Strange behaviour

[Bernie]

Hi all.

Occasionally my Yemen Cham will try to regurgitate. He will open his mouth wide facing downwards and start twisting his body.

Usually nothing comes out. He turns a slightly darker colour when doing so.

There are no signs of any RI and he seems active and happy. This has been happening on and off for a few weeks.

Any ideas folks? I think possibly parasites?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

How much, how often and what are you feeding him? If crickets how big are they? How old is he? Where did you get him and has a fecal ever been done?

Parasites are less likely in cb animals, certainly not impossible, but I'm curious about his feeding habits because eating too much too fast can cause them regurgitate as well. Tell us more about him...

 

[carol5208]

Every so often my chamelon will open his mouth wide and twist his body from side to side. Has nothing to do with him eating. He will do it on days when he doesn't eat. He does not do it constantlyor on a regular basis but he does do and has been doing it since I have owned him. I consider it normal behavior. It is almost like he is doing what they do when they are trying to break a shed loose.I noticed he had some shed on his spine when he did it the other day and he like yawned and twisted. I think he was trying to break the shed. JMO. Does he have any shed on his body?

 

[Carlton]

Once in a while a cham may get a feeder wedged oddly in its stomach or esophagus and may be trying to shift it. I've seen all my chams do it occasionally. I also wondered if they might be trying to re-arrange their tongue muscle.

 

[Bernie]

For those that have experienced this with their Cham's - is it normal for them to seem distressed during it?

He seems to be poo'ing regular, so he is defnitely eating. But I sometimes find some regurgitated food in his viv.

He wont eat crickets so now i feed him small locusts (in case his previous food was too big). He is about 4 months old.

He isnt shedding either.

 

[kinyonga]

Are you sure its not feces that isn't digested properly?

Could be that his tongue is giving him a problem or that something is stuck in the area where the tongue is stored or in his throat.

 

[Bernie]

Are you sure its not feces that isn't digested properly?

Could be that his tongue is giving him a problem or that something is stuck in the area where the tongue is stored or in his throat.

Thats possible. If that is the case, do I leave him to sort it himself and let nature do its thing. Or is it a vet trip?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I would get a fecal done. My veiled was regurgitating (looked exactly like you described) and turns out he had intestinal parasites. After deworming he has only done it once, and that was when he ate too much to fast (it came back up almost immediately after eating). Never other than that.

 

[Bernie]

I would get a fecal done. My veiled was regurgitating (looked exactly like you described) and turns out he had intestinal parasites. After deworming he has only done it once, and that was when he ate too much to fast (it came back up almost immediately after eating). Never other than that.

I have been advised to use Beaphar, a worming product from a local reptile store. Could I use this before taking him to a vet for a fecal etc...?

 

[Bernie]

I have started the worming treatment which is taken over a course of 5 days. I am hoping this starts to help him. If after a couple of days he doesnt stop his "vomiting" I will definitely take him to the vet.

Has anyone used the worming stuff before? How long does it take to start working?

Are there any signs of it working? E.g passing worms in his faeces

Many thanks

 

[kinyonga]

Without knowing if he has a parasite or what parasite he has at most this is a shotgun approach...you may get lucky and then again you might not.