New Owner!

[Lokithecham]

Hello fellow cham owners, about a week ago I found an injured chameleon at a small park. She has a big patch of scar tissue on her head, shes got dark scratches along her body and shes very thin. Ive come to the conclusion that shes been attacked by a domesticated cat. Im not sure if shes anyones pet however you dont find wild chameleons like that in my area randomly. Ive been force feeding her crickets and hydrating her however i dont see much of a change. Im beginning to think shes blind. Im unable to see her pupil in one eye and the other looks weak. She never reacts to my hand moving away and towards her face (as thats what I did to test). Is there a different method I can use to test if shes blind? Are there any other very nutritious insects or helpful supplements I can give her? How can I tell if shes making improvements? How do I know shes eating and drinking enough? Will her eye sight ever come back? I need alot of help so please leave as much suggestions and info!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Welcome to the forum.

I think the first thing I would do is verify if keeping this cham is legal where you are. Is it an invasive species? Do you know what species it is (different species and sexes have different care requirements)?

Considering the condition it's in, I think a veterinary exam & treatment are in order.
You can find a herp vet near you here: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Beyond that, please be aware that setup costs for keeping a chameleon properly can range $500-$1000.

You can find care sheets and an in-depth husbandry program at Chameleon Academy.
https://chameleonacademy.com/caresheets/
https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/

You can find equipment & shopping lists at https://caskabove.com/

Best Wishes.

 

[ItsMike64]

Hello fellow cham owners, about a week ago I found an injured chameleon at a small park. She has a big patch of scar tissue on her head, shes got dark scratches along her body and shes very thin. Ive come to the conclusion that shes been attacked by a domesticated cat. Im not sure if shes anyones pet however you dont find wild chameleons like that in my area randomly. Ive been force feeding her crickets and hydrating her however i dont see much of a change. Im beginning to think shes blind. Im unable to see her pupil in one eye and the other looks weak. She never reacts to my hand moving away and towards her face (as thats what I did to test). Is there a different method I can use to test if shes blind? Are there any other very nutritious insects or helpful supplements I can give her? How can I tell if shes making improvements? How do I know shes eating and drinking enough? Will her eye sight ever come back? I need alot of help so please leave as much suggestions and info!

Hey! Welcome

I would think that in order for other more experienced keepers to help you with its physical condition that they would want you to post a few pictures of the cham. Unfortunately I am not any help in this department but I can suggest that you post pics so those who are more knowledgeable can use them for reference and to tell you what to do immediately and in the meantime before you get it to a veterinarian.

 

[Lindasjackson]

Hi and welcome!we have a lot of very passionate and knowledgeable people here who will help you all we can. What are you keeping it in? What lighting are you using? Please post pictures of your lights and cage as well as pictures of the chameleon so we can know what advice to give.