PNW_Cham
Member
Hello! I know chameleons have some of the most advanced eyes on the planet, but can their eyesight begin to degrade with age? I've noticed that my chameleon Marlo (male ambanja panther) is shooting his tongue off-target lately. I hand feed (and hand water) him nowadays and I am having to hold his bugs in closer to him than I used to because he can't seem to shoot his tongue as far as he used to. So I am holding the roach about 6 inches from him now. He will shoot his tongue out enthusiastically but he is shooting it about 1/2-3/4 of an inch to the left of where he needs to and completely missing the bug. This is a relatively new development, just in the last month. Once he misses, he will regroup and then extend his tongue out of his mouth more slowly, less enthusiastically, and I will place the roach on his tongue for him and he will munch away happily. He is still washing his eyes like normal and I see no sign of infection. I guess it also might be his tongue instead of his eyes. I'm definitely feeling a bit sad by this new development though I'm happy he's still eating fine and I don't mind hand feeding him.
He will be 8 years old in December. He seems healthy otherwise, has a solid grip still, and moves around his enclosure without trouble. I have added more plants to the base of his enclosure though, and made other senior-friendly adjustments...
He will be 8 years old in December. He seems healthy otherwise, has a solid grip still, and moves around his enclosure without trouble. I have added more plants to the base of his enclosure though, and made other senior-friendly adjustments...
