Rescue in bad shape NEED INPUT
- Thread starter jclaiborne
- Start date
jclaiborne
New Member
Thank you! he really is a cool little guy. I will keep updates comming as I see changes.
jclaiborne
New Member
Today was a pretty good day for the lil guy...he has started slowly eating dubias, rubbed some stuck shed loose from his eye turret and decided to pop some blues
littlepinkpwnie
New Member
Are there any updates on this little guy? Hope he's doing well!!
jclaiborne
New Member
sorry its been a while since ive posted an update. It has been a lil rocky. He is still eatung and gaining strength. his colors are poping but he pushed his hemipenes completely out
. i have been keeping them lubed with KY as well as daily soakings in sugar water but he still hasnt pulled them back in. I spoke with our herp vet and he said at this stage its really a toss up. He is worried that stressing his body by removing them might kill him because he isnt strong enough yet to handle it, but if they dry up it could kill him as well. I really dont know what to do at this point. Does anyone have any input or opinions? This poor lil guy is such a fighter...
Lovereps
Avid Member
I think that what you are doing for him now is the best course of action.
He appeared to have been "at death's door" when you adopted him, and even the vet thought he was a goner at times.
Some feeders are said to contain substances which aid in healing, such as silkworms and Phoenixworms, so you might add those to his diet if they aren't there already.
Are you gutloading the feeders?
Gutloading provides maximum nutrition because the feeders are packed to the max with vitamins and minerals when you do so.
Here are some tips for doing that https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/
In any case, I and plenty of others, am rooting for him.
You've done a fine job thus far, so try not to lose hope
He appeared to have been "at death's door" when you adopted him, and even the vet thought he was a goner at times.
Some feeders are said to contain substances which aid in healing, such as silkworms and Phoenixworms, so you might add those to his diet if they aren't there already.
Are you gutloading the feeders?
Gutloading provides maximum nutrition because the feeders are packed to the max with vitamins and minerals when you do so.
Here are some tips for doing that https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/
In any case, I and plenty of others, am rooting for him.
You've done a fine job thus far, so try not to lose hope
jclaiborne
New Member
We do gut load the feeders...i have ordered some silkworms...hopefully he bounces back...thank you foe the link
Chameleon Creator
New Member
Good job on rescuing him, he was in very bad shape, looks healthy now. I can't tell you what to do with the hemipenis as I've never experienced this first hand, but I would wait until he is at full health to preform surgery. See what your vet thinks
jclaiborne
New Member
It seem like a catch 22 at this point. The vet thinks an invasive surgery will probably kill him, but if the hemipenes completely dry out that could kill him as well. He said there have been cases where the hemipenes have fallen off on their own after drying up and the lizards have lived. But that isnt a guarantee.
jclaiborne
New Member
Well its been a while since ive been on here, had to deal with some family issues but somehow this lil guy is still kicking, not necessarilly improving but not getting any worse. His hemipenes are back in. The vet is at a loss he said he has never seen a cham bounce back like this...he hasnt grown any and we still are having to feed him with tweezers (he wont use his tongue) and use a water dropper to hydrate him. So we will keep going as long as he does.
Lovereps
Avid Member
You are truly a good person! (Sorry to hear you've had some family issues.)
I'm glad to know that he has made such wonderful progress while in your good hands.
It isn't that he won't use his tongue, it's that he can't use his tongue.
It happens when a cham suffers from malnutrition because there are a number of minerals and vitamins which are necessary for the cham to able to control his muscles--the tongue and its "shooting" mechanism being muscles.
You can read some more about it here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/232-tongue-well-troubles.html
Chams do heal and recover from illnesses rather slowly.
The fact that he is still alive is a credit to you and your vet's amazement at the healing should tell you just how rarely such a degree of progress occurs.
Obviously, all these things that you are doing are healing him.
I'm a fan of Phoenix Worms' nutrition and maybe you'll want to add them to his already vastly improved diet.
You can buy Phoenix Worms in bulk at a savings if you buy from the breeder, The Phoenix Worm Store.
Hopefully there have been at least a few days where he has been able to bask outdoors.
I swear that it gives chams a psychological boost in addition to the well-documented benefit of the cham's body producing the right amount of its own
D3.
Thanks so much for continuing to keep the forum informed about his condition.
I'm glad to know that he has made such wonderful progress while in your good hands.
It isn't that he won't use his tongue, it's that he can't use his tongue.
It happens when a cham suffers from malnutrition because there are a number of minerals and vitamins which are necessary for the cham to able to control his muscles--the tongue and its "shooting" mechanism being muscles.
You can read some more about it here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/232-tongue-well-troubles.html
Chams do heal and recover from illnesses rather slowly.
The fact that he is still alive is a credit to you and your vet's amazement at the healing should tell you just how rarely such a degree of progress occurs.
Obviously, all these things that you are doing are healing him.
I'm a fan of Phoenix Worms' nutrition and maybe you'll want to add them to his already vastly improved diet.
You can buy Phoenix Worms in bulk at a savings if you buy from the breeder, The Phoenix Worm Store.
Hopefully there have been at least a few days where he has been able to bask outdoors.
I swear that it gives chams a psychological boost in addition to the well-documented benefit of the cham's body producing the right amount of its own
D3.
Thanks so much for continuing to keep the forum informed about his condition.
Maximillion
Member
Hi
I am brand new at this but I had the same problem with Max afraid he would fall.
So I put him in a long but rather shallow fish tank, lined the bottom with doggy pee pads very durable yet soft and cushy put in a small flat log and a bamboo stick covered in fake ivy that reaches the entire length of the tank. He started with just one foot hanging on and now after about a month he is up to climbing to the top. He did fall a time or two but for the most part he himself knew when it was safe to climb. He stayed on the bottom until he was comfortable with climbing...I know I have little knowledge but I have the experience of a very scared mom....You are truly amazing for all you are doing for that beautiful creature...
I am brand new at this but I had the same problem with Max afraid he would fall.
So I put him in a long but rather shallow fish tank, lined the bottom with doggy pee pads very durable yet soft and cushy put in a small flat log and a bamboo stick covered in fake ivy that reaches the entire length of the tank. He started with just one foot hanging on and now after about a month he is up to climbing to the top. He did fall a time or two but for the most part he himself knew when it was safe to climb. He stayed on the bottom until he was comfortable with climbing...I know I have little knowledge but I have the experience of a very scared mom....You are truly amazing for all you are doing for that beautiful creature...
Maximillion
Member
Hi
I am brand new at this but I had the same problem with Max afraid he would fall.
So I put him in a long but rather shallow fish tank, lined the bottom with doggy pee pads very durable yet soft and cushy put in a small flat log and a bamboo stick covered in fake ivy that reaches the entire length of the tank. He started with just one foot hanging on and now after about a month he is up to climbing to the top. He did fall a time or two but for the most part he himself knew when it was safe to climb. He stayed on the bottom until he was comfortable with climbing...I know I have little knowledge but I have the experience of a very scared mom....You are truly amazing for all you are doing for that beautiful creature...
I am brand new at this but I had the same problem with Max afraid he would fall.
So I put him in a long but rather shallow fish tank, lined the bottom with doggy pee pads very durable yet soft and cushy put in a small flat log and a bamboo stick covered in fake ivy that reaches the entire length of the tank. He started with just one foot hanging on and now after about a month he is up to climbing to the top. He did fall a time or two but for the most part he himself knew when it was safe to climb. He stayed on the bottom until he was comfortable with climbing...I know I have little knowledge but I have the experience of a very scared mom....You are truly amazing for all you are doing for that beautiful creature...
