Sick Pygmy?

[ChameleonRave]

I'm not sure on what's wrong with Eugene my Pygmy Chameleon. He is a cb 2011, at about 6 weeks old if not 7. He is one inch in length and is a light tan and keeps active up until the past few days.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Captive Born Bearded Pygmy Chameleon, about 6-7 weeks old, tan colorings typical pygmy colors. He's been with me for about 3 weeks.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I've handeled him maybe a total for 4-5 times when re-arranging his cage or trying to make sure he is okay.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?I feed him Fruit Flies, that are gut loaded by the food int he cultures (not sure what it is), probably a dozen or two dozen FF's. I feed him two to three times a day everyday.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Haven't supplemented, I use an older UVB bulb for it's natural UVB, haven't read about supplementing a Pygmy Chameleon.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?I mist him about 3 times a day lighter mistings than my other chameleons. I haven't seen him drink, but he doesn't show signs of dehydration.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Haven't seen any droppings in his cage. I haven't had him tested for parasites since he is so tiny and the vet doesn't know too much on the species.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He was a Secret Santa gift from a group I am in and came from Nick Mole at First Choice Reptiles


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Glass aquarium, 10 gallon tank with screen lid. As Pygmies need more of a natural setup rather than the screen cage for better humidity and to replicate their habitat they don't need a screen cage.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I go between a used Repti-Sun 5.0 UVB linear tube light bulb and a 15 watt house bulb for heat.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? To be honest, not sure. I keep my room around 80 degrees with a humidifier and based on the thermometers (analog) they show about 76 degrees with 72% humidity.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Answered above. Also I mist to keep humidity and I have a humidifier since the colder temps and warmer house make it dry.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have a live pothos, and live ficus in the tank/terrarium. All live no fake.
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? It's next to my door on my entertainment stand about 4 feet off the ground, no high traffic unless I go into it. Not near any fans or vents.
Location - Where are you geographically located? South Dakota.


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. He seems to be sick. He's been in the same spot the past two days and he fell off the branch and puffed up and laid in that same spot. He became darker in color.. I'm really scared of losing him to be quite honest. He was my first little pygmy and he is a blast to have. I'm not sure if he has been eating, since with my tank it seems the food might escape, he also seems a bit lifeless when he is laying there, not sure if it's because he is tired, but that is my guess. I think that there is something wrong with him... Any Ideas?

PLEASE ONLY EXPERIENCE PYGMY CHAMELEON KEEPERS RESPOND, I DON'T NEED RANDOM POST'S IN MY THREAD


Thanks,
Zac

I will try and dig up a picture, it won't be a new one, since it's so hard to get a decent picture, but I can try my hardest.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Sorry to hear your little one doesn't look good Zac! It sounds like you did everything right, and I remember seeing pics of your setup and it was good. I'd be a little worried about the possibility of temps being over 80 if that's what your room is at and it's a glass cage. But they can cope with 80 degrees honestly so that would really be a problem if it was several degrees or more over 80. I don't really see any big thing in your husbandry that would definitely be causing signs of illness.

Do you see him hunt? I'm a little worried that he's not getting enough to eat if his food can escape easily since fruit flies do tend to just run upwards and out if possible. But if you see him hunt then he's probably getting enough. Does he maybe shoot a lot of substrate when he hunts?

Unfortunately the signs you describe are not good...and even more unfortunately there is very little we can do for these tiny things when they start going downhill. He's even smaller than small being so young...you can't take him to the vet because they literally can't do anything at that size, and the stress would be too much anyway. I don't want to scare you but I had a baby that did that for a day or two before he passed away. I had a setup pretty similar to yours and he was fine before that, eating and drinking well and active. There weren't any obvious indicators of a problem when he died either so it was a mystery.

