Please help Rex

[skittles1234]

PLEASE HELP: Rex is a jackson chameleon i rescued 3 days ago now and he hasen't been doing well since the day he arrived but today he fell from the top of his cage to the bottom crashing through all the trees and branches and i was so afraid for him. IDK what else to do. Took him to the vet yesterday and they couldn't find a thing wrong with him. He is 6 months old. I have another Cham so i know how his set ups suppose to be (Uvb tube light 5.0 and regular lamp bulb in a dome fixture, all the appropirate temps and humidity checked with probes hygrometers etc. and i have a variety of food available from worms to flies to crickets. and a dripping system and a humidifier, and of course a mesh cage, min handling) and i also have been giving him showers by placinga rag down and a stick and vine on top of the rag and letting the water bonce off the sides of the tub for 15mins and letting him soak. but he won't drink. and he also couldn't eat yesterday. He tried and he hit one of the crickets and they never stuck and now today he fell. He also hasen't pooped much except for the second day i had him. I'm so worried please please someone help Rex! I don't think the vet knows what he's doing, but his fecal was clear of parasites and he said he appears to not be very dehydrated or anything of the sort. I'm just extermly worried though because he also likes to close his eyes during the day time even though he opens them immediately when i poke my head in, he is very aware of me and looks down, he is still shutting his eyes and he likes to explore the bottom of the cage alot and then when he goes up he fell!! any idea whats going on. please help!!! is this just a sign of exterm stress or something?

 

[JackP308]

id get him outside ASAP. Natural sun and plenty of mistings all day with hose or whatever. If he's still shooting and pooping, he still has life in him so that is very good. Sorry to hear the condition you got him in at least he's in good hands now.

Make sure he has plenty of coverage with plants or shade if possible, yet he's able to go in to open sun and bask.

 

[skittles1234]

ya i'm a lil upset at how i found him but i hoped that if i just brought him home and he was under the proper care he would begin to thrive again. i'm not gonna give up on the little guy. i'm taking him outside now.

 

[camimom]

can you take a pic of him?

Im sorry hes not feeling well.

 

[JackP308]

also dont place him high as where he could fall and hurt himself, just monitor him from a distance and make sure to give plenty of mist.

 

[skittles1234]

How should i prevent him from climbing up the screen tho? he keeps going up the screen after i removed most of the taller braches and plants. i placed a towel down that i'll have to change later cause its getting soaked. so at least if he falls he will land on something a lil more cushy then the plastic bottom. here is his pics of yesterday and then 2 from today.
Rex:

 

[JackP308]

he doesn't really look all that bad . Awesome coloring I love the yellows. I would actually put a lot of sticks and even the tall branches keep it cluttered so if he was to fall he can maybe land on another stick and so on. Since regardless he'll climb screen and eventually probably fall.


He looks good though, Id get him outside everyday hydrated well.


I dont know how familiar you are with Jacksons care but there is some good info on care on the chameleons online ezine just google that and should come up. I would link you but I usually end up with my threads deleted when trying to.

 

[skittles1234]

thats what the vet said. he looked like "a wonderful specimen" which i was like "he is my child thank you" in reply to. but it doesn't explain why he is still falling all over the place like he is a drunk!! unless he is sneeking out at night and going to some bar idk about then i assumed he was sick. I'm going to take your advice though. he's outside with my boyfriend right now after he got his shower. he's enjoying the rays. gonna go check on him. I'll post later and let cha kno if he's improving. I just don't want him to go downhill quick or something. I already love him to death, although everyone told me not to in case he did pass. I can't help it

 

[Action Jackson]

Although having a yellow Jackson's would be cool if I saw that Chameleon I would immediately think it had some major health issue due to it's coloration. Good advise give above. Let's hope he pulls through.

Has he been green at all? It's usually at that size they start getting pretty green.

