Please dont think I am mad,but I am worried about my chameleon dying

[jackie stone]

Lucy is 7 weeks old and I am worried all the time that she will die as I know chams can be difficult to keep and have special requirements etc.I am watching her all the time and checking the humidity guage all day and I havent seen her drink since I got her 2 weeks ago,but I have a dripper and I mist 3 times a day.The crickets keep dropping to the floor of the enclosure and drowning in the tray I have in the bottom to catch the water from the dripper,which I empy twice a day.I have seen her eat many times but half the crickets drop to the floor and run around the bottom or drown if I dont catch them in time,Lucy has a deep cup for eating out of but the crickets just climb out.I have changed the bulbs like you said and added a large umbrella plant,Lucy is happier and more active and climbed on to my hand and up my hair which was funny,but I am scared every day when I come downstairs that she will die.I am such a sensible person normally,but Lucy has turned me into a mad woman,excuse my hair in pic and the no make up in the pic as I had just got out of bed.lol

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

The same thing happened to me when I fist started out.

Here is the good news , you get over it. You have done what you can now its time to enjoy.

Chameleons are a bit more sensitive than other animals but will thrive in kept in a good environment. It does not always need to be perfect. If you find something out of place fix it. Your chameleon will not die if you miss a misting or leave a light on. It is when you fail to correct the issue that can be a problem.

I have a lot of chameleons and I only see about 2 of them drink. The rest hide from me. All you can do is make sure water is available via misting and a dripper.

There shouldn't be any water in the bottom of the cage. A hole that drains into another container can fix that. That way the crickets won't die in it.

Sorry if I missed anything,.

 

[jojackson]

Jackie,
You can prevent the crickets or the lizard drowning, by replacing your water tray with a tub with a lid. Any plastic tub with a wide top and a tighht fitting lid will do.
Cut the inside out of the lid, leaving an inch or two of rim all round. Place some flyscreen over the tub and replace the lid.

RE drinking: If your lizards poo has a white part (called urates/solid wee) that is for the most part white, then its getting enough moisture. If that part begins to get yellow or orange, then your lizard is begining to dehydrate and needs water.

A great way to ensure moisture is to feed soft 'wet' insects like worms (hornworms etc)
and to gutload all insects including crickets with moisture holding fruits and fresh greens regularly.

Its easy to worry over a tiny fragile lizard, we understand. Your lizard looks in good condition. Ensure the crickets and/or other insects you offer are not too big. Crickets grow fast.

 

[jannb]

I worry about mine all the time, too. What size crickets do you feed her? How deep is the pan catching the water? What size is her cage? Try a different type cup for feeding. Sometimes they are secret drinkers. What color is her poop?

 

[Fearaffect]

The same thing happened to me when I fist started out.

Here is the good news , you get over it. You have done what you can now its time to enjoy.

Chameleons are a bit more sensitive than other animals but will thrive in kept in a good environment. It does not always need to be perfect. If you find something out of place fix it. Your chameleon will not die if you miss a misting or leave a light on. It is when you fail to correct the issue that can be a problem.

I have a lot of chameleons and I only see about 2 of them drink. The rest hide from me. All you can do is make sure water is available via misting and a dripper.

There shouldn't be any water in the bottom of the cage. A hole that drains into another container can fix that. That way the crickets won't die in it.

Sorry if I missed anything,.

Heck, Id hide from u 2!!

Yea, thats normal for the most part......I've only seen a few drink also......just keep up the maint. on them and u'll be alright........

 

[jackie stone]

Hi Thank you for the replies sorry for the scare fearaffect

Her poo is brown with white urates,I am changing the tray to a pot with mesh top,her enclosure is nearly 36 inches tall but she stays at the top.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Hi Thank you for the replies sorry for the scare fearaffect

Her poo is brown with white urates,I am changing the tray to a pot with mesh top,her enclosure is nearly 36 inches tall but she stays at the top.

I think it was me who scared him. not you . LOL

 

[Fearaffect]

Hi Thank you for the replies sorry for the scare fearaffect

Her poo is brown with white urates,I am changing the tray to a pot with mesh top,her enclosure is nearly 36 inches tall but she stays at the top.

NOOOO lol I ment Id hide from Ryan!!!!! LOL NOthing wrong with u Jackie.........Ryan's one scary dude!!

 

[jannb]

Hi Thank you for the replies sorry for the scare fearaffect

Her poo is brown with white urates,I am changing the tray to a pot with mesh top,her enclosure is nearly 36 inches tall but she stays at the top.

That all sounds good. If she had white urates, she's drinking when you are not looking.

 

[ronnie]

I was convinced for the first 2-3 months that i would come downstairs and find Trixxi dead...that feeling did go away after a while....but she's still the first thing i check every morning!

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I was convinced for the first 2-3 months that i would come downstairs and find Trixxi dead...that feeling did go away after a while....but she's still the first thing i check every morning!

The quick fix for that is more chameleons.

 

[Fearaffect]

The quick fix for that is more chameleons.

I agree!! the more the better........

 

[jojackson]

For me it was like getting the kick off at the grand final, you only had one shot to do it right. The first few months were a big concern.

 

[Vampire.queen]

LOL, I guess this happened to each of us with the first chameleon You'll get used to and your fear will disappear

 

[jannb]

LOL, I guess this happened to each of us with the first chameleon You'll get used to and your fear will disappear

I've had my male almost two years and my female one year and I still worry that something might happen to them. I even check on them at night.....sometime several times.

 

[tkilgour]

some chameleons are shy others are not! Some of my panthers drink straight from my spray bottle when i mist. Others stand under the dripper and take showers, and some hide and only drink puddles that collected on the leaves.

 

[MetalFox]

I feel you on this and mine cham is 5 months old! I always worried that something isnt right, i am freaking out about shedding right now and i am no sure still if that is what is happening! haha So I can understand I think for the past 10 days I have woke up and Check temps and everything!

 

[Miss Lily]

I have had Amy for a couple of months now and I always check on her first in the morning. I worry about her too! I don't see her drink, but she does lick her lips when I mist. She has a dripper which I haven't seen her use and she is misted thoroughly twice a day too. They get some moisture from their feeders and they also breathe some in via the humidity in the enclosure.

I had Lily for a year and the only time I ever saw her drink off of a leaf was the day I brought her home and she was thirsty after the journey! She would also drink from a hamster bottle when I dripped it in front of her. Her urates were never a concern so I figured she must be getting enough fluid one way or another. Also when the vet did her post mortem he said that her kidneys looked normal, which I was relieved about, as I had always worried about her not drinking enough!