Sleeping during the day, little movement

[realliferapunzel]

Hi I got my veiled chameleon a little over a week ago and when I first got him he was happy to sit at the top of his enclosure, basking under the heat lamp - and while he wasn't eating (and still isn't) he was occasionally drinking.

However, he's started sleeping during the day and now he's even taken to just sitting under some of the leaves. He's barely moving at all and not responding to misting or if I touch him to try get a response from him (though I'm leaving him alone as much as possible as I don't want to stress him out further).

I mist 3-4 times a day and I have a dripper system for when I'm not in.

His eyes are quite sunken in and he just seems like he has no energy - which makes sense as he hasn't eaten for over a week.

He just doesn't seem well and I'm really worried.

Here are some pictures so you can see his enclosure/where he's hiding himself.











Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[happy]

He looks both very thin and very dehydrated. If you have a shower with a misting spray on it, i would place his cage in there, make it rain for a while. feed him as much as he will eat after the shower session. if you fill out the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ questions, it would likely help a lot. I would also add a large live plant into his enclosure so he can hide, and eat, and have a means to drink from. You can check https://www.chameleonforums.com/plants/ for safe plants. by the looks of it, you may need to visit a vet
.

 

[realliferapunzel]

He looks both very thin and very dehydrated. If you have a shower with a misting spray on it, i would place his cage in there, make it rain for a while. feed him as much as he will eat after the shower session. if you fill out the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ questions, it would likely help a lot. I would also add a large live plant into his enclosure so he can hide, and eat, and have a means to drink from. You can check https://www.chameleonforums.com/plants/ for safe plants. by the looks of it, you may need to visit a vet
.

Yes I had noticed he was very thin, which also worried me! How can I get him to eat? He hasn't eaten at all since getting him :/ I'm going to go this weekend to get him a plant - I have been meaning to but money's tight until payday! If he's still not well tomorrow I'm going to make an appointment at the vet for asap.

 

[happy]

i would really try to get him to drink first(cant poop if there is no lubrication). i would start with a warm shower. if you dont have a misting shower head, you can spray the water onto the wall of the shower, and let it bounce off and onto the enclosure. just throw the hole enclosure in shower. get every thing good and wet... it will wake him up, and should spark his thirst.... after that, feed him as much as he will eat. i still suggest throwing a large plant in his enclosure. it will give him something to drink from. if you use the shower, stay in with him... watch him....,
just notticed you have dirt and stuff in the bottom, you dont need it... it looks cool and all, but its pointless and can cause issues, IE: ingestion, mold, fungus...... get rid of it, then throw enclosure into shower.

 

[ChamDE86]

That looks like a vet visit to me. His eyes are beyond sunken and closed. Chameleons won't eat if dehydrated so that explains why he hasn't done so in a week. Your guy is in serious trouble. Try the shower method explained by Happy and see if you can at least get him to open his eyes and drink. Your enclosure is also setup wrong as you focused on the bottom portion when you should have done so on the upper half of the cage. They are tree dwelling creatures so it would only make sense. Also, is that a bowl of water I see on the bottom? If so, that is a big no no as it breeds bacteria and will get your cham sick if he drinks from it. Fill out the "how to ask for help" sheet and be descriptive as possible. I would focus on the hydration part ASAP.

 

[realliferapunzel]

Your Chameleon - Veiled/Yemen, I've had him for just over a week and as far as I know he's only about 4 months old

Handling - Not often, only four times since getting him a little over a week ago

Feeding - Locust, only four in the enclosure at the moment as he hasn't eaten since being in my care, gut loading with grated carrot and some leaf greens, covering them in calcium dust

Supplements - Using pro rep calci dust - dusting every three days (though he hasn't eaten at all)

Watering - Misting 3-4 times a day and recently started using a drip. He drank two days after I got him for two days and since then I haven't witnessed him drink

Fecal Description - A khaki brown colour, occasional spots of yellow

History - N/A

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Exo terra wire cage, XL (I can't remember the dimensions, sorry)

Lighting - A UV light as well as exo terra glow light for heat, turning on at 9.30 and off at 9.30/10 every night.

Temperature - I have a thermomiter, temperature is always around 20-22 degrees Celsius and cools down to 17 at night

Humidity - Humidity is moderate, I'm trying to get a higher level but it's difficult with a wire enclosure

Plants - Not as of yet, however I plan getting some this weekend (along with another log for higher up in the enclosure)

Placement - My room, where the door is always closed and I keep quiet (spending most of my time in the living room as not to disturb him) his enclosure is high off the floor on top of my desk

Location - Scotland, UK



I have kept the dripper on all evening (as well as misting more often) and just gave him a humidity bath - which did seem to help a little, he opened his eyes and moved around a bit more, however he hasn't had anything to drink and now he's back in his enclosure he is back to sleeping.

I realise I need to work on the enclosure. I am going this weekend to buy a real plant and also another log to put up higher in the enclosure.

I hadn't realised a water dish was bad - the shop I got him from gave it to me and said it would increase humidity but I shall take it out now - thank you!

It's too late to call the vet now but I'm going to try get an appointment for as soon as possible.

 

[realliferapunzel]

i would really try to get him to drink first(cant poop if there is no lubrication). i would start with a warm shower. if you dont have a misting shower head, you can spray the water onto the wall of the shower, and let it bounce off and onto the enclosure. just throw the hole enclosure in shower. get every thing good and wet... it will wake him up, and should spark his thirst.... after that, feed him as much as he will eat. i still suggest throwing a large plant in his enclosure. it will give him something to drink from. if you use the shower, stay in with him... watch him....,
just notticed you have dirt and stuff in the bottom, you dont need it... it looks cool and all, but its pointless and can cause issues, IE: ingestion, mold, fungus...... get rid of it, then throw enclosure into shower.

Sorry - missed this message!

A hydration bath definitely helped a little (he opened his eyes a little and moved about) thank you, he even pooped on me (lol) - a very small amount but it's something! I'm gonna keep on top of the hydration over the next day and if it doesn't help we'll be off to the vet!

 

[ChamDE86]

Take a look at the "Care Resources" link to the left of your page. This has all the information on how to care for your chameleon. There is also an enclosure setup link on there to show you how to place branches and vines etc for your chameleon to hide in and get out of the light. I noticed you did not mention your basking temperature. It should be 85-90 degrees so your veiled can digest his food properly. After the shower, check and see if he will eat a locust.

 

[happy]

Any updates?

 

[Brain1999]

Hi I am having an issue with my veiled chameleon too kinda similar to this. How do I start a new thread so I can explain what's all going on?

 

[happy]

Hi I am having an issue with my veiled chameleon too kinda similar to this. How do I start a new thread so I can explain what's all going on?

if you click the button "Forums" on the main page you seen when you log in, it will take you to a list of all the forum categories, you will see one called "health Clinic" click that, and at the top of the page you will see "New Post" click that.

when you start a new post requesting help with a health issue, please use the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ link. it helps us to help you.