Something to be worried about?

[zelink14]

So I've been continuing to feed Ridley to get his weight back up, and I've been trying to get him to poop lately by soaking him in warm water and hand-watering him.

These pictures are from two days ago. I'm worried the black spots on his casque and shoulders might be burns. D: What do you think? (btw, he has water droplets on his body in these pictures)

I think he's also getting ready to shed.

 

[Julirs]

How is he getting burned?

 

[zelink14]

Does that mean these are burns, then? D:

I currently am using a 100w Zoo Med Powersun bulb that sits on the cage mesh. I'm worried it might be too close, maybe? There's nothing within 4 inches at the top of the cage.

 

[Syreptyon]

How hot is his basking spot?

 

[zelink14]

It's about 85 degrees F.

 

[jannb]

I don't know if it's just your pictures or what, but Ridley doesn't look too good to me. Would you please fill out the ask for help form? Jann

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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.

 

[THECHAMMAN]

100w=85F. im not so sure. i think you should get a better thermometer. i use a 60w bulb and get a 92F basking. the temps are obviously too hot. and im pretty sure that the Powersun is a mercury vapor bulb, so it may be a UV burn. either way, new bulb necessary. love your little guy though.

 

[zelink14]

Ridley's info

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen cage; 12"x 9"x 24"
Lighting - 100w Zoo Med Powersun bulb; Light on 8AM-8PM
Temperature - Temp Range: 65-85 degrees F; Lowest overnight Temp: 60 degrees F; One thermometer (I should buy another one)
Humidity - Average humidity: 60-70%; misted 2-4 times; one humidity meter
Plants - One live plant ("terranium plant" from Petco)
Location - Living room; not near any vents, fans, etc; cage covered at night to prevent living room lights from interrupting sleep; cage elevated about 4'

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon; 4 months old; likely male; had him since October
Handling - I've been handling him much more lately, trying to hydrate him or get photos; normally only once every one-two weeks, if even that
Feeding - currently feeding 10-15 small crickets once/day; gutloaded with greens (not including spinach), carrots, celery, bearded dragon pellets, apple, and bell pepper
Supplements - T-Rex Chameleon dust, every other day (everyday recently because his eating has been erratic)
Watering - hand-spray the cage 2-4 times a day with warm water for about 15 seconds (or until everything is drenched); he's shy when I'm watching so no; he drank when I hand-watered him yesterday
Fecal Description - no poop lately, normally brown & white; never tested for parasites
History - We just went to the vet recently when he wasn't eating and sitting black at the bottom of his cage. He started eating again, but seems to not be as active
Current Problem - Eating is erratic, possible burns, hanging out in the top corner of the tank, not pooping

I'm debating buying a new cage since LLL Reptile has a huge one for clearance right now. I was worried that his small cage right now would be overpowered by a heat lamp and Reptiglo 5.0. I can only guess that him hanging out in the top right back corner means he wants more room or doesn't want to be next to the light.

 

[Chase]

Zelink, how close can your chameleon get to the light?

 

[zelink14]

Zelink, how close can your chameleon get to the light?

About 4 inches.

 

[zelink14]

For the record, Ridley is still eating well but has yet to poop. I'm going to buy a gram scale today (if I can find one) and see how his weight is doing.

He's still pretty much acting the same, though.

Though his color is better the black marks still fade in and out. I'll post more pics when I can.

Any suggestions?

 

[veiledchamguy]

Does that mean these are burns, then? D:

I currently am using a 100w Zoo Med Powersun bulb that sits on the cage mesh. I'm worried it might be too close, maybe? There's nothing within 4 inches at the top of the cage.

100w is pretty hott especially when it "sits on the cage mesh" and 4 inches IMO is too close for that young of veiled and the fact its a
12"x 9"x 24" cage. A 60-70 watt regular housebulb would suffice at this time.

you said
I'm debating buying a new cage since LLL Reptile has a huge one for clearance right now. I was worried that his small cage right now would be overpowered by a heat lamp and Reptiglo 5.0

I hope you meant a repti sun 5.0 linear tube if not ditch that reptiglo and get a reptisun LLLreptile has them cheap

History - We just went to the vet recently when he wasn't eating and sitting black at the bottom of his cage. He started eating again, but seems to not be as active

You went to the vet? so what did he say you didnt state that.

If at all possible try to open his diet to more feeders

Plants - One live plant ("terranium plant" from Petco)

A terranirum plant what in the heck is that!?

I see your from the good old west side go to lowes or home depot and pick up a nich bushy schflerra or a ficus or some hanging pothos plants your cham would love that

 

[Drone]

I have a hard time believing, if I understood it right, that the 100w powersun on the cage is giving you an 85 degree basking temperature 4" from the top. I get that temp from a 50w bulb. If so then i would think the room is overly cold. If the guy is in the top away from the light it might be that he doesn't have enough places to hide or feels stressed, as opposed to moving down into the bottom shade to cool off. I've noticed my panther chams tend to go to the top when they are stressed, from my or someone else's unwanted presence. One plant (if i read it correctly) in your cage probably does not provide enough "cover" for your guy to hide in.

