Seizure?

D

dork17

New Member
My chameleon is in the middle of shedding for the 2nd time.
1st time went well, no problems at all.
This time on the other hand, I woke up to find her head and tail starting.. But she was on the ground of the tank, just laying there.
Worried, I picked her up and put her on her vine relatively close to the light and turned it on, left her alone.
Went back to check and she was on the ground again.. I reached in to pick her up and she hissed and lunged for me.. Then she fell over started shaking and her mouth started to slowly open and half stuck her tongue out..
It looked like she had no control over any movement, similar to a seizure almost.. Any one have any ideas?
 
i've never heard of this, but i'm new to chameleons. i'm waiting to see what anybody says, i'm very interested. that sounds so scarey :confused:


EDIT: i was thinking about it. that kind of sounds like some type of poisoning. did any feeders eat tomato leaves or anything?

*i'll keep racking my brain for ideas.
 
If you could fill this out it would be very helpful...

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
* Location - 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?


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.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
 
Glass with screen lid and doors on the front..
8.0 UVB and 150w heat lamp..
No live plants..
Cage is in my room, low traffic
Veiled, female, 8months.
Not handled too often.
Feeding her superworms, crickets.. (feeding them fluckers cricket feed and cricket quencher)..
I have a multivitamin and calcium with vitamin D supplements.
Poop looks healthy.
 
I am no veiled expert, but at 8 months can she be ready to lay eggs? Maybe this is why she was on the ground? Maybe include a bucket and some digging material that she can dig in to lay her eggs. You can use damp sand to use at least 12" deep so she can dig a tunnel to lay her eggs in. If this is the case that she does need to lay eggs, than you will have to leave her alone for a while. Cover her cage with a blanket, if she does not feel secure she won't lay her eggs and will get egg binding, no fun to deal with. Make sure she also has alot of drinking water.

Some pictures would help of your cham to see if she is showing her gravid colours or not.
 
Here's pictures of her enclosure, took these today with my phone..
She's still shedding and her heat lamp has a dimmer..
I don't have it THAT hot for a 150w..
She hasn't 'seizured' today, but I'm still worried about her :(

0513091051.jpg


0513091052.jpg


0513091052a.jpg
 
Dude she looks dehydrated, her eyes are sunken in, get some water in there ASAP.

Lose the substrate at the bottom of the cage it is not required.

A 150W bulb in a glass cage is way too much...lose the bulb and go lower, you can keep a cham warm with just a 60watt house hold bulb (depending on living location). At most you should only have a 75 watt bulb in there, glass holds heat well.

The cage looks a little bit too small for the cham, you may need to consider upgrading to something that is taller, they need height more than width and depth. Also get a few more plants in there, she needs more climbing stuff and hiding areas, they don't really like to be seen.

You can make a cheap drip system for you cham by poking a hole through a bottom of a plastic container, make sure the water drips off the leaves so it has movement, they only drink moving water. Now your problem here will be drainage. With a glass cage you will have to keep the water out of the cage so it does not become stagnant and a breeding ground for bacteria.

Please don't take this post as me chewing you out, this is not the case, I just want to see you succeed and your cham to be healthy and happy. Good luck.:D
 
dork17 said:
Here's pictures of her enclosure, took these today with my phone..
She's still shedding and her heat lamp has a dimmer..
I don't have it THAT hot for a 150w..
She hasn't 'seizured' today, but I'm still worried about her :(
Click to expand...

I have a solid tank with glass front (UK) and I only use a 40w bulb on an adult. How do you know what temperatures it's reaching - are you measuring these? With what? I just found that my cham when he was abit younger was very temperamental with the heat, and if it went over 30.5C he would get too hot. If you had more plants in there that may help provide some shade
 
150 Watts? Please tell me it is not sitting on top of the enclosure-I cannot see the picture from the computer I am at. This does not sound good. Please get a good temp reading. What kind of thermometer do you have?
 
That enclosure is too stuffy for her. She needs a screened enclosure and live plants. An actual live plant to climb in and hide from the UVA/B if she so chooses. I imagine she hisses because you are putting her where she doesn't want to be. And the more she falls, the more chances of injury.

The substrate has to go. It's okay for some species, but for a veiled, definitely not necessary. But when she is ready to lay eggs, you can provide a laying bucket. I suggest to add a live plant to that as well. Often they lay at the root ball.

Please change her enclosure immediately and don't use substrate. She needs relief.

So based on the fact she was shaking unexplicably, I would say she needs to see a vet right away. I cannot emphasize how important it is to be established with a vet when you get into keeping chameleons.

So just quickly, here's what I suggest (caps are not yelling, just showing what I'm suggesting):

Glass with screen lid and doors on the front.. CHANGE ENCLOSURE
8.0 UVB and 150w heat lamp.. 5.0 REPTISUN AND A MUCH LOWER INCANDESCENT BASKING BULB.
No live plants.. USE LIVE PLANT THAT WILL GROW AND FILL IN THE CAGE
Cage is in my room, low traffic GOOD
Veiled, female, 8months.
Not handled too often. GOOD
Feeding her superworms, crickets.. (feeding them fluckers cricket feed and cricket quencher).. MORE VARIETY AND HOPEFULLY YOU ARE RESTRICTING DIET AND NOT OVERFEEDING
I have a multivitamin and calcium with vitamin D supplements. PERSONALLY I DON'T ADD D3 BUT MY CHAMS GET NATURAL SUN REGULARLY
Poop looks healthy. GOOD

I hope others can help you through this. But no one can fix the symptoms she's having. A vet should be consulted today. In my experience, a vet consult is about $65 for exam plus whatever medications you need. Could be about $100 to get what you need. Good luck.
 
Although there are husbandry issues that have already been suggested, I think your chameleon needs to see a vet.

You don't say WHAT BRANDS the supplements are or how often you use each.
 
So! the other day I went out and bought a 38 gallon, screen 'flexarium'.
No longer using substrate.
I can only find the repti-glo bulbs :\ and I lowered wattage of basking bulb.
What are your suggestions for live plants? What kinds should I look for?
I also made a 'make-shift' dripper that sits above the plants in the corners.. Speaking of which i added way more plants and got a good twisty stick.
As for brands..
Rep-Cal - multivitamin
Fluckers - calcium with D3
bugs dusted twice a week.
 
Unfortunately, I haven't seen a vet but plan to when I get paid.. She hasn't had another seizure episode.. But, shes still a little more jittery/shaky when shes walking around.. I don't know if that's because her flaking skin is still coming off and its uncomfortable or if shes still unwell.
 
dork17 said:
So! the other day I went out and bought a 38 gallon, screen 'flexarium'.
No longer using substrate.
I can only find the repti-glo bulbs :\ and I lowered wattage of basking bulb.
What are your suggestions for live plants? What kinds should I look for?
I also made a 'make-shift' dripper that sits above the plants in the corners.. Speaking of which i added way more plants and got a good twisty stick.
As for brands..
Rep-Cal - multivitamin
Fluckers - calcium with D3
bugs dusted twice a week.
Click to expand...

If I missed it I apologize but do you live somewhere where you can get sun? I use calcium without D3. Order your UV light tubes from someone online. Get a Ficus benjamina, they're easy to find.

How is your chameleon doing? Any improvements or have you seen any other signs of problems?
 
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