I am looking after my brothers cham whilst he is away, the enclosure and surroundings have not changed as we live in the same house, but this is the third day in a row that i know of that it has not eaten. i thought the crickets might be too big so i went and bought pinheads but still no luck. it has just been chilling on the floor and is getting weaker and weaker.. I'm getting really worried now!! its only about the length of an iPhone long..
PLEASE HELP!! my chameleon has stopped eating!!
- Thread starter cherry123
- Start date
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Welcome to CF!
Glad you have come here for answers!
Everything was fine while he was in your brothers care?
Can you please post pictures of the enclosure and the animal?
Is your brother a member here?
Not eating for a bit is ok, being weak and on the bottom of the enclosure is not ok at all!
Glad you have come here for answers!
Everything was fine while he was in your brothers care?
Can you please post pictures of the enclosure and the animal?
Is your brother a member here?
Not eating for a bit is ok, being weak and on the bottom of the enclosure is not ok at all!
i don't have access to posting pictures, but the chameleon was very healthy in my brothers care, this is only the 7th day he has been away, and he still has two weeks to go.
we have had it for roughly 5 months, the lights are on timers, and the tank is hand misted, there is also a container at the top of the enclosure that drips water down that i have seen the cham go and drink from on the leaves.
usually the cham is in the trees climbing around, but it has been very lethargic and stayed on the floor of the enclosure for three days, it doesn't seem to be able to lift its head.
From what i know, the cham has only ever eaten crickets.
The enclosure is in his room, onto of the dresser away from any windows, i also have a towel on top of the enclosure ensuring he stays warm.
my brother said that he should have shed by now, but since he has been away he has not done so..
is there something i am doing wrong?
we have had it for roughly 5 months, the lights are on timers, and the tank is hand misted, there is also a container at the top of the enclosure that drips water down that i have seen the cham go and drink from on the leaves.
usually the cham is in the trees climbing around, but it has been very lethargic and stayed on the floor of the enclosure for three days, it doesn't seem to be able to lift its head.
From what i know, the cham has only ever eaten crickets.
The enclosure is in his room, onto of the dresser away from any windows, i also have a towel on top of the enclosure ensuring he stays warm.
my brother said that he should have shed by now, but since he has been away he has not done so..
is there something i am doing wrong?
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Is it a screen or glass enclosure?
The towel souldnt be needed.
What is your houses temp?
Whats the outside temp where you are?
Also, do you dust the feeders with any powders?
If so what EXACTLY?
The towel souldnt be needed.
What is your houses temp?
Whats the outside temp where you are?
Also, do you dust the feeders with any powders?
If so what EXACTLY?
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Please lay it on us, just type up as much info on all the lights, enclosure, supplements, and everything you know/can find out about the animal.
The more info we have the btter the chance we can help!
The more info we have the btter the chance we can help!
Elizadolots
New Member
Hi! You're a good brother to try to find help for his chameleon.
I'm concerned about towels and lights....are the lights on top of the cage or are they in the cage?
As Solid Snake says, towels aren't needed for warmth, that's what the lights are for.
Are you trying to post pictures from your phone? I'm afraid I don't know how to do that. If you can get the pictures to your computer, you can upload them directly in a post. Just click the POST REPLY button (do not use the handy box at the bottom of the page!). You'll see an icon that looks like a paperclip, click that and navigate to your picture to upload. Note: you will not see any sign that the picture is attached until you submit the post.
I'm concerned about towels and lights....are the lights on top of the cage or are they in the cage?
As Solid Snake says, towels aren't needed for warmth, that's what the lights are for.
Are you trying to post pictures from your phone? I'm afraid I don't know how to do that. If you can get the pictures to your computer, you can upload them directly in a post. Just click the POST REPLY button (do not use the handy box at the bottom of the page!). You'll see an icon that looks like a paperclip, click that and navigate to your picture to upload. Note: you will not see any sign that the picture is attached until you submit the post.
the lights are inside the enclosure, they are both timed, there is a red one and a white light inside, yes i am aware that they are for warmth but just thought for added security as I'm getting desperate.
I am only aware of the cham being fed the crickets, so I'm not sure what feeders are and we don't powder anything.
the temp outside is roughly 20 degrees and just a little warmer inside the house. the enclosure is glass and is sitting on top of a dresser away from windows.
My bro calls it a martian is that helps? we have had the cham roughly 5 months.
the plants in the enclosure are fake,
I am only aware of the cham being fed the crickets, so I'm not sure what feeders are and we don't powder anything.
the temp outside is roughly 20 degrees and just a little warmer inside the house. the enclosure is glass and is sitting on top of a dresser away from windows.
My bro calls it a martian is that helps? we have had the cham roughly 5 months.
the plants in the enclosure are fake,
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Do his arms look curved at all?
Is it a fishtank?
Or is it a ventilated terrarium?
Is it a fishtank?
Or is it a ventilated terrarium?
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Take the crickets out, they will chew on him.
mychamtini112012
New Member
Welcome to CF!
Does he not have a uvb light.? And lights inside the cage is dangerous. He doesn't need the red light either.
Does he not have a uvb light.? And lights inside the cage is dangerous. He doesn't need the red light either.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
what do you mean the lights are INSIDE the enclosure? Can you get ahold of your brother?. is the white light a UVB light? if not, that might be one of the problems. They cannot survive without a uvb source. LAck of one will take its toll eventually. I would get ahold of your brother, tell him what is going on. See if he has access to a computer and this thread. We need to know as much as possible to hlep you, but I hate to say things do not sound good at all at this point.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Im sorry, your chameleon is not going to live for long without imediate vetrinarian care.
It has MBD, and is severly malnurished and dehydrated.
It has MBD, and is severly malnurished and dehydrated.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Its caused by the chameleon being unable to get calcium. The body takes it from the bones. The bones become weak and start to fracture and bend(this is why his limbs are curved).
To ensure this doesnt happen, you have to dust the crickets with a calcium powder, you also have to provide a source of UVB light. They get D3 from the UVB, when they eat the calcium, it goes to the blood, the D3 pulls it from the blood where it can be used by the body(mainly bones but other things as well).
To treat it, the chameleon needs injections of calcium, then more injections to rapidly bring the calcium back to the bones.
You can treat it on your own, but with it being that severe, you really need a vet.
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