 

[skittles1234]

He turns a lite pale green color mostly in the cage. then turns back to brown with yellow while he is basking on his branches. He isen't really a green color ever, even when i saw him for the month that they tourtured him the the store, he never really was green. the greenest i have seen him has been in my care and its been a pale green or a vibrant green with brown when i put him in the shower.

 

[KatCham]

Hi Hun

Could you fill out the how to ask for help form please

Just so we have all the facts x

Link in my signature

 

[skittles1234]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? male jackson estimated 6 moths 3 days in my care
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? haven't had him to long try to leave him alone. only hold him for picture and showers
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? feed him crickets and meal worms and fruit flies. gutload with carrots squash zucchnni etc. dust with calcium with d3
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? 1 a week and i use reptimin calcium d3 power with no phosphrus
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? havent seen him drink. misting 4-5 times daily for 5 mins a peice, dripper system and humidifier.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? pooed first day orange substance followed by normal poo with brown and white. no poo for yesterday or today yet.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. pet store owned him

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 40x20x20
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? repti sun 5.0 UVB tube light and reg house bulb in dome fixture 8am-8pm
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 85 max in basking spot, 70's at the bottom. night never drops below 70 and no lights on at night. i use a thermometer
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? huidifier and dripper and live plants. hygrometer
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? no traffic up on a high table on bricks to drian water.
Location - Where are you geographically located? florida

Current Problem - not eating or drinking, sleeping during day and falling. loose grip.

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi. Is there a reason the temps at night never drop below 70? I think he'd benefit from it getting to 60 degrees or even a bit lower at night.

Keep in mind that you've only had him a short while so, in addition to everything else, he's adjusting to his new environment. Typically we tell people not to worry about eating and pooping the first week. I understand that the concern is high because of his condition.

I think the towel on the floor of the cage is a good idea for now. If he continues to fall a lot, consider orienting the cage horizontally so he is physically unable to get very high off the ground. Obviously that would only be a temporary measure. It might not even be feasible with your plants.

 

[laurie]

As usual, i am offering different advice. Florida gets really hot. I would be very careful taking him outside. If he gets overheated you are not doing him any good. Also the moving him in and out is not allowing him time to acclimate well. The sun is wonderful for chams, but you need to consider the other needs of this cham.
I would put him in his cage with a lots of trees and branch support. i would cover part of his cage that faces where you usually are . Make sure he has plenty of water, with him seeing you mist his a little as possible. Mist without looking in at him all time. Put a good sized bowl in just 3 or 4 crickets in with him. Check to see if he eats.

When checking on him do as many thing at once as you can, so he isn't stressed further. But do check on him quickly a couple times a day.

Hope this helps.

 

[skittles1234]

i moved him further away from me in the room and up higher. the temps never below 70 because i hate air conditioning and i leave the window open alot. i'm gonna cover the front of the cage now and leave him be for awhile. i'll check on him later. and he has like three crickets in a bowl. i'll check him later. thank you all for the advice.

 

[Elizadolots]

Laurie, what do you think about the night time temps?

 

[JackP308]

Florida is hot with frequent rain and high humidity, properly providing an attiqutte environment would be in his best interest. Nobody said leave him out there to bake but yea ok.


You might be surprised on what natural environment can do on most likely a WC chameleon. The temps there are in low 80s upper 70s which I would be comfortable if properly watched or maintained.

 

[ph34r]

well you didnt give details on your humidity % and your cage type is it all glass ? because if i remember jacksons need higher humidity?but also good ventelation

 

[Solid Snake]

Have you any idea how he was supplemented before you received him?

It sounds like a supp issue to me.

He does not look well to me.

I would stop ALL supplements for now, especially D3.

Here is Jdog1027's video on jackson care.


Also, people care about the cham, but we all have lives and such.

If its not a supp issue, its infection or parasites of something that youll need a vet for.

You can have a culture done to see if its infection, a fecal done to see if its parasites, and blood work done to see if its a supplement issue.

Was he like this before you got him from the store?

Can you post pics of his setup?

 

[Solid Snake]

Are there any lights on at nite that could be keeping him awake?