ROOKIE; looking for some advice and guidance

[liss]

Hi, I have recently become the PROUD owner of (what started off as, two) senegal chameleons. I am convinced now that the "female" I bought from the pet store was ill and that's why she died the day after she got home. She had sunken eyes and no appetite.

Lennon "the male" has been doing fine, I think.

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Large screened terrarium (approx. 3ft. high 2ft. wide ~ will provide exact measurements if neccesary at a later time)

* Lighting - 60x9x20cm compact fluorescent terarium canopy (exo terra) with 3 26w compact fluorescent bulbs and a (r-zilla) relfector dome basking lamp with a 150w bulb

* Temperature - the temperature ranges from 83 in basking area to 75 in the bottom. these temps are measured and regulated with exo terra thermometer
humidity is measured and maintained the same way.

* Plants - I am using hibiscus and a money tree as well as some fake plants for climbing.

* Location - the cage is located in my bedroom, low traffic no drafts or breezes. the top of the terrarium is approx. 8-9ft above the floor.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - the sex is supposedly a male (but, i'm not sure) I am completely clueless to the age and "he's" been in my care for almost two weeks.

* Handling - I don't really, but if I had to put a number to it, less then once every 4 days for just a few minutes.

* Feeding - small crickets, butter worms.

* Supplements - Rep-cal Phosphorus-free calcium with vit.d3 on all crickets and once a week i dust with rep-cal herptivite with beta carotine multi-vitamins.

* Watering - I have been using a dripper, I mist two to three times a day.Yes I see "him" drink.

* Fecal Description - for the most part it is solid dark brown with a white chunk.

* History - unkown

* Current Problem - When I got him, he was a consistant dark muddy colour. Since, he has more so become either very light green or almost white. Actually more so white lately. He's also been favouring his left eye by keeping it shut. Does this have to do with the lighting? Not too sure I've seen him eat any crickets since he's been this white colour, but he's still active and clings to his vines fine.

 

[veiledchamguy]

Get rid of that compact and get yourself a repisun 5.0

compacts cause eye issues

 

[veiledchamguy]

Here ya go

 

[liss]

thanks, i've just been reading all about that. i hope i'm not too late. do you think his colour has anything to do with these lights? does anybody know the long term effects of these lights? do their eyes heal once the lights have been switched? or is this a permanent issue now?

 

[Dunnigan]

thanks, i've just been reading all about that. i hope i'm not too late. do you think his colour has anything to do with these lights? does anybody know the long term effects of these lights? do their eyes heal once the lights have been switched? or is this a permanent issue now?

The whole CFL thing seems to be up in the air now. I have heard from some people that it does harm heir eyes and from others that it doesn't. I my self noticed my guy doing some weird things with his eye (i previously used a CFL) and just switched over to a tube and he appears to be fine...

Where to draw the line...

 

[veiledchamguy]

thanks, i've just been reading all about that. i hope i'm not too late. do you think his colour has anything to do with these lights?

Im sure he will be just fine just make sure you get rid of that gnarly compact ASAP..

As far as his skin colour goes probably the transition between homes and just adjusting to his new enviro other then that just keep up on the watering and his feeding/supplement schedule and you should do just fine

 

[liss]

here's his house

 

[kinyonga]

Its important to make sure Senegals drink well.

I always dust with a phos.-free calcium powder at most feedings and only use the one with the D3 twice a month.

Are his lips always separated a little bit at the tip when his mouth is closed?

 

[liss]

.

Are his lips always separated a little bit at the tip when his mouth is closed?

they are not always as separated as they are in that pic, he snapped at the camera; however, they are a little usually like he's puckering up for a smooch. is this a bad thing?

 

[Sang]

hmm, it looks like you got a money tree in your enclosure, i believe that is toxic, its the one that is braided.... thats not schefflera..

