I really appreciate the reply. Why did you have to take him to the vet and what happened if you don’t mind me asking. I just don’t even know how they can examine these little tiny delicate animals! Thanks a lot though, I am just so worried and stressed. I have been since I got her a little over 2 weeks ago honestly.
New Chameleon Questions
- Thread starter MistyBlue
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Gloriawood
Chameleon Enthusiast
I adopted him from someone else and he didn’t quite have the correct set up and care. I don’t think his previous owner was purposely neglectful or anything, just hadn’t done proper research. He had the wrong size cage, wrong lights, no supplements were being given and a poor diet. He started to develop signs of MBD. He has slight tremors when he walks, his casque is a bit wonky and his aim when trying to eat was a bit off sometimes.
The vet did a physical examination, weighed him, checked his mouth, listened to his lungs, felt his belly, checked his grip strength etc. Just like a normal vet visit. He gave him an oral medication that I give to him everyday for the next month. He’s been on it 10 days already.
I’ve only had my guy since the end of February and I swear he has stressed me out so much
it’s such a learning curve! But we are getting there and I can already tell a difference in him. He’s moving quicker and more steadily, his aim is much better and his tongue is stronger too. I love this little guy just like my dog, and she is my child
the vet visit made me feel 100 times better, just knowing what was going on. I think that’s the biggest thing, they can’t tell us what they need or what hurts. Hopefully you get some answers. Keep us updated!
I’m so glad things are looking up for you. He is lucky to have someone who cares for him like you!! I really have tried my best and I wish I would have found this forum in the beginning bc it would have saved me a ton of time and wrong information! We live and we learn though!! Thank you so much and I will definitely let you know! Just knowing someone cares helps a lot!I adopted him from someone else and he didn’t quite have the correct set up and care. I don’t think his previous owner was purposely neglectful or anything, just hadn’t done proper research. He had the wrong size cage, wrong lights, no supplements were being given and a poor diet. He started to develop signs of MBD. He has slight tremors when he walks, his casque is a bit wonky and his aim when trying to eat was a bit off sometimes.
The vet did a physical examination, weighed him, checked his mouth, listened to his lungs, felt his belly, checked his grip strength etc. Just like a normal vet visit. He gave him an oral medication that I give to him everyday for the next month. He’s been on it 10 days already.
I’ve only had my guy since the end of February and I swear he has stressed me out so much
I love this little guy just like my dog, and she is my child
Hopefully you get some answers. Keep us updated!
Gloriawood
Chameleon Enthusiast
This forum has been a lifesaver!! I swear these people care just as much about my guy as I do!
Can I ask you one more question. If you look at how my enclosure is set up, there is the pothos plant on the right side. If she climbs on the leaves of this, that would be putting her too close to her ubv, right? I tried to move it over the best I could so it isn’t hitting that spot. There were times that she was sitting there staring up at the ubv….and I turned it off when I would see her do it. I had the ubv from corner to corner at first but then realized she could climb on that and be too close. As long as that ubv isn’t directly shining on that spot, it’s ok though right? Also do you like to have your ubv and heat lamp shining on the same spot or different spots so that they don’t necessarily have to be on one spot to have the other?
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, stress can be that hard on chameleons. We humans are seemingly always under one stress or another so downplay the effects of it, but the truth is it is deadly for all creatures. If you think about being constantly in a fight or flight mode and the effects that has on all areas of the body, it’s pretty scary.
Gloriawood
Chameleon Enthusiast
I’m new to all of this as well so I may not be the best to answer any specific questions. I’m still learning too
I believe about 8 inches below the light is where your branch should be, but someone else may be better suited to answer. Plus your little one looks kinda young and a lot of things are different when they are babies so that may not be correct.
Gloriawood
Chameleon Enthusiast
I just realized you were asking missskittlesI’m new to all of this as well so I may not be the best to answer any specific questions. I’m still learning too
sorry!! It’s too early in the morning for me and my brain isn’t quite working yet 
No, please don’t apologize. I am open to any suggestions. I have the basking branch like 7-8 inches from both but I’m wondering if most people aim the heat and ubv towards the same spot. Also, is it ok for the other half of the cage, with higher spots alright as long as the ubv isn’t hitting it directly. There is so much and so many little things that you don’t think about. At first my little girl screen climbed constantly until I put the plastic up around it. She would climb on the top and I caught her right under the heat lamp and ubv so I would switch it off. Then I raised it, I mean, I’ve tried it all. Please don’t ever apologize for trying to help bc I will take all the help I can get here. I’m so worried she’s going to die. I’m so scared that she is stressed out so much bc of where she is located. Thinking of just putting her in my bedroom away from everyone.I just realized you were asking missskittles
Gloriawood
Chameleon Enthusiast
I know it took Spaghetti about two weeks to start to settle in. He was stressed for a bit. But he is in my bedroom away from the rest of the household. I totally understand how you are feeling. There are so many things I didn’t realize go into this. I did research before hand, but I’m still learning every day. That’s why I say I’m not the best for advice, so many people here are so knowledgeable and I’m new to all this. I think what’s important is that you are listening to others, doing research and trying to give your girl the best you can. Have you gotten her into the vet yet?
