One eye closed basking in the morning

[armand]

Hi everyone.

It’s my first time posting a tread on here. My Male Veiled chameleon(9 Months old) has recently been closing his one eye in the morning when basking only. He seems to do this only in the morning. I really do believe my husbandry is on par. He does it for a few seconds and then opens them up again. It’s only the eye facing the light. Is this normal behaviour?

 

[armand]

 

[armand]

 

[armand]

I do believe there is something in his eye. He has not shedded in about 2 months..So I doubt that it’s a stuck piece of shed. But he does keep on rolling that eye(Trying to clean it)

 

[Beman]

Hi there welcome to the forum. What UVB strength are you using and what is your distance from that fixture to the branch?
Do you have daytime mistings going so he can clean the eye turrets?
What supplements are you using and what is your schedule for using them?

 

[armand]

Hi Beman. So I have a Reptile Systems Eco T5 Zone 2 UVB(German made). At 20cm with the reflector in low power output, it generates a UVB of 3.8. That’s without the 70% screen penetration rule. Currently the bulb is 15-17cm away from his back.

Based on Petr Něcas findings I only have a misting session before lights turn on and after they turn off.

I’m using PangeaCal without D3 every feeding(5 bugs every second day)
And then on the 1st and 15th Exoterra multivitamin+D3. I’m unable to get Reptivite or Repashy LoD where I stay. To make up for the lack of preformed Vit A, I add 2 drops of COD liver oil on the 1st and 15th.

 

[Beman]

Hi Beman. So I have a Reptile Systems Eco T5 Zone 2 UVB(German made). At 20cm with the reflector in low power output, it generates a UVB of 3.8. That’s without the 70% screen penetration rule. Currently the bulb is 15-17cm away from his back.

Based on Petr Něcas findings I only have a misting session before lights turn on and after they turn off.

I’m using PangeaCal without D3 every feeding(5 bugs every second day)
And then on the 1st and 15th Exoterra multivitamin+D3. I’m unable to get Reptivite or Repashy LoD where I stay. To make up for the lack of preformed Vit A, I add 2 drops of COD liver oil on the 1st and 15th.

Are you testing the UVI level or is this the numbers they are giving you for the product output?

Where you are at are you able to get Arcadia supplements? So while cod liver oil does have preformed A in it I am always hesitant with these other ways to give vitamin A. There is no way to break it down to know the exact levels you are giving. This becomes a risk. When supplementing with standard supplements that have Vitamin A yes that would be two times a month. But say for example your two drops exceed the amounts you would give in one month you can start to overdose them. So I just advise caution with any route like this. I know it is difficult because you have to be able to provide the vitamin as it is an essential one but with it being fat soluble it comes with risk.


So I would consider having a late afternoon misting session 2-4 minutes long when your temps start to cool so he does have the opportunity to fully clean the eye. If he has a little something stuck in there it is going to be much easier for him to clear if he has the additional mist to do it in. I am willing to bet he has something in the turret since he is only doing it with one eye. Now if he were doing it with both eyes the concern would be illness.

Your cage and set up look great, you have done a very good job with it. His body condition looks good for his age and physical appearance looks to be healthy and muscular. So you are doing great providing him with all that he needs to thrive.

 

[armand]

Are you testing the UVI level or is this the numbers they are giving you for the product output?

Where you are at are you able to get Arcadia supplements? So while cod liver oil does have preformed A in it I am always hesitant with these other ways to give vitamin A. There is no way to break it down to know the exact levels you are giving. This becomes a risk. When supplementing with standard supplements that have Vitamin A yes that would be two times a month. But say for example your two drops exceed the amounts you would give in one month you can start to overdose them. So I just advise caution with any route like this. I know it is difficult because you have to be able to provide the vitamin as it is an essential one but with it being fat soluble it comes with risk.


So I would consider having a late afternoon misting session 2-4 minutes long when your temps start to cool so he does have the opportunity to fully clean the eye. If he has a little something stuck in there it is going to be much easier for him to clear if he has the additional mist to do it in. I am willing to bet he has something in the turret since he is only doing it with one eye. Now if he were doing it with both eyes the concern would be illness.

Your cage and set up look great, you have done a very good job with it. His body condition looks good for his age and physical appearance looks to be healthy and muscular. So you are doing great providing him with all that he needs to thrive.

Thank you for your reply Beman.

That is the output as per the product. Unfortunately I don’t have a Solar meter 6.5. But like you said, the last 2 days it’s only been his left eye. So I’m pretty sure there’s something in it.

I’ll definitely add the afternoon misting session for a while to see. Hopefully it won’t stress him out so much. I’ve been manually misting his left eye softly with water.Hopefully this will dislodge whatever is stuck.

What Arcadia product will you recommend for the Preformed Vit? Will see if I can get it.

Thank you kindly for the generous words! Really appreciate them.

 

[Beman]

Thank you for your reply Beman.

That is the output as per the product. Unfortunately I don’t have a Solar meter 6.5. But like you said, the last 2 days it’s only been his left eye. So I’m pretty sure there’s something in it.

I’ll definitely add the afternoon misting session for a while to see. Hopefully it won’t stress him out so much. I’ve been manually misting his left eye softly with water.Hopefully this will dislodge whatever is stuck.

