Should I be worried

[cns2782]

Hi, I am new here and new with my chameleon. The breeder I got her from wont contact me so I thought maybe you could help. I have a juvenille female veiled and she has been doing very well. Today when I came home she was "sitting" in the collector for her dripper. She was submerged up to the top of her hips with the rest of her body resting on a limb beside of it. The dish is only an inch deep at its deepest spot and she has never done this before. She has grown since I got her two weeks ago and eating about ten CA dusted Crickets a day. So is this something that just happened at the moment? or something I should be worried about? Thanks,

Charlie

 

[sandrachameleon]

You could cover the dish with screen if you're worried about her
but if she can get in and out its not a big deal in my opinion
maybe she was hot
maybe she likes water
maybe she was walking along the edge and slipped.

 

[cns2782]

Okay. She looked like she had her eyes closed like she was asleep. I hope I am just over reacting. She has had normal feces and moving around a lot earlier today.

 

[Chase]

Like Sandra said, there is different possibilities. If she's been acting normal, she might be fine. Although, in snakes, if they are in the water a lot of the day, for several days in a row, it is possible that the snake has mites because that's a self treatment for snakes. I don't think that is it, but does anyone think the Chameleon might try that?

 

[OntarioLizardman]

hm... interesting case, could just be normal.. (wanting to soak, thirsty,cool-down) hope everything works out.

 

[cns2782]

Okay so I looked at her again just now with her night light on and she is sleeping in the same spot but is hanging upside down? Again im new and she has never done this before either. Am I doing something wrong? and should I take her to the vet tomorrow morning?

 

[Syreptyon]

You shouldnt have any light on her at night. Please fill out the information below to help us help you

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.

Pictures are helpful

 

[cns2782]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - It is an 18X18X24 screen cage
Lighting - I am using the Repti-Glo Tropical Terrarium Lamp 5.0 UVB 26 watt and the basking lamp is a 60 watt bulb. I have it on an automatic timer that turns the UVB light on 7am to 7pm and I generally turn the basking light off at 6pm and then at night I use EXO TERRA NIGHT GLO MOONLIGHT T10 15W that is on the 7pm to 7 am.
Temperature - I have three exo terra thermometers in the cage and the basking spot stays right around 90 and then the middle level is generally 80-85 and the bottom is 75-80
Humidity - I have an exoterra hygrometer(I think thats what it is) and it stays between 50 and 65 %. I have an auto mister that mists every 3.5 hours
Plants - No live plants
Location - The cage is on a stand that is four feet off the ground in my bedroom so no heavy traffic and not near fans

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Its a female veiled, she is around 2-3 months and I have had her for 2 weeks
Handling - I got her out of her carrier and put her into her cage and then today when I got her out of the water was the only other time.
Feeding - I feed her two times a day. once at 8 and once again at two. I put five small crickets into a smooth sided container
Supplements - Rep Cal twice a week
Watering - I have seen her drink from the dripper twice but never from the mister
Fecal Description - They have mainly been a dark brownish green and almost black with a little bit of white in it
History - I just have gotten it from a breeder
Current Problem - This evening when I got home she was sitting with her back legs and tail submerged in the dripper collector in the bottom and had her eyes closed. Then when I just checked on her after the lights went out she was sleeping upside down and I have never seen her do either of these things until today.

 

[Syreptyon]

Okay, I have a couple things:

1. You should not be using any heat source for her at night. The drop in temperature is good for them.
2. At 2-3 months, her basking spot should be around 80F, not 90. She is too hot.
3. Consider getting live plants. They are great for humidity and she will love them.
4. As for her supplements, what kind of Rep Cal are you using? You need three kinds: Calcium Without D3, Calcium With D3, and Multivitamin. You should be dusting her food with plain calcium at most feedings, with Calcium w/ D3 about once a week, and with the multivitamin once a month.
5. What breeder did you get her from?

here are some links to the supplements you need: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...d-cage-cleaners/-/rep-cal-calcium-without-d3/
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...rep-cal-calcium-and-herptivite-combo-special/

 

[cns2782]

Thank you for your help. I had a vet come over and look at her. He said she had very advanced pneumonia and decided it would be best for her to be put down. So was I the reason for her getting pneumonia? I got her on the 20th of January.

 

[Julirs]

Wow-how did he diagnose that? The hanging upside down is sometimes a sign of URI...she may have aspirated in the water dish. Your temps were a tad too high and you do not need night heat unless your temps are under low 60's for a cham that age. If your UVB is a screw in compact bulb you need to ditch that-they cause eye issues. I would certainly get hold of the breeder, although since you have had her awhile and assumming she was healthy when you got her they probably are bot responsible. Too high a heat and humidity can cause URI, but in a screen cage like you have that does not seem likely.