Beppo
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hey there! Here is a place to start your search for a good exotic vet. Best of luck to you!
https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hoping that you’re getting your little cutie in to a vet today. I’ve reviewed everything so far and aside from those things which I’ve already mentioned, nothing else is jumping out at me in terms of your husbandry. Chameleons have poor hearing but are very sensitive to vibrations and is one of the ways that they communicate. Honestly I don’t know if moving her to your bedroom now would be better or not. The move itself will be stressful, but if you don’t move her the floor vibrations may be the source of stress. @kinyonga can advise much better than I on this and with her experience may see something that I’m missing.
Have you contacted the pet store where you got her from? Where do they get their chameleons from? The large chain pet stores get their animals from breeding facilities, which are basically reptile mills. Too often many of the animals are sold sick.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Having more than one person’s eyes, voice and care is always always a good thing and is what makes this such a fantastic community.I just realized you were asking missskittles
Thank you. Closest vet on the list is 3 hours away. I can’t make that trip this week so I got an apt here on Wednesday. I’m going to see how that goes and I know it isn’t the best option but I have no choice at the moment. I can’t believe it.
Thank you for your help. It is like a chain pet store called pet supplies plus. Could I call and ask them where they get them and where they take their reptiles when needing a vet? It’s like an hour away from me which would be doable. I was thinking of moving her when I had to take her to the vet but you may be right…more stress. Thank you for your help….I was worried after getting her from a pet store after I started researching but I ordered her like a month ahead of time.
Beppo
Chameleon Enthusiast
Oh no I understand! I drove to one 2 hours away and they turned out to not be very knowledgeable , sometimes you just have to shop around for a good exotic vet, and in the meantime you do what you can.
I appreciate that! I have been calling around all day. I just hate having to take her out of the cage, it’s my first time, and scaring the crap out of her but I know I will have to. I can’t figure this little girl out. She isn’t sleeping today but she only went over to the feeder, ate one cricket and walked away. Stayed away the rest of the time. She is not eating like she should at all.
The more the merrier in trying to help. She isn’t sleeping today but I only saw her eat once ( I did leave for a couple hours). She turned a darker green just like yesterday when she went over to it and hissed at it….but she did eat a cricket before she ran away this time. Any idea as to why she would be scared of the shooting gallery? She is a hard one to figure out I’m telling ya! I heard her hissing again today but nothing was around her when she did it. I think the gagging was actually hissing but why? I keep looking around her enclosure and the only thing I’ve really changed is the shower curtain (and the pillow case, which I took down bc the designs did look like tiny eyes in a way) bc she kept hiding on the other side of her stick from it. She never does that.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Are you certain the crickets are small enough? Are they active enough to attract her attention? Were you watching in a spot where she could see you? Since the pillow case didn’t work, you could try some dollar store fake greenery instead - just an idea. Do you still have the tiny roach nymphs? Have you tried those? They aren’t recommended staple feeders, but have you tried mealworms? Many pet stores feed those to chams and while unusual, she may be not liking the crickets. Have you double checked her basking temps? If too cool she may not want to eat. Since the pillow case had an eye like pattern, you could try some fake greenery from a dollar store to attach on the outside door to give her more privacy. Floral wire or thread are perfect for attaching lightweight things to the screen. Little girl needs to eat or things can go bad very quickly.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Often the vets who haven’t a great deal of experience with chameleons will most commonly recommend giving them baths or showers, changing basking temps to the 90’s and other things like boosting humidity way too high. Most (very understandably) don’t like to be corrected on basic husbandry, so just smile and nod, but don’t do those things. Instead of a bath/shower, it’s better to give an extra long misting and/or add a dripper. Temps in the 90’s will overheat babies quickly. High humidity + high temps increase risks for respiratory infection. However, I do recall that if the chameleon already has and is being treated for a respiratory infection, increasing humidity a little will help them get better.