The best thing you can do for him is give him privacy to reduce stress (I know that's practically impossible when you're worried about them), double check the temps and lower them if possible (mine like it best in low 70s) and try to feed and mist while he looks good but leave him alone if he looks bad. Stress from messing with him while he's already doing badly could push him over the edge. I wish I had more suggestions for you, or a better story to give you. I don't think it's anything you did though, as you seem to have a great setup for him. Sometimes these little guys just don't make it, even the cb ones.

Fwiw, I dust my fruit flies every week or so with calcium and once a month with a multivit. But that's my preference and other pyg people do more or less depending on their preference. There's no norm for pygs. My little female is going strong after 5 clutches this year and all the babies did very well (except the one I told you about) so I'd like to think it's working...

 

[ChameleonRave]

Sorry to hear your little one doesn't look good Zac! It sounds like you did everything right, and I remember seeing pics of your setup and it was good. I'd be a little worried about the possibility of temps being over 80 if that's what your room is at and it's a glass cage. But they can cope with 80 degrees honestly so that would really be a problem if it was several degrees or more over 80. I don't really see any big thing in your husbandry that would definitely be causing signs of illness.

Do you see him hunt? I'm a little worried that he's not getting enough to eat if his food can escape easily since fruit flies do tend to just run upwards and out if possible. But if you see him hunt then he's probably getting enough. Does he maybe shoot a lot of substrate when he hunts?

Unfortunately the signs you describe are not good...and even more unfortunately there is very little we can do for these tiny things when they start going downhill. He's even smaller than small being so young...you can't take him to the vet because they literally can't do anything at that size, and the stress would be too much anyway. I don't want to scare you but I had a baby that did that for a day or two before he passed away. I had a setup pretty similar to yours and he was fine before that, eating and drinking well and active. There weren't any obvious indicators of a problem when he died either so it was a mystery.

The best thing you can do for him is give him privacy to reduce stress (I know that's practically impossible when you're worried about them), double check the temps and lower them if possible (mine like it best in low 70s) and try to feed and mist while he looks good but leave him alone if he looks bad. Stress from messing with him while he's already doing badly could push him over the edge. I wish I had more suggestions for you, or a better story to give you. I don't think it's anything you did though, as you seem to have a great setup for him. Sometimes these little guys just don't make it, even the cb ones.

Fwiw, I dust my fruit flies every week or so with calcium and once a month with a multivit. But that's my preference and other pyg people do more or less depending on their preference. There's no norm for pygs. My little female is going strong after 5 clutches this year and all the babies did very well (except the one I told you about) so I'd like to think it's working...

Thanks so much for all of your help. He just passed away in my hands... He kept opening his mouth and turned a dark dark brown throughout his body and face. That is the end of Eugene.. Farewell.

 

[VeiledChams]

So sorry Zac.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Oh I'm so sorry Zac. Rest in peace little Eugene.

 

[ChameleonRave]

Thank You so very much.. You have been a great help. You made me appreciate the little ones so much more and when you get to see the actual size of them. It's incredible to think of how small something can be and live to be a few years old.

 

[brandychams]

hey zac sorry i havent seen your post or pms till now ive been busy
i am so sorry you lost him. your set up looked good . temps might have been a little high but i dont think that did him in. were you only feeding ff? i found with my hatchlings that they werent interestes in ff after a few weeks of life and i started feeding pinheads. maybe he didnt recognize them as food? my adult pygs i give calcium 1 a week d3 1 a month and a vit 1 a month and my adults have been with me for 2 years. again i am sorry for your loss.rip eugene

 

[ChameleonRave]

Thanks for everything! I try to keep my room warm, since it gets super cold in my room during the day/night this time of year. I had just ordered springtails and more FF's and pinheads last week. They arrive today and they won't be used..

 

[SilverDragoness]

So sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds as though there may have been something internally wrong with him based on the fact that everyone says your setup looked good.

 

[okiroo]

im so sorry i know you only just got him

 

[houseofchameleons]

my heart is broken for you Zac as I know the sadness of losing such a precious animal.you are in my thoughts