New pygmy swollen eye

K

k2power

New Member
I have a bearded pygmy male that I got off Craigslist about 3 weeks ago. It came in an ExoTerra with plastic plants and ecoearth substrate. I have now got a slow drip system and mist 2x daily. Temsps range between 67-70 on most days and it has a CFL Reptisun 5.0 that is on about 12 hours a day. Its right eye became swollen a few days ago and I have never seen it eat in my care but feel certain that it likely is...crickets disappearing and once saw mouth movements like it had just eaten and I missed it. I dust on occasion with Reptivite. Once a week or less.

How should I care for it. I would guess it is too small to take to a vet. It is an adult about 2-2.5 inches long.

The chameleon seemed healthy when I got it although I have never kept any before. It still has a strong grip and is somewhat active. Any suggestions?
 
We had one with eye problems. It wasn't swollen though and more dry, closed and not used. We misted heavily and used a moist q-tip extremely gently to get the crust off when needed. She did get better, but shortly after died for an unknown reason. We mist however often it takes to keep the humidity correct, but for us that is more than twice a day for sure. Got a pic? We've only had ours for a few months and had some trouble.
 
I just lightly wiped the eye area with a wet Qtip and he now seems to be moving it and using it more. Maybe that will help. I had to get sand out of my daughter's eye when a neighbor threw dirt at her a few years ago and a wet Qtip worked great. I will keep ths up for awhile and see if there is improvement. I will try to mist more often but being at work for 10 hours makes it hard to do much more than that during the week. That is why he has the drip system. Any other things to heal the eyes?
 
Pygmy's I know nothing about except they are small and they are cute!



I am certain someone that has Pygmy's will be along to help you out- best of luck.

What does help though is to fill out this form completely- gives the whole picture of your Chams world :)


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the delay. Its eye is not getting better and maybe alittle bit worse. It doesn't seem to move it much. It seems to be kind of dry in it today. I have been wiping it with a wet q-tip to see if that helps. I need to get terramycin ointment I believe. The substrate seems kind of wettish from the dripper so I stopped that today.



Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Bearded pygmy, male, 3 weeks.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Once a day for inspection at most.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I am feeding it small crickets. They are eating Flukers orange cubes. I give it about 5-6 at a time but have not seen it eat althoug it is pooping so I believe it is.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I have dusted crickets with Reptivite twice since I have had it.Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I mist 2 times aday and had a dripper almost nonstop at one point.Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I have not had it tested and it looks like wettish dropping dark brown with a whitish yellow piece.History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I know it was in its previous owners care since May and don't think they had any problem with it. bought at a reptile show then and probably wild caught.Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? ExoTerra 12x12x18 glass with screen topLighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Using a ExoTerra 5.0 UVB light.It is on 12-13 hours per day.Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Temps are between 67-70 degrees. Ambient temperatureHumidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?Humidity is 70% from misting and dripper.Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?I am using plastic plants.Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?Cage is in kitchen and about 4 feet off the ground. It is an ExoTerra cage 12x12x18.There is a floor vent near itLocation - Where are you geographically located? In North Carolina.Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

The chameleon has its right eye kind of swollen and dryish looking in the lens today. It doesn't move it much and it is not improving. It did seem to itch it some when I first got it but eventually stopped.
 
I discontinued the dripper as the Ecoearth seems saturated. I have not seen it drink in a while though it is still pooping normally I believe. It appeard dark brown with a cream colored end section and wettish. It gets about 5-6 crickets every couple of days and I still haven't seen it eat. The eye does not move much like it did and seems kind of dry in the lens. I can't get a good photo due to the size of it and range needed. Imagine its eye with dried clear glue in it. Thats what it appears like and the lens opening seems a little larger than the normal eye. It has been given crickets with Reptivite twice in three weeks. I mist it twice daily and only recently removed the dripper.

The cage is an ExoTerra 12x12x18 with screen top.

Should I get Terramycin to treat it? Not sure what to do? Do many vets treat pygmies. I got the impression no.
 
Took it to the vet today. Luckily we have a exotics only vet practice and they had worked on many chameleons..mostly eye problems I was told. She said she saw a small brown item come out of its eye when she flushed it. She took a tiny surgical steel attachment and put it on a small syringe and put a saline solution in it. The small probe was placed carefully under its eyelid and a few small gradual squirts of saline flushed any debris out. I now have to give it an eye antibiotic for 10 days and hopefully it will clear up. He checked out OK otherwise. They wanted to doa fecal exam and give a dewormer but I declined. It has been in captiity for at least 7 months without signs of parasite problems and probably ony has 1-1.5 years left at the most. I figured if its otherwise healthy no need to chance a dewormer with a tiny chameleon.
 
Anyone....The eye has not improved 5 days following the vet visit. It still appears wrinkly and dry whil the other is fine. It has been getting Cipro in the bad eye 3x a day with no luck. I have tried to give it lukewarm water in the eye about 2-3x day a well. I mist it about 3x a day also. I don't see it drink much and I don't believe it is eating much more either. Only 2 droppings in the last week have been seen and the last is more yellowish without a brown portion. Suggests dehydration. Temps are still in the 67-70 range and humidity is 60-70%. The bottom of the cage is very wet follwoing a drip system useage which has since been removed due to the wet conditions.

What are some other techniques to try to heal this. I don't believe I will take it back to the vet since the first visit is proving a waste of money. Is Terramycin better than Cipro?
 
Yes. I will keep trying to rinse the eye out. It may still have something in it. Thanks for the site information. I hadn't seen that site yet.
 
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