So...I have this new little veiled that was overwhelming his owners. He must be almost a year, confirmed male, 7-8" SVL. So far he has had MBD and eye issues. He has seen two different qualified herp vets. While I have kept herps for about 20 years, Achmed is my first cham. I was pet sitting for about a week and then yesterday the owner asked if I would just keep him.
So here we go...
This info is based on previous owner care; my adjustments will be in parentheses if any have been made. The current issue is eye closing and I believe he has crustiness in the am.
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - One of those metal/screen cages that is 3ft tall x 2ft x 2ft.
* Lighting - incandescent household bulb:Reveal 75W, ZooMed 10.0 compact (I don't like the compact and opt for natural shady sun. I am familiar with reptile uv uk)
* Temperature - I use a digital thermometer with probe to measure temps. Basking spot is 92, usual hang out mid-cage is 85, cage floor is 80-82. nighttime temps are 78
* Humidity - Digital hygrometer to measure humidity. It usually bottoms out at 40-50%, tops at 70% twice daily when I mist. I mist with a coarse spray in the morning and let a few ice cubes melt on the top of the screen in the afternoon.
* Plants - There's a little mini hibiscus in there and also fake branches for climbing.
* Placement - Well, right now it's in my reptile room, but I'd like to move him. Not really high traffic, but some scaarrrryyy animals in there.
The top of the cage is about 5ft off the floor.
* Location - Central FL. I'd love for him to live on my screen porch!
Chameleon Info:
* Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, bought at Daytona last August as a baby. I've had him for about a week.
* Handling - He has been handled rarely.
* Feeding - He eats mostly crickets, gutloaded with Flukers orange and yellow cubes. I have also gotten him to eat some supers that were gut loaded with collards. He eats maybe two supers or two large crickets daily (he's thin and eyes look a little sunken).
* Supplements - RepCal no phosphorous with and without D3 at almost every feeding. Not sure on the HerpVite schedule. (I supplement With and w/o D3 alternately 3x week, Herpvite once every other week.)
* Watering - Coarse misting by hand or with hose mist/shower attachment if he's outside. I also let ice melt on top of his cage. I have seen him start to drink.
* Fecal Description - Hmm...I think his fecals have been neg. Stools are nice, formed, dark,food looks digested. Urates are whitish, some bits of yellowish.
* History - First seen by vet for eye issue, prescribed Gentamycin eye drops. Second opinion to another vet revealed MBD and eye issues. Compact 5.0 changed to compact 10.0 (shudder). Given oral calcium gluconate and Cipro eye drops. Also misted more often.
* Current Problem - Keeps eye closed and eyes seem a bit sunken. Doesn't want to hunt, but will eat if I stick a cricket in his gaping mouth. When I turned off the compact, his eyes seemed to get better. I turned on the compact for a few days and they seemed to get worse again, or maybe it's my imagination. His eyeballs look like they are far, far away in the little cone part of his eyelid.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the compact altogether now that he's mine, maybe lower the temps just a tad with a 60 or 67 watt bulb. I'd also like to find a permanent place for him that is higher up and a little more secluded. Perhaps he needs his eye drops again for a week.
Any suggestions? I'll try to add photos, but likely won't be until tomorrow.
So here we go...
This info is based on previous owner care; my adjustments will be in parentheses if any have been made. The current issue is eye closing and I believe he has crustiness in the am.
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - One of those metal/screen cages that is 3ft tall x 2ft x 2ft.
* Lighting - incandescent household bulb:Reveal 75W, ZooMed 10.0 compact (I don't like the compact and opt for natural shady sun. I am familiar with reptile uv uk)
* Temperature - I use a digital thermometer with probe to measure temps. Basking spot is 92, usual hang out mid-cage is 85, cage floor is 80-82. nighttime temps are 78
* Humidity - Digital hygrometer to measure humidity. It usually bottoms out at 40-50%, tops at 70% twice daily when I mist. I mist with a coarse spray in the morning and let a few ice cubes melt on the top of the screen in the afternoon.
* Plants - There's a little mini hibiscus in there and also fake branches for climbing.
* Placement - Well, right now it's in my reptile room, but I'd like to move him. Not really high traffic, but some scaarrrryyy animals in there.
The top of the cage is about 5ft off the floor.* Location - Central FL. I'd love for him to live on my screen porch!
Chameleon Info:
* Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, bought at Daytona last August as a baby. I've had him for about a week.
* Handling - He has been handled rarely.
* Feeding - He eats mostly crickets, gutloaded with Flukers orange and yellow cubes. I have also gotten him to eat some supers that were gut loaded with collards. He eats maybe two supers or two large crickets daily (he's thin and eyes look a little sunken).
* Supplements - RepCal no phosphorous with and without D3 at almost every feeding. Not sure on the HerpVite schedule. (I supplement With and w/o D3 alternately 3x week, Herpvite once every other week.)
* Watering - Coarse misting by hand or with hose mist/shower attachment if he's outside. I also let ice melt on top of his cage. I have seen him start to drink.
* Fecal Description - Hmm...I think his fecals have been neg. Stools are nice, formed, dark,food looks digested. Urates are whitish, some bits of yellowish.
* History - First seen by vet for eye issue, prescribed Gentamycin eye drops. Second opinion to another vet revealed MBD and eye issues. Compact 5.0 changed to compact 10.0 (shudder). Given oral calcium gluconate and Cipro eye drops. Also misted more often.
* Current Problem - Keeps eye closed and eyes seem a bit sunken. Doesn't want to hunt, but will eat if I stick a cricket in his gaping mouth. When I turned off the compact, his eyes seemed to get better. I turned on the compact for a few days and they seemed to get worse again, or maybe it's my imagination.
His eyeballs look like they are far, far away in the little cone part of his eyelid. I'm thinking of getting rid of the compact altogether now that he's mine, maybe lower the temps just a tad with a 60 or 67 watt bulb. I'd also like to find a permanent place for him that is higher up and a little more secluded. Perhaps he needs his eye drops again for a week.
Any suggestions? I'll try to add photos, but likely won't be until tomorrow.
