Popeye

[Kate]

My 18 month old Ampiskiana chameleon has lost his vibrant colour over last 3 months. His viv became very unstable then when his ceramic bulb fused. In order to get correct temp I turned up his thermostat and it took weeks to stabilise the temp. If that wasn't bad enough his lucky reptile super rain died so I bought a exoterra monsoon which proved to be tempremental timer wise. During this time he climed up to the mesh under the ceramic and sustained two small thermal burns. These burns are being treated by subcutaneous Baytral and twice daily application of Flamazine. His viv has been stable for the last 6 weeks. Am I being impatient or should I be seeing an improvement in him colour wise or will this take time? He is eating well and drinking. Since treatment started he I'd moving about his viv much more.Anybody got any ideas?

 

[reptilover]

The how to ask for help form would help and pictures!
As far as should he be better by now I have no experience.but someone should be along shortly that will help.

Welcome to the forum

 

[ChamFreak]

Ya I would fill out the form and show us some pics of your cham and setup.

Once we see them we can fix the kinks and someone that has delt with burns can advise. If he was burned badly I would think it could have damaged the skin where the pigments wont show

Not sure, the faster u get pics and fill the form out we can see

 

[Elizadolots]

Is it possible he's working up to a shed? They'll sometimes get a dull look when they are close to shedding.

I agree with filling out the form and posting pictures. A couple of good pictures often tells more than 3 or 4 posted explanations.

 

[Kate]

Ok.how do I fill in ask for help form?

 

[Kate]

Sorry for delay. Not paticularly computer literate. Trying to post pics but have failed. Can send via email!
Popeye is 14months old, had him since 4 months. He is in a wooden viv with glass doors at front And wire mesh on top. It measures 4ft by 3ft by 2 ft. It contains lots of vines artificial leaves and a large live ficus plant. It also contains a polystyrene waterfall.
Heating is by heat pad in hot side and ceramic on top of mesh top. Temp at basking side between 28c and 30c. On cool side around 25c and 26c.
Humidity by mist king using 2 nozzles going off 4 times a day for 1 min. This gives me max humidity of 90. dropping to 40 at its lowest. I have seen him drink droplets from leaves.
Feeding is 4-6 gut loaded large locusts dusted with calcidust every 2 nd feed and nutrabol once a week.
Just had result of poo sample and collecting pancur today.
He is on coco brick substrate.
He enjoys being handled and readily comes out on my hand. Have had him outside in sun breifly this last week. Live in Aberdeen Scotland.
His small burns are being treated by vet and he is moving about more. He has lost most of his reds and yellow and remains various shades of green. He shed last week.

 

[mychamtini112012]

First off, welcome to CF!! This is a great place to learn and find out everything you'd possibly need to know about chameleons.

The waterfall shouldn't be in there. It is a haven for bacteria. The heat pad is also not needed. They can't tell how hot it is and can easily burn. You have a basking bulb, right.? If so and its not hot enough, go up some wattage. Do you have a uvb bulb.? You'll need a good uvb bulb so he wont get MBD. No substrate either, just bare floors. Substrate can be eaten if the food gets on the floor, thus causing impaction. These are a few things I saw, but I don't think they'd change his color. Did his color change before or after a shed.?

 

[Kate]

Thanks for that. Yes i have a 100w exoterra ceramic heat emitter with shade and cage. He has t5 arcadia uv. His colour changed 3 months ago when the ceramic fused and the super rain died. His viv was unstable few several weeks during which he sustained two small thermal burns to his belly as thermostat was too high. Viv has been stable for a few weeks now. This being the case i thought his colour would have improved by now. his weight is 160g.

 

[camimom]

can you post a photo of him and his enclosure please?


and can i ask why you are using a ceramic heat emitter instead of a basking bulb?

 

[Kate]

Hi Camimom. Don't know why. This is the setup that was advised by reptile shop. When i think about it this may be something thats missing. What would you advise? His basking spot is lit by t5 uv and heated by heat emitter.
Have tried to send photos but it asks for url. Can i send them to an email as i can do it from my phone. We have very few reptile experts here and no reptile vets. the vet i am using does have some knowledge and has access to help from vet school in Edinpurgh.

 

[camimom]

Hi Camimom. Don't know why. This is the setup that was advised by reptile shop. When i think about it this may be something thats missing. What would you advise? His basking spot is lit by t5 uv and heated by heat emitter.
Have tried to send photos but it asks for url. Can i send them to an email as i can do it from my phone. We have very few reptile experts here and no reptile vets. the vet i am using does have some knowledge and has access to help from vet school in Edinpurgh.

he needs a basking light, this could explain why hes not feeling so well.

get a regular house bulb, 50-75 watt, and play around with placement and wattages until you find the right temp for him.

take photos of him and his enclosure, and you can email them to me.

[email protected]

 

[Kate]

Thanks Camimom. Antibiotics finished this week and had first worming dose on Wednesday. Last night when sleeping his tail had red banding, the first time in weeks. He is showing yellow under chin and some red today. Basking light should arrive tomorrow .