 

[Kat77]

Sang is right, that does look like a Money tree. I would switch it out with a ficus or a scheffelera as soon as you can. Additionally, those compacts really do have to go. I realize that some people are saying that they may not be harmful but there are just too many who have had trouble associated with them for comfort. I believe they emit UVCs that are harmful to a chameleon's eyes. So yes, his eye issues could be caused by the lighting, but if you get rid of them now, it shouldn't be too late to reverse.
The D3 should only be used once or twice a month, and the reptivite the same. A regular calcuim supplement (such as Minerall 0) can be used nearly daily. I usually give my chameleons a day or two off of supplementation per week all together, depending on which supplements they got that week.
You also need to be sure that you are gutloading your crickets really well. This is where your chameleon will get 95% of his nutrition.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sang is right, that does look like a Money tree. I would switch it out with a ficus or a scheffelera as soon as you can. Additionally, those compacts really do have to go. I realize that some people are saying that they may not be harmful but there are just too many who have had trouble associated with them for comfort. I believe they emit UVCs that are harmful to a chameleon's eyes. So yes, his eye issues could be caused by the lighting, but if you get rid of them now, it shouldn't be too late to reverse.
The D3 should only be used once or twice a month, and the reptivite the same. A regular calcuim supplement (such as Minerall 0) can be used nearly daily. I usually give my chameleons a day or two off of supplementation per week all together, depending on which supplements they got that week.
You also need to be sure that you are gutloading your crickets really well. This is where your chameleon will get 95% of his nutrition.

Agreed. CFLs might not now be as big of an issue as initially thought - by why risk it? Switch as soon as you can to a ReptiSun linear tube as they are KNOWN to be good. Make sure "he" gets PLENTY of water. If your temp/humidity guage is analog needle type, consider a quality digital for more accurate readings. Reduce the use of D3; for most days get a calciumsupplment that doesnt contain D3

 

[liss]

thanks for your advice everybody, i really appreciate it. money tree gone and looking for a supplement without d3 for the daily.

being so new at this stuff is kind of tough because everybody's got a different opinion of how things should be done and they're all so contradictory.

 

[Sang]

YAH THAT money tree, it is good that you got rid of it, for the most part CFL are not the best thing you can use, the tubular reptisuns 5.0 are SO much better for your animals.

also you'd be suprised were you can find a nice 4' ficus benjamina. frys food and drug in the floral section sometimes has em.

 

[liss]

Ok. I can't lie, I am such a "hands on" pet owner. I was reading that chameleons like when you take them into your bathroom and run a warm shower, keeping them in your hand let them enjoy the warmth and mist. So, I did.
HE LOVES IT!!!! He will stay in my hand (I have it half way cupped and he chills in there) for a while afterward too, then when I put him back in his "house" he has a few crickets and it's off to bask for a bit. I do this almost every other day. It's a bonding experience and I'm glad that he likes it too, I was worried because I had read they don't like to be handled. Now, when I go to grab him out he doesn't seem to mind and he doesn't try to get away. Although, he still doesn't like the camera, LOL!!

Also, since doing this and changing the lighting, he's been using his "favoured" eye again and I only see him itching it ocasionally. woo hoo

 

[nicolie85]

Watch out for that lip pucker! My male veiled developed a pucker just after I took him to the vet for MBD. On my next trip to the vet, I found out he had mouth rot and a bad case of it too. Months later, his mouth is still a bit puckered but thanks to medication is no longer infected. You might want to take him to the vet and get his mouth looked at ASAP.

 

[liss]

thx, I have had a stool sample sent to the nearest exotic vet and have also sent him pictures. I don't want to stress him out, it is a long haul, taking him in for no reason. I will hear back from the vet soon and if he says to bring him in, i will.

 

[Shimpy45]

here's his house

YA i made that mistake luckly the guys here helped me out but ya all them compact coil UVB light got to go the reason for him probly fav. his one eye shut is bc from what i hear and read here they couse blindness within a few days if your not carfull so ya get them out of there ASAP

 

[kinyonga]

Can you post another couple of pictures of its lips please?

 

[Bio123]

Shrimpy45 is right. Use a reptisun 5.0 linear tube light. Also, as I have discussed in my previous posts, don't buy a ficus plant, if you want to be on the safe side. Ficus plants can cause chameleons to start salivating due to the sap. The sap causes your chameleon to become dehydrated. Also, ficus sap is known to cause blindness in chameleons. Try a less expensive, yet more effective plant, like an umbrella plant.