Rango’s Casque

[Rango_TheManEater]

On one of my forums, I was told that Rango’s casque looked a bit sunken. (He’s a Veiled Cham)

Maybe it’s because he has MBD, or maybe it’s not sunken at all? Either way, it’s stuck in my mind and I can’t help but feel a bit concerned.

(Yes, he has been eating all of his calcium only-dusted worms, twice daily. He eats 2–4 in one sitting, depending on how hungry he is. Alternatively, I will also feed him crickets. These are also calcium-dusted.)

The last picture was taken on the day that I brought him home, if it helps!

 

[LizardLurkin]

I can't answer your question, but he looks like pretty autumn leaves in the first two images. I've never seen a veiled so orangey and brown like that.

 

[ehdee6]

Those are some intense orange colors! ... Jinx @LizardLurkin

Are you able to show a picture of your full enclosure? Vailed Chameleons eat their plants. I caught my little female completely mowing down, full smorgasbord, between her ficus and pothos today. That's why we worry about fake plants.

Have you filled out the husbandry questions? (Below?)

He might be deflating himself as a way of being scared. Do you have any other current pictures of him? He looked a healthy weight in your find him picture.

Extra recent pictures will be super helpful too.

Questions...

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.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[Rango_TheManEater]

Those are some intense orange colors! ... Jinx @LizardLurkin

Are you able to show a picture of your full enclosure? Vailed Chameleons eat their plants. I caught my little female completely mowing down, full smorgasbord, between her ficus and pothos today. That's why we worry about fake plants.

Have you filled out the husbandry questions? (Below?)

He might be deflating himself as a way of being scared. Do you have any other current pictures of him? He looked a healthy weight in your find him picture.

Extra recent pictures will be super helpful too.

Questions...

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.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

I haven’t filled those out, but I’ll get to it now! Rango’s enclosure is temporary until I can afford a taller one (which should be very soon), so please excuse the lack of height.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? / Rango is a male veiled chameleon. He’s been in my care for about a month now
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? / Twice daily!
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? / Rango eats (medium) super worms, always dusted in calcium-only powder. 2–4 at a time. I usually feed him at 11 AM, and then again at 5-6 PM. I gut load via a blend of approved vegetables/fruits, etc from the image below. I also feed him crickets, which will be put into a feeder if he doesn’t eat from me.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? / At the moment, I feed every worm of his with calcium dusted on top. I’m working on using Reptivite as well (twice monthly).
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? / I hand-mist Rango’s tank twice a day, once before his light comes on and once when it turns off. I never see him drink, but his urates are eggshell-white.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? / No, he has not been tested. I don’t see dropping often, but the ones that I do appear healthy (urates, as previously stated, are healthily colored!)
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. / I bought him from Petco, and immediately recognized his elbows were wonky. Poor little man has MBD

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? / Glass with a screen top. It’s an old snake tank and, as previously mentioned, will be replaced fairly soon!
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? / Zoomed, I think? I have two UVB lights (because I do not have a long light), as well as a basking lamp in the corner. The UVB lights, as far as I remember, are 60 watt. One is a daylight blue stimulation, and the other assists his MBD (I have forgotten what exact light it is)
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? / I have two stick-on temperature thinggies on the side of his tank. Rango’s temperatures gradient from 70 (cold spot) to 85 (basking). The lowest overnight temp would be around 64/65.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? / Humidity is 20-30% at day, 80-100% at night. I create these levels by watering his enclosure properly if the level needs raised, although I’m not too sure about how I can lower it. I have two humidity monitors on the side of his tank (inside).
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? / Pothos and English Ivy. There are small clusters of (non-toxic) fake plants, but I try not to add too much in case Rango is drawn to them.
• 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? / Rango’s cage sits on top of my old desk, I would say 2-3 feet off of the ground. Yes, there is a fan on the lid of his tank, but it’s to lower his temps at night and is never pointing directly into the cage. He’s in my bedroom, so there’s not much traffic here.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? / Iowa! It’s not very tropical here, unfortunately, but I try to make it work.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. / Rango’s casque

Any further advice or questions are welcome

 

[BleuSaphir]

Entirely change the UVB fixtures for T5.

 

[nightanole]

Entirely change the UVB fixtures for T5.

There is an issue with this. Rango is in a fish tank. If they install a T5HO its going to be way too much.

On the other hand Rango is getting a cage makeover soon. And then boom they can switch to T5


But Rango does have MBD, or had it in the past. So thats why his casque looks the way it does. I mean just look at the front legs, hes got two elbows, so the bones were broke or highly deformed. Maybe the bones are now up to snuff thanks to OP, but they dont straighten just because you correct the lighting/calcium/D3 issues.

Plus OP has only had Rango for a month.