New Veiled Chameleon

[perkinschammie]

Hello! I recently ordered a new veiled chameleon from backwaterreptiles.com. He arrived today - and to me looks awfully skinny. He is my third veiled chameleon, I have a young male and an adult female as well. He is about 4-5" long, and is a sub adult. That's all the information I have on him. I'll attach photos of his set up and the chameleon himself - please let me know if he is underweight. My other chameleons were not near as skinny looking when we got them.

 

[LindsayG]

I don't know how that's even a question. I literally just gasped when I saw the picture. I'm by no means an expert and don't even have a veiled but he looks deathly skinny. His eyes are sunken in, his back and legs look terribly thin, his head looks sunken. He doesn't look well at all.

 

[LindsayG]

I just looked again and He looks like he could go at any minute to be honest with you. It looks like straight up animal abuse. Did you get your other chams from the same place?

 

[perkinschammie]

I just looked again and He looks like he could go at any minute to be honest with you. It looks like straight up animal abuse. Did you get your other chams from the same place?

No, he's the first one I've gotten from them. I was very worried and don't know what to do. He's my third chameleon and everyone I've showed (including the vet) gasps at how skinny he is. I've only gotten him today, and he's been eating. I'm just worried about him. Any advice?

 

[LindsayG]

I wouldn't feel comfortable giving any advice on how to help him but I would get him to a vet ASAP and also call the place you got him from and notify them of the condition he came in. I would say try to return him but it's extremely doubtfully he'd make it back to them alive. Wow. Hopefully some of the senior members and veterinarians on here will be able to give you advice on how to help the little guy out. I really really hope everything works out. Keep us updated on his condition.

Also on a side note,
I know you said you have a couple other chams but the enclosure you have him in now looks all wrong. The all glass enclosure isn't ideal for him, the substrate should go as he could potentially ingest it, there's no vines or branches for him to climb on and not enough foliage. He should be up higher and be able to have lots of hiding spots. Just some things to think about but first and foremost is getting him healthy.

 

[jannb]

You are right. He looks very skinny. I would let blackwatersreptiles know and get a fecal on him ASAP. He may have parasites, possiably cociddia from the looks of him. Do not let him around your other chameleons and wash your hands twice after you touch him.

 

[perkinschammie]

Chameleon

His cage is just a temporary - we're getting him vines and such later in the day and I am also baking some sticks to put in there with him. I have contacted backwaterreptiles and am waiting for a reply back. I'm taking my reticulated python for shots on Thursday and I will have the little guy tag along so that he can get tested.

 

[perkinschammie]

Updated photo

I managed to snap another photo of him - he doesn't look as skinny here but still draws concern.

 

[LindsayG]

Ok I figured that since you have two others that you've had for a while, I was just saying, just in case. I'm glad you're getting him in to a vet soon.

 

[TattooedGZus]

The sad part is Backwater Reptiles is just a drop shipper. The guy who runs the business probably has no clue what shape the chams he's selling are in. After researching them, not too many people have good things to say about them. On a side note, would it help at all to dust the crickets with a small amount of the Repti Boost powder to add a little extra nutritional value to the crickets? This little one looks like it could use something to try and gains additional calories. Besdt wishes for his recovery.

 

[nightanole]

Yez another backwater success story. Glad i switched to LLL / forums.