What Arcadia product will you recommend for the Preformed Vit? Will see if I can get it.

Thank you kindly for the generous words! Really appreciate them.

My pleasure. So get some plain saline solution and see if he will let you drip it into the eye. This may cause him to go ahead and rotate the turret which would be good as well if something is stuck.

I do not have any knowledge on the lighting you are using specifically. Unfortunately that is one that I have no hands on info I can give to you about what real output can be. If it was arcadia or reptisun I could give you exacts.

If you can get arcadia products you can purchase the revitaliseD3. This is a multivitamin with D3 and A. Keep in mind it has very low amounts though compared to other products like reptivite or repashy Lod. So this one is totally safe to use 2 times a month without any risk at all of overdose. Then you would keep using your plain calcium without D3 at all other feedings.

 

[armand]

My pleasure. So get some plain saline solution and see if he will let you drip it into the eye. This may cause him to go ahead and rotate the turret which would be good as well if something is stuck.

I do not have any knowledge on the lighting you are using specifically. Unfortunately that is one that I have no hands on info I can give to you about what real output can be. If it was arcadia or reptisun I could give you exacts.

If you can get arcadia products you can purchase the revitaliseD3. This is a multivitamin with D3 and A. Keep in mind it has very low amounts though compared to other products like reptivite or repashy Lod. So this one is totally safe to use 2 times a month without any risk at all of overdose. Then you would keep using your plain calcium without D3 at all other feedings.

Hi Beman. So I tried dropping a few drops of Saline Solution in his left eye. It was still closed a few times during the day. I tried the “Shower” method as well. How long do you think I should keep doing this? And when should I really get worried.

 

[armand]

H

Hi Beman. So I tried dropping a few drops of Saline Solution in his left eye. It was still closed a few times during the day. I tried the “Shower” method as well. How long do you think I should keep doing this? And when should I really get worried.

He still eats very well, very active, not lethargic at all. No discharge from the eye so I doubt there’s infection

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Hi Beman. So I tried dropping a few drops of Saline Solution in his left eye. It was still closed a few times during the day. I tried the “Shower” method as well. How long do you think I should keep doing this? And when should I really get worried.

I say give a shower every one to two days until the eye washes whatever is causing the problems out. That is a good old school chameleon technique to hydrate your chameleon as well.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[armand]

 

[armand]

Hi Beman and everyone. Hope you are well. My Chameleon (9 Months old) is still doing this with only his left eye. Do you think this is him cleaning the eye? Or is there something else…Thought it might be a minor irritation or stuck shed. But this has been going on for about 2/3 weeks now. Tried saline as well as more misting. Please advise what you guys think. Kind regards

 

[Beman]

So that is not cleaning at all. This is what it looks like when they clean their eyes.






Is it still just one eye or is he doing it with the other one as well? My concern would be illness and this is a stress response.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Hi Beman and everyone. Hope you are well. My Chameleon (9 Months old) is still doing this with only his left eye. Do you think this is him cleaning the eye? Or is there something else…Thought it might be a minor irritation or stuck shed. But this has been going on for about 2/3 weeks now. Tried saline as well as more misting. Please advise what you guys think. Kind regards

Your chameleon looks to be resting some. During the day not lengthy closing of the eyes is not a problem. However when/if a chameleon is sleeping for extended parts of the day could be and normally is health related. Chameleons normally cruise some and pick a branch to hunker down for a while during the day. Your chameleon looks healthy and I think is just resting on a branch.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[armand]

So that is not cleaning at all. This is what it looks like when they clean their eyes.






Is it still just one eye or is he doing it with the other one as well? My concern would be illness and this is a stress response.

Just the one eye.

 

[armand]

Your chameleon looks to be resting some. During the day not lengthy closing of the eyes is not a problem. However when/if a chameleon is sleeping for extended parts of the day could be and normally is health related. Chameleons normally cruise some and pick a branch to hunker down for a while during the day. Your chameleon looks healthy and I think is just resting on a branch.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Thank you for the reply Jeremy. I don’t really know what to think anymore..He’s entered a shed now. As you can probably see he’s head is very dull(Assuming that’s the next body part)
I’ve had a look at supplementation as well as lights..But it’s weird that it’s only the left eye.

He does this only in the morning and then as the day progresses on, he moves around and does not seem to do this at all.
It’s very cold here during the night with Winter approaching..So not sure if that could be a reason.

Do you think I should take him to the vet?
Should I just monitor it?

Kind regards
Armand

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Thank you for the reply Jeremy. I don’t really know what to think anymore..He’s entered a shed now. As you can probably see he’s head is very dull(Assuming that’s the next body part)
I’ve had a look at supplementation as well as lights..But it’s weird that it’s only the left eye.

He does this only in the morning and then as the day progresses on, he moves around and does not seem to do this at all.
It’s very cold here during the night with Winter approaching..So not sure if that could be a reason.

Do you think I should take him to the vet?
Should I just monitor it?

Kind regards
Armand

I would just monitor your Chamaeleo calyptratus for now. If the problem persists go to the vet.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[armand]

I would just monitor your Chamaeleo calyptratus for now. If the problem persists go to the vet.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Thank you kindly!

In your years of experience, have you seen this before?

Kind regards
Armand