined this is up while looking for facts on MBD because I adopted a beautiful Panther Chameleon from my work today. She unfortunately has MBD after laying 20+ eggs! Got medicine from the vet so I'm hoping I can bring her back to go health, but here is a picture of her asleep on my hand. Looking forward to seeing everyone else's chameleons n reading about their experiences.

 

[Pinkyp]

Hi. I am new to chameleons too. I rehomed an 8 month male panther a week ago. I suspect he too has MBD. I have changed all the husbandry that was wrong and have an appt booked with a herp specialist vet. Total hunger strike and very thin. He is now eating despite previous owner saying he will only eat locusts. Has had waxworms, crickets a few mealies and loves superworms. Just waiting for an order of new feedstuffs. Hopefully I can turn him around too. I don't blame the owner as she was following the advice from the petshop to the letter. But within a week I have read up on chams and realised her husbandry was all wrong. She feels awful.

 

[KapitalJ]

Sleeping on your hand is generally a bad sign. Your cham is "sleeping" because it is stressed and hoping if she closes her eyes it will all go away.

I suggest if you just brought her home, you get her in her enclosure and let her be for a day or two. She needs time to settle in and feel secure / safe.

 

[Wtfqueso]

Well thanks for the advice! Had no idea. :/ I had been taking care of her at work for a few weeks and decided my Co workers weren't doing enough for her when I wasn't there. Just kinda figured she was familiar with me n comfortable. I'll definitely resist the urge to hold her for a few days. However I do have to hold her when giving her her meds, which she takes like a champ! That was when she fell "asleep," so that makes sense what you say. Thanks again!

 

[Wtfqueso]

Hi. I am new to chameleons too. I rehomed an 8 month male panther a week ago. I suspect he too has MBD. I have changed all the husbandry that was wrong and have an appt booked with a herp specialist vet. Total hunger strike and very thin. He is now eating despite previous owner saying he will only eat locusts. Has had waxworms, crickets a few mealies and loves superworms. Just waiting for an order of new feedstuffs. Hopefully I can turn him around too. I don't blame the owner as she was following the advice from the petshop to the letter. But within a week I have read up on chams and realised her husbandry was all wrong. She feels awful.

That's awesome I'd say mine is about that age as well. I wish you luck and look forward to hearing how well he turns out! With the proper care I'm sure he will make a great recovery!

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Good job noticing she needed extra care than what she was getting. Happy for you both.

 

[oneillchameleons]

Hydration is going to be extremely important, especially when giving meds. Give her plenty of opportunities to drink. The good news is she can recover and lead a healthy long life. Good luck with her!

 

[Chachi]

Hi. I am new to chameleons too. I rehomed an 8 month male panther a week ago. I suspect he too has MBD. I have changed all the husbandry that was wrong and have an appt booked with a herp specialist vet. Total hunger strike and very thin. He is now eating despite previous owner saying he will only eat locusts. Has had waxworms, crickets a few mealies and loves superworms. Just waiting for an order of new feedstuffs. Hopefully I can turn him around too. I don't blame the owner as she was following the advice from the petshop to the letter. But within a week I have read up on chams and realised her husbandry was all wrong. She feels awful.

Petsmart or Petco? They are awful!
Both of you guys get those babies to the vet for a shot of calcium. Dust everything. Lots of water. I brought mine around but it was a big job. You will be spending a huge amount of time nursing her back to health.

 

[Wtfqueso]

Petsmart or Petco? They are awful!
Both of you guys get those babies to the vet for a shot of calcium. Dust everything. Lots of water. I brought mine around but it was a big job. You will be spending a huge amount of time nursing her back to health.

I work at Petco , thats how I got this poor girl, luckily tho after she laid her eggs we got her to the Vet and she got a shot of calcium. I'm bring her back for her second round in 2 weeks. The vet also gave me some Calcium Glubionate Syrup to give her twice a day, hoping that helps her out. It really depends on the store and the people working there tbh. We have some really good workers here, but not all of them know how to help a chameleon that is clearly lacking in calcium and other nutrients due to laying 20+ eggs. Yea im really hoping I can bring her around, ive been paying really close attention to her, but she doesnt seem to be eating her crickets. I'm thinking i might need to invest in some mealworms or something that isn't so jumpy while shes in this state.

 

[Chachi]

I work at Petco , thats how I got this poor girl, luckily tho after she laid her eggs we got her to the Vet and she got a shot of calcium. I'm bring her back for her second round in 2 weeks. The vet also gave me some Calcium Glubionate Syrup to give her twice a day, hoping that helps her out. It really depends on the store and the people working there tbh. We have some really good workers here, but not all of them know how to help a chameleon that is clearly lacking in calcium and other nutrients due to laying 20+ eggs. Yea im really hoping I can bring her around, ive been paying really close attention to her, but she doesnt seem to be eating her crickets. I'm thinking i might need to invest in some mealworms or something that isn't so jumpy while shes in this state.

You may have to resort to force feeding her a couple of times. Everybody is gonna jump when I say this but I did it. I had to. She thought she was too weak to eat but she was underestimated herself. She ate when I got a leg or a head into her mouth. I pulled her mouth open from the bottom she let me cause she was weak and dying. But she chewed. We did it for 3 days. I'm telling you, she was laying on a towel trying to die and just couldn't let her. I dropper ed water over her mouth, she wouldn't own but I dropper ed until she started to swallow so some was leaking in.
This is her now

 

[Pinkyp]

I am in UK and he originally came from a massive garden centre which has a fish and reptile section. He was owned by a friend who followed all the instructions to the letter but the advice was wrong and his health has suffered as a result.

 

[Carlton]

I work at Petco , thats how I got this poor girl, luckily tho after she laid her eggs we got her to the Vet and she got a shot of calcium. I'm bring her back for her second round in 2 weeks. The vet also gave me some Calcium Glubionate Syrup to give her twice a day, hoping that helps her out. It really depends on the store and the people working there tbh. We have some really good workers here, but not all of them know how to help a chameleon that is clearly lacking in calcium and other nutrients due to laying 20+ eggs. Yea im really hoping I can bring her around, ive been paying really close attention to her, but she doesnt seem to be eating her crickets. I'm thinking i might need to invest in some mealworms or something that isn't so jumpy while shes in this state.

Maybe it can help to pinch the legs off the crix so they are easier to catch. What about other soft bodied feeders such as silkworms, hornworms, waxworms? Don't forget lighting...a new bulb (ReptiSun or Acadia would be best) can help a lot. If you can get her outdoors when the weather is right that will give her a real lift. When you dust the feeders use PLAIN calcium (no added vit D3) every feeding, calcium with added vit D3 once every 2 weeks (while you are giving her the additional calcium glubionate anyway...you can overdo it), and a herp multivitamin every 2 weeks. Too much fat soluable vitamins is as bad as too little.