Please Help, my Chameleon is dying.

[smartin]

Hello,
I woke up this morning and saw that my chameleon looks very ill. he is a very pale green color, his eyes are sunken in, he is very lethargic and little to no movement or activity, and doesn't grasp onto anything. He doesn't have MBD, because i have seen that before, and its not mites or ticks. I don't know what is wrong, so can anyone please help me.

 

[Julirs]

Please help us help you trouble shoot...

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[Surfrat]

Fill out the form Juli posted and post some photos.

 

[Vince]

You should fill out the form but, when you say sunken in eyes my first concern is dehydration. What colors have the urates been?

 

[Danicuteeyes]

if you are deeply worried, I would seriously consider taking it to a vet or somethng...it might be dehydration.

 

[sandrachameleon]

If my chameleon was suddenly looking "very ill" "Lethargic" and unable to grasp anything, I wouldnt spend time asking for help here. I'd be on my way to a vet. Health Emergencies arent best served by a forum.
After the issue is diagnosed and you're doing what you can to correct, come back and we may be able to help with any underlying husbandry issue.

 

[jojackson]

If my chameleon was suddenly looking "very ill" "Lethargic" and unable to grasp anything, I wouldnt spend time asking for help here. I'd be on my way to a vet.

Bravo! Thank God common sense is still alive and kicking. This could apply to so many threads here and on other forums. Its nice to hear Somebody thinks like me!


99% of such threads are posted because the person dosent want to spend money on a lizard, some admit as much. Im beginning to skip more and more threads, They all read the same, till after multiple pages, the person posts 'x passed away'.
Then everyone post their condolences, I want to be sick or write a bannable message!
Makes me cranky.

 

[Miss Lily]

Bravo! Thank God common sense is still alive and kicking. This could apply to so many threads here and on other forums. Its nice to hear Somebody thinks like me!


99% of such threads are posted because the person dosent want to spend money on a lizard, some admit as much. Im beginning to skip more and more threads, They all read the same, till after multiple pages, the person posts 'x passed away'.
Then everyone post their condolences, I want to be sick or write a bannable message!
Makes me cranky.

I would have gone straight to a vet too, or at least made an appointment. When Lily was ill, I would have paid whatever it cost to make her well again. Sadly that wasn't to be. I would pay whatever it took to help any of my pets - my male Sugar Glider cost me over £400 in vets bills a few years ago, but it was worth every penny to try and improve his health. That wasn't meant to be either, but I don't think of it as money wasted.

 

[jannb]

I would have gone straight to a vet too, or at least made an appointment. When Lily was ill, I would have paid whatever it cost to make her well again. Sadly that wasn't to be. I would pay whatever it took to help any of my pets - my male Sugar Glider cost me over £400 in vets bills a few years ago, but it was worth every penny to try and improve his health. That wasn't meant to be either, but I don't think of it as money wasted.

I agree! I took my guys for a 6 month check up yesterday and they weren't even sick and I drove two hours each way to do it.

 

[Surfrat]

I agree! I took my guys for a 6 month check up yesterday and they weren't even sick and I drove two hours each way to do it.

I have to agree with the vet comments, but lets all be realistic also. In today's economy, I really doubt your average person who has one small chameleon and paid under $100 for it, is going to even think about taking it to the vet. Not to mention the fact that what is the chance they will find a competent cham vet in their area. Mine is over an hour drive away.

I am just happy to see them at least ask for help and attempt to do what they can within their economic means.

 

[jannb]

I have to agree with the vet comments, but lets all be realistic also. In today's economy, I really doubt your average person who has one small chameleon and paid under $100 for it, is going to even think about taking it to the vet. Not to mention the fact that what is the chance they will find a competent cham vet in their area. Mine is over an hour drive away.

I am just happy to see them at least ask for help and attempt to do what they can within their economic means.

If a person can not afford to properly take care of any pet, then they should not have one. I would never have a pet that I could not afford to provide for. That's why I only have 2 chams and not 30. I only have veileds but I love them just as much as if they were $3000.00 parsonii. There's not a chameleon vet in my area......that why I drive two hours to get to one. I also got my dog at a no kill shelter for $50.00 but love him and give him the best care that I possibly can.

 

[kinyonga]

smartin...did you get it to a vet? How's it doing?

 

[Surfrat]

If a person can not afford to properly take care of any pet, then they should not have one. I would never have a pet that I could not afford to provide for. That's why I only have 2 chams and not 30. I only have veileds but I love them just as much as if they were $3000.00 parsonii. There's not a chameleon vet in my area......that why I drive two hours to get to one.

I'm in no way disagreeing with that comment, just being realistic in knowing that not everyone will feel the same way! I just mean I don't have any issues with people asking for help here even when the obvious answer is get to a good vet asap!

 

[Julirs]

I'm in no way disagreeing with that comment, just being realistic in knowing that not everyone will feel the same way! I just mean I don't have any issues with people asking for help here even when the obvious answer is get to a good vet asap!

I think it is a GREAT idea to ask for help here, in addition to seeing a VET. Inexperienced people would not know if there Vet was experienced or not. How many times have we heard on here that someone took the animal to a Vet that did something ridiculous?

 

[kinyonga]

Julirs...I agree with posting on here in addition to taking a chameleon to the vet!

 

[jannb]

I really feel sorry for the ones that do go to a vet and that vet knows nothing about chameleons. I took one of mine to a closer vet (only an hour away) because I was told when I made the appt. that "Oh yes" they see reptiles here. When I got there the vet says, I saw a turtle once and she knew absolutely nothing about chameleons but she charged me $150. 00 anyway. Now I just drive the 2 hours to someone who not only knows chameleons but has a bunch of them. That's why I try to tell people to find a vet that's experienced in chams and not all of the ones on that list that we give them are.

 

[verogirl]

my chameleon is just hanging on a branch wont eat, drink or move.... she turned brown and it took her awhile to turn a green and she isnt a bright green like she always is..

 

[ataraxia]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Elizadolots]

vero, in the future you should start a new thread for your chameleon. It inevitably leads to confusion to combine chameleon woes.

 

[verogirl]

my chameleon wont eat, drink or even move.. she wont open her eyes either. She is laying on her branch and holding tight so she dont fall. I dont know whats wrong with her she was brown for awhile also.