spots,not eating, and weird behavior? help!

[Carlton]

yeah thats true. especilly with frogs. but human skin actually has oils in it that are slightly toxic. thats why everyone says wash hands before touching a animals and wash hands after to avoid anything they could have (ex: salamina) plus everyone who knows anything about chams no handleing is stressful even if you have a cham that tolerates it.

I think we are confusing several things here. Amphibians are definitely sensitive to handling by human hands, but its because their skins are intentionally porous for moisture balance. Human skin can also have all sorts of residues on it from soaps, lotions, chemicals we use from day to day, etc. I have never heard that human skin oils are so toxic that they cause problems for reptiles (and a cham IS a reptile with pretty impermeable skin compared to an amphibian). Sure, it's always a good idea to wash your hands before and after handling any herp, and not to over-handle a cham, but picking up a cham occasionally with clean hands isn't going to harm it. BTW, any herp can carry salmonella but you are much less likely to pick it up from a reptile that isn't constantly wet or living in water. It also helps not to stick the poor reptile in your mouth! That was the big panic in the past. Toddlers were putting water turtles in their mouth or putting their hands in their mouth right after handling a turtle.

 

[Elizadolots]

I think the ticket is, clean hands. If you don't have other pets, then it might not be a problem to just reach a hand in without washing, but I don't think my chameleons would appreciate my hands, covered with dog smell and/or guinea pig smell coming into their enclosure and touching stuff.

You'd love to live in a world where it was unnecessary to say "don't put your reptile in your mouth" wouldn't you?

 

[Chvyfan]

Okay, obviously a bigger enclosure is in order, and I have may have incorrectly worded my previous post, in regards to night temperature, i had seat heat light IS in fact needed, i shouldve just put "a heat source" I'm aware light isnt needed at night, its just the only heat source I have availiable at the moment. without it his tank gets to almost 45 during the night, would a heat pad suffice? or should I go with a ceramic.

Currently, the screened enclosure is availiable for me to get(used), unfortunetly I do not have funds to purchase till payday. *idea* would a 45 gallon long(fish tank really) on its side so its standing tall work. I can make a lid/door(plexiglass and mesh) so it'll fit properly and have plenty of ventilation, i've made several lids before for other tanks, thatd be no problem, curious what yall think of that, workin on pictures


just how much handling would be too much(for the cham)? I handle most of my reptiles almost daily

 

[camimom]

Okay, obviously a bigger enclosure is in order, and I have may have incorrectly worded my previous post, in regards to night temperature, i had seat heat light IS in fact needed, i shouldve just put "a heat source" I'm aware light isnt needed at night, its just the only heat source I have availiable at the moment. without it his tank gets to almost 45 during the night, would a heat pad suffice? or should I go with a ceramic.

Currently, the screened enclosure is availiable for me to get(used), unfortunetly I do not have funds to purchase till payday. *idea* would a 45 gallon long(fish tank really) on its side so its standing tall work. I can make a lid/door(plexiglass and mesh) so it'll fit properly and have plenty of ventilation, i've made several lids before for other tanks, thatd be no problem, curious what yall think of that, workin on pictures


just how much handling would be too much(for the cham)? I handle most of my reptiles almost daily

Dont use a heat pad, if your cham somehow finds a way to be near it (even if it is outside the cage) it can get burned. a space heater is ideal.
If you can get the screen cage on payday, do it.
Even turning a fish tank on its end may not be appropriate. However, if you feel the need to do this, make the 'door' completely mesh, no plexi glass. this way the maximum amount of air can get in. However, fish tanks arent ideal, they are meant to hold water in. a terriarium is designed differently for reptiles.
as for handling, most will recommend dont handle unless necessary. some will say its based on how your cham feels about it. handlying can cause stress, and stress is bad. however, if your cham is very very friendly, and does not get stressed when being handled, you can, but i would still limit it to no more than once a day, if that. my cham is relatively friendly, and i only handle him once every other day.

 

[Elizadolots]

I would look into the heat only bulbs that are available.

If you try standing the tank on end, you need to set the lights so the UVB (at least) comes in through the screen top you construct. UVB doesn't pass through glass.

 

[camimom]

I would look into the heat only bulbs that are available.

If you try standing the tank on end, you need to set the lights so the UVB (at least) comes in through the screen top you construct. UVB doesn't pass through glass.

