I bought a veiled Chameleon 3 days ago at a local pet store. I did not research Chameleons before she was purchased, and she was not taken care of properly and is very sick. While at the pet store, she was not provided with a UVB light or a basking light. I have purchased both, as well as a water dripper for the tank, and calcium powder for the crickets. She is starting to improve..i think...but is still frail. I can not take her to the vet until i get paid in a week. Any tips or ideas?
Sick Chameleon
- Thread starter SJG
- Start date
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome to Cham Forums! Firstly, please fill out this 'How to ask for help' form so we can help you more. Do you have any photos of her and your set up too?
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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?
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* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
* Placement - 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?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?
Pictures are helpful
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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.
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
* Placement - 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?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?
Pictures are helpful
My Chameleon is a veiled Chameleon. I don't know exactly how old she is. i know that the pet store that I bought her from had her for 4 months. I have only had her for 3 days. I have not handled her at all, because I did not want to raise her stress level. Right now, I am feeding her around 10 small crickets a day with calcium powder (Zoo Meds Reptivite with B3) on them. I also have millworms in the cage, but I don't think that she has even climbed down to check them out. No schedule on the feeding so far. Right now I am spraying the enclosure (not her) 4 times a day. I have seen her drink for the water drip today. Her stools are also a healthy white color. Plants are fake, eco earth soil on the bottom. She seems to be eating well. Some symptoms that i have noticed is a slight bend in her veil, and arms and legs that are not straight. She also shakes a bit when she walks. I know that she is calcium deficient.
The cage is sitting inside an old entertainment center ( where a tv would sit), and also right next to a 55 gallon fish tank. It is out of the way, not near any fans or air vents. Top of the cage is approximately 4 ft. off the floor. The cage is a screen cage 2x2x3. We bought her with the terrarium she was in at the pet store, so her immediate environment has not been changed. temp is b/t 80-90 during the day, and 70-80 during the night, closest to the light. Humidity has been a problem. I can't seem to keep it up without constantly spraying. Right now at the top of the cage it is at 30. Im measuring the temp and humidity with gauges bought at petco.
I am trying to upload a pic, but the upload fails every time.
The cage is sitting inside an old entertainment center ( where a tv would sit), and also right next to a 55 gallon fish tank. It is out of the way, not near any fans or air vents. Top of the cage is approximately 4 ft. off the floor. The cage is a screen cage 2x2x3. We bought her with the terrarium she was in at the pet store, so her immediate environment has not been changed. temp is b/t 80-90 during the day, and 70-80 during the night, closest to the light. Humidity has been a problem. I can't seem to keep it up without constantly spraying. Right now at the top of the cage it is at 30. Im measuring the temp and humidity with gauges bought at petco.
I am trying to upload a pic, but the upload fails every time.
pssh
Avid Member
Buy a digital thermometer and hydromter as the stick on ones are crap. If you have the stick on ones you could be cooking her. Her basking should be 80-83 degrees and the ambient temp should be about 70.
Try making a dripper for her, a plastic cup with a hole poked in it is good. Get it to drip about one or two drops a second. Remove the substrate as she can eat it. If she eats it it can block her intestines (impaction.) an impaction can kill her. She should not be getting so much d3, she needs plain calcium on most of her feeders.
Live plants help bring up the humidity, I recommend pothos, ficus, hibiscus, and umbrella plants that have covered fertilizer free soil. Veileds also eat plants, so make sure they are non toxic. If she eats any fake ones she could suffer from an impaction. Block off her veiw of the fish tank.
Take her to a chameleon experienced vet. She sounds like she has MBD which is not good. She needs vet care.
Upload the photos to photobucket.com and use the IMG tag to put them in here.
Try making a dripper for her, a plastic cup with a hole poked in it is good. Get it to drip about one or two drops a second. Remove the substrate as she can eat it. If she eats it it can block her intestines (impaction.) an impaction can kill her. She should not be getting so much d3, she needs plain calcium on most of her feeders.
Live plants help bring up the humidity, I recommend pothos, ficus, hibiscus, and umbrella plants that have covered fertilizer free soil. Veileds also eat plants, so make sure they are non toxic. If she eats any fake ones she could suffer from an impaction. Block off her veiw of the fish tank.
Take her to a chameleon experienced vet. She sounds like she has MBD which is not good. She needs vet care.
Upload the photos to photobucket.com and use the IMG tag to put them in here.
justjumpit621
New Member
To keep up the humidity in my veiled screen enclosure I staples sheets of plastic painters drop cloth to three sides, leaving the top and front of the cage open for air circulation. You could try this, it works very well. Drop clothes are only around $2 and you can find them at target, walmart, home depot etc.
ok, thank you guys for the suggestions! I have already made a dripper out of a bottle and she loves it! I'm assuming the plants that you have named are safe, right? What do you recommend I use instead of the substrate? And lastly, can you give me an idea on what to expect as a vet bill?
pssh
Avid Member
Yes, those plants are safe. Use paper towel or nothing as a substrate. All vets are different so I can't really help you figure out the cost. Make sure you go to one who has chameleon experience. She defintely needs to see a vet from that picture. If the casque is curved like that from Metobolic bone disease then she definately needs your help.
EDIT: bring a poop sample from the day before or day of (if possible) to have a fecal done. She will probably need calcium injections.
EDIT: bring a poop sample from the day before or day of (if possible) to have a fecal done. She will probably need calcium injections.
Monties1982
Avid Member
Not to nitpick, but a device for measuring relative humidity is called a hyGrometer. HyDrometers measure the relative density of a liquid.
I plan on taking her as soon as I get paid, I wasn't expecting the expense of a sick chameleon right after I bought her! Right now I do have the terrarium blocked off from viewing the fish tank, mainly so my cats can not jump up next to her, but I planned on putting up something translucent. Is there a reason to keep it blocked off after she is well again?
thealissa
New Member
The vet bill can add up quickly, expect that. Make sure you see a herp/reptile/exotic animals vet. I found that the initial exam tends to be between $55 and $65. She might be given calcium shots, which tend to be somewhere in the $25 range. It just adds up fast when there's a lot that the chameleon needs to be given.
thealissa
New Member
Plan about 10-15 minutes of extra time just to get her out. Take out a small, close-able cardboard box to put her in. To get her out, you can grab whatever plant she's on and just put it in the box (if she's on one that you can easily do that with). If not, you can just slowly wean her onto your hand by placing one hand in front of her, and slowly but gently, prodding her onto your hand with your other hand (hopefully that makes sense). If possible, you can lure her out with food.
Some suggest placing a damp paper towel in the box so that she will relax and sleep, but if your vet is close, I wouldn't say this is necessary.
Expect her to turn dark, that is normal. She will also probably hiss at you, and maybe even threaten to bite.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Is Reptivite a calcium dust or a vitamin dust? Haven't used it, but double check the label. If the first ingredient isn't calcium carbonate you may be using the wrong product. She needs both a calcium AND a vitamin dust...calcium given daily, with D3 a couple of times a week, and a vitamin dust less often.
Most chams don't pay attention to mealworms as they don't move around that much. Also, they are not a quality feeder and hard to digest.
http://www.petco.com/product/5023/Zoo-Med-Reptivite-Reptile-Vitamins.aspx
It has fish oil in it so it has prEformed vitamin A and D3.
Does she have a place to dig in case she needs to lay eggs?
It has fish oil in it so it has prEformed vitamin A and D3.
Does she have a place to dig in case she needs to lay eggs?
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