Please Help, Pleasee!!

[chrisfarren2307]

So today i moved my 3 year old yemen chameleon onto crickets for the first time, hes been on locusts for three years straight and been eating fine, shedding, pooping etc. Today after his 3rd Cricket, he started shaking and sticking his tongue out really far (as if he was choking on the cricket). This worries me because i hope hes not sick, he only did it for about 10 seconds, then stopped and was fine, held him afterwards too! Was he probably just choking on it or should i be worried, hes never done it before, thanks.

 

[laurie]

I think he is fine. Most likely one of the cricket legs scratched him. You can easily pinch the back cricket legs off if you want. I never bother. My chams don't seen to have a problem. Let me know if you have any more problems.

I am moving your thread to the health sections so people will understand it is a health issue.

 

[chrisfarren2307]

Thanks Laurie, also noticed some little brown bugs running around the vines, there like little specs of dirt and eat his poop, are these mites? How can i get rid of them? What if there on him?!:0
Thanks

 

[AngieL]

Maybe it was a wriggler or it bit him? We're they black or brown crix? The black ones have a nasty nip! Locusts don't usually have much of a bite unless they're the giant ones with wings. The normal ( about an inch ) sized locusts have soft bodies so crickets will be a bit more crunchy. If he's not had them before then maybe he just don't chew it enough! keep an eye on him for any strange behaviour or a bite in his mouth but otherwise I wouldn't stress

 

[laurie]

They do sound like mites. I have never had mites but I think there is a spray. It will be a couple hours but I will get back to you. i will do some research.

 

[sulfurboy1o3]

looking closely, are the little tiny things slight oval shaped with two tiny antennas? If their are multiples running around your plants and stuff and not all your chameleon, then those are spring tails. they are decomposers!

they are more helpful but sort of annoying to look at. If you have live plants and a heat source with regular water added, you will most likely have these tiny isopods springtail thingies. They feed off of lizard poop, dead bugs and plant debris. To prove to yourself as to what they are, mash a cricket or roach where its guts are exposed and apply the guts like sap to a spot on a branch where you regularly see them. If in 30 min, it is surrounded by them, then thats what they are. HARMLESS to your lizard. if you dont want any of these ever again, remove live plants, active soil.

Mites are pretty specific sometimes. like snake mites dont really hang out on lizards. lizards commonly have red mites. Mites would also be occupied by your lizard, around the eyes, nostril, under arms and behind head crests. Those are what you fear. FOR YEARS, the whole mites thing freaks out everyone, making them believe all tiny bugs are HORRID things, which in some cases, they all arent!
Please, before you go sprayinh and bleaching your cage, causing stress on multiple ends, see if this is actually your case.