The decription of the habitat you gave isn't bad but a picture would be worth 1000 words!

100w=85F. im not so sure. i think you should get a better thermometer. i use a 60w bulb and get a 92F basking. the temps are obviously too hot. and im pretty sure that the Powersun is a mercury vapor bulb, so it may be a UV burn. either way, new bulb necessary. love your little guy though.

I'd have to agree with them to ditch the powersun and switch to a reg bulb for basking. Also, make sure you are using a linear florescent.
Thats the combo that works: basking spot + linear florescent UVb is what people typically have success with. Not that other options won't work not matter what, it's just what easily works out good.

What size are you looking to get? The 24x24x48 Screen cage I'd hope : http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...een/-/24-x-24-x-48-inch-aluminum-screen-cage/

 

[kinyonga]

Did/do you have a substrate?

Has he had a fecal?

 

[Sancho]

I once had a set up like you until Dave Weldon came over and showed me acouple things. I had a 100W laying on top of the cage also and my cham had roughly 4-6 inches below the light clearance my temp gauge showed 80 but when I stuck my hand under the light for roughly 5 seconds about 3-4 inches below the light my skin on my hand went up to 98! so be careful!

 

[zelink14]

you said
I'm debating buying a new cage since LLL Reptile has a huge one for clearance right now. I was worried that his small cage right now would be overpowered by a heat lamp and Reptiglo 5.0

I hope you meant a repti sun 5.0 linear tube if not ditch that reptiglo and get a reptisun LLLreptile has them cheap

Yeah, I did mean Reptisun. I had a feeling I got the name wrong!

I know "terranium plant" sounds awful... My friend has some pothos and she told me she'd grow one/give me a piece of hers. Once I get a new live plant I'll take the other one out. (I wish I knew what the plant was called... I can't identify it by appearance! D: )

I'd made another thread about the vet here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/eatting-off-20277/ The vet had identified that I have a female, even though I'm still pretty sure I have a male. (spurs on back feet) I'm waiting to see his colors still at his age of 4.5 months. I'm basically waiting for PROOF that he's male or female.

Anyway, the vet said he was fine (he's not been eating for days before hand but had eaten that morning) if not a bit underweight. I've been trying to get his weight back up, and based on how he looks he might be gaining weight. (going to buy a gram scale to measure)

On a side note, he does have other fake plants and vines in his cage. I'll take a picture when I get home today.

 

[zelink14]

I once had a set up like you until Dave Weldon came over and showed me acouple things. I had a 100W laying on top of the cage also and my cham had roughly 4-6 inches below the light clearance my temp gauge showed 80 but when I stuck my hand under the light for roughly 5 seconds about 3-4 inches below the light my skin on my hand went up to 98! so be careful!

Would elevating the light by several inches help the problem? I'm hoping to solve this as cheeply as possible, though if I have to I'll buy new lighting I will. (college student) I was hoping to wait till after graduation to upgrade his lighting and enclosure since I graduate this Spring.

 

[zelink14]

Did/do you have a substrate?

Has he had a fecal?

No fecal yet, but I am still waiting for him to poop. Going to give him a warm soak today to see if I can induce it.

No substrate, just a paper grocery bag lining the bottom.

 

[zelink14]

I have a hard time believing, if I understood it right, that the 100w powersun on the cage is giving you an 85 degree basking temperature 4" from the top. I get that temp from a 50w bulb. If so then i would think the room is overly cold. If the guy is in the top away from the light it might be that he doesn't have enough places to hide or feels stressed, as opposed to moving down into the bottom shade to cool off. I've noticed my panther chams tend to go to the top when they are stressed, from my or someone else's unwanted presence. One plant (if i read it correctly) in your cage probably does not provide enough "cover" for your guy to hide in.

The decription of the habitat you gave isn't bad but a picture would be worth 1000 words!



I'd have to agree with them to ditch the powersun and switch to a reg bulb for basking. Also, make sure you are using a linear florescent.
Thats the combo that works: basking spot + linear florescent UVb is what people typically have success with. Not that other options won't work not matter what, it's just what easily works out good.

What size are you looking to get? The 24x24x48 Screen cage I'd hope : http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...een/-/24-x-24-x-48-inch-aluminum-screen-cage/

He has fake plants and vines in the cage, too. I'll take a picture today.

Will the linear florescent light NOT overpower his currently small enclosure? If not, awesome, but I know the problem right now is that he apparently "can't get away" from UVB.

Oh, I wish I could just up and buy one of those cages. If I up and spend 80 bucks I'm worried about running out of money before my graduation! D: If I can get shifts at my job (which they don't have right now, grr) then I'll totally do it!

 

[Drone]

as far as I know, you can't overpower them with as much as a pair of 4' reptisun 5.0 uvb.

So since you are using less than that I wouldn't see how that would be an issue. All other bulbs I have no idea. And I use 1 4' for two cages, before I used 1 24" for 1 24" cage and both worked great to the best of my limited knowledge so far, I'm also going off what others say on these forums, whom I know have successfully raised and keep chams in addition to my limited experience