Heh I knew I forgot something! I even made a mental note to say, make sure you have the uvb coming through the screen door as the rays dont pass through glass, and totally got sidetracked by my dog.

 

[Chvyfan]

pic of him, should be able to see spots and sort of a diamondback pattern along his spine

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finally got a bigger screen cage

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[Chvyfan]

As I mentioned earlier he may have been in the dirt, thinking he may have fell. his right front foot(?) is swollen, he babys it alot and uses it more to steady himself, never closing it. if hes just chillin on a branch its almost always just kind of dangling off to the side.

 

[DavidBuchan]

The new setup looks really nice, his foot doesn't seem badly swollen so hopefully it will get better by itself.
Does he still move around comfortably? How has he seemed in the new enclosure? Is he eating more yet?

 

[ks123]

First of all, you want to get him an all screen cage. Chameleons like fresh air and a screen cage will provide him proper venelation. Second of all, you want to get an LED light for him so he can get proper lighting and D3 through the UV Rays. Also, when you feed him, you will want to remove the crickets from the cage before you turn the light off at night because they can eat his flesh when he is sleeping! Yeah sounds crazy but it is true! Also get rid of the substrate and replace it with paper towels. He might not be eating because if he got substrate in him he might be congested and he might not be able to poo. He might also be dehydrated, that is a common problem with alot of chameleons. P.S. Make sure there is enough room for hims to move around, my vet told me that they need enough room to move around and get exercise!

 

[camimom]

First of all, you want to get him an all screen cage. Chameleons like fresh air and a screen cage will provide him proper venelation. Second of all, you want to get an LED light for him so he can get proper lighting and D3 through the UV Rays. Also, when you feed him, you will want to remove the crickets from the cage before you turn the light off at night because they can eat his flesh when he is sleeping! Yeah sounds crazy but it is true! Also get rid of the substrate and replace it with paper towels. He might not be eating because if he got substrate in him he might be congested and he might not be able to poo. He might also be dehydrated, that is a common problem with alot of chameleons. P.S. Make sure there is enough room for hims to move around, my vet told me that they need enough room to move around and get exercise!

The OP already got him a screen cage, see two posts ago. in a screen cage. WHy an led light? not sure on them, reptiglo or reptisun is waht people around here use for thier uvb lights. and we use regular 50-60 watt house bulbs for basking bulbs.
the crickts dont EAT him, they bite him. yes its good to remove extra crickets at night, however, if they are small enough, you may not need to.
OP- pls remove the substrate, paper towels, nothing, or i use reptile carpet on the floor. He does not seem dehydrated.
How do his poops look> if the urate is white, he is fine.
He has plenty of room, but you may want som emore foliage to let him be hidden, to make him more comfortable.
As for his foot, it does look a bit swollen, I would suggest just keeping an eye on his leg. If it gets worse, or doesnt go away, then its vet visit time,
Chams can suffer from a disease called gout, which is the gathering of fluid on the joints, though it normally does not just affect one. Not saying your guy has it, but something to be wary of.

What light are you using on your cage, it seems huge. I hope its your uvb bulb.

 

[ks123]

The OP already got him a screen cage, see two posts ago. in a screen cage. WHy an led light? not sure on them, reptiglo or reptisun is waht people around here use for thier uvb lights. and we use regular 50-60 watt house bulbs for basking bulbs.
the crickts dont EAT him, they bite him. yes its good to remove extra crickets at night, however, if they are small enough, you may not need to.
OP- pls remove the substrate, paper towels, nothing, or i use reptile carpet on the floor. He does not seem dehydrated.
How do his poops look> if the urate is white, he is fine.
He has plenty of room, but you may want som emore foliage to let him be hidden, to make him more comfortable.
As for his foot, it does look a bit swollen, I would suggest just keeping an eye on his leg. If it gets worse, or doesnt go away, then its vet visit time,
Chams can suffer from a disease called gout, which is the gathering of fluid on the joints, though it normally does not just affect one. Not saying your guy has it, but something to
What light are you using on your cage, it seems huge. I hope its your uvb bulb.

i did not read any of the other posts i just gave him some info of things ive been told, biting, eating whatever they are both bad things, so what are you trying to prove right now???

 

[DavidBuchan]

i did not read any of the other posts

I think that would be enough to reply to you............what's the point of having a forum if people are posting irrelevant stuff? You ought to at least read what you are replying to..............