Respiratory Issues ?

adambentz

New Member
Hey all,

I am new to the forum and just received my first panther in the mail 2 weeks ago. He's a 3 and a half month old male Ambilobe from Epic Chameleons.

He's been closing one eye on and off for over a week now, he has taken food the whole time. Thinking he had respiratory issues I brought him to a very good exotic animal vet recently. The location just happens to be 5 min from my place. He had no signs of respiratory problems so I was sent home with saline eye drops to be used twice daily applying 2 drops for 10 days. His eye seems to be making small improvements but its hard to tell. He is now opening his mouth on and off only while basking and I have read that this can be another possible sign of respiratory problems. I am considering taking him back in to get a throat and mouth culture but don't want to put him through any more unnecessary stress for obvious reasons...

In addition I haven't seen him drink more than twice in two weeks I've had him. I constantly see him licking branches like he is searching for water but he never seems to recognize the drip or puddles on the leaves. His waste has a white tip and not a yellow one. He is in a 16 x 16 x 36 inch Reptibreeze with many live plants, vines and branches criss crossing his environment. All plants are safe to Chameleons and no soil is exposed to him. I have been heavily misting down his cage several times a day with fresh non ionized bulk water from my local natural foods store. I am avoiding to spray him directly I also give him a drip cup daily. Humidity is between 30-40 percent in his basking spot when the upper area of the enclosure is dried out, and is between 50 and 65 percent in the mid to low range. He spends most of his time basking. I have a 60 watt house bulb for basking a T-5 Reptisun 5.0 for UVA and UVB exposure and a T-5 plant bulb for those tricky plants and orchids. His basking spot is about 90 degrees at the Very Highest Point with varying branch elevations below for temperature regulation. The mid to lower range is 70 to 75 day time and low 60's at night time. He eats 10 to 15 insects a day mostly crickets and silk worms, I just got a dubia colony so he's had quite a few roaches recently. I dust crickets with repashy calcium powder daily as recommended by the breeder. I have also brought him out to bask several times and plan to bring him out as much as possible.


Thanks so much for any expert advice much appreciated!!

Adam
 
Hi there! If your chameleon is only gaping(mouth open) while basking, then this is most likely not a respiratory issue and rather that your chameleon is hot while basking and is trying to thermoregulate his body temp. I would get a lesser wattage basking bulb and lower the temp some and see if that does not help. Some chameleons don't drink from the mist and some will. Also, it can take several minutes of misting for it to stimulate them to drink, so if you are not misting very long, that could be part of the problem. You said you are also providing a dripper which is great. Some people never see their chameleons drink. I am also convinced they just do not drink everyday. If the urate is white, then I would not worry about it.
 
Thank you so much!

I was about to take him in again tomorrow. I will lower the wattage and see if that stops the mouth gaping. I'll also try misting Longer than I have been to see if that helps with the drinking.


Much appreciated!!

Adam
 
Adam, I agree that it sounds like the basking temp is too high. As for the drinking, I have 2 panther chameleons that will NOT drink if I am in the room. I have NEVER seen either of them drink, yet I know they are because their urates are nice and white. I would not worry about not seeing him drink. Just keep an eye on those urates. If they are yellow or orange, give him longer mistings or add a dripper.
 
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