stressed/revolting female

[dayzzardguy]

I have a female Jackson's chameleon. Introduced a male and she has been unhappy (dark coloration) ever since. She started looking really dehydrated, lethargic, keeping her eyes closed. We finally got them separated a couple of days ago, but haven't seen any signs of her drinking or eating on her own. We got concerned, and started "force" feeding/watering her and have gotten a little bit of water in her and 2 small wax worms. This morning when we put the wax worm in her mouth she held it in there for 1.5 hours then finally ate it. Every time we mist or drip in the cage she moves away from it, but she used to head straight for it and drink readily. That is the only time she really moves now (away from the water). I have only had her about three months, and the male for almost one month. Any help? Thanks

 

[farrahsc]

Do you have any photos? Also could you feel out the how to ask for help form. It will really help! It's HERE
Just copy and paste it then answer the questions.

 

[kinyonga]

She could be gravid...but its not good that she is sleeping during the day...time for a vet, I think.

 

[dayzzardguy]

Female Jacksons, fairly young, although I don't know age, she's about 4" + - plus tail and I've had her 3 months probably.


Handling - she hasn't seemed opposed to being held, although I haven't had her out more than once every couple weeks, until she went on strike. I know she's got to be stressed, me too

Feeding - staple is crickets w/ gut load and calcium, C+d3 every couple weeks, herpivite twice a month. she won't eat a good varrity like my male but does eat an occasional worm or beatle. She loved the slug I gave her last week (that isn't a problem is it? I read they like snails and slugs)

I have a mister, it runs every hour and she previously headed for the water when it came on. ***last night she drank a small amount of her own free will from a dripper, but not this morning as far as I know.

She's been mostly dark browns to almost black lately, this morning dark blotches, but lighter greenish grey streaks, I'll try to get some pics tonight.

she's been in an 18x30x48 screen cage w/ a spot light, regular day glow bulb, and 2 linear bulbs a 2.0 and 5.0. Real plants, bromillads, ficus, Dracina(sp?)+ but took her out b/c she was so clumsy and the male kept trying to mate and she wasn't happy about it but wasn't strong enough get away. They are in a higher traffic area than what is probably ideal, she has been moved to a quiet spot. she's been in a little cage since sunday morning her new cage should arrive today and will get her set up when I get home from work.

I hate to think I freaked out over nothing, but the first male died b/c dehydration, they both came in the mail and she was OK, but he was in very poor shape and wouldn't drink and died quickly. I am trying to keep her from croaking--probably do lots wrong, but reading and trying to do waht I can, any help is appreciated and sorry no picts till tonight but I'll get them asap.
Thanks!!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Welcome to the forums! It looks like the info you did provide looks alright. What do you gutload your crickets with? Do you dust with calcium without D3? It's recommended to dust with a calcium without D3 at least every other feeding. What is the temperature and humidity in your cages?

Slugs are not recommended because they harbor a lot of parasites that can infect your chams, but I doubt that is the source of the problem you're having.

You should never introduce 2 new chams without quarantining them separately for at least a solid month. A new cham from an unknown source could have underlying illness or parasites that could infect your cham, especially under stressful situations (like shipping) that may cause their immune systems to be compromised.

Although jacksons have been kept in pairs in large, densely planted cages by some people, it doesn't work for all of them. This sounds like a case of needing to keep them separate permanantly.

 

[jpm995]

Sounds like being with the male stressed her out, but shes now stressed since being moved to a new enviornment. Can she see the male from her new area? Keep her hydrated [showers, misting] and get her new home set up as quickly as possible. Hopefully she'll be ok.

 

[dayzzardguy]

I dust w/ calcium only a couple times a week and C+D3 every 3 weeks. Crickets are fed Flukers high calcium cricket diet. My cages are around 80 degees up near the top (72 at the bottom) with 85 in the basking area and about 65 at night. Even w/ the mister, I can't seem to get the humidity to stay above 30% for long since it is a screen cage (open to ideas).

the 2 cages are in different rooms so they won't see each other now. I am working on the new one now, so here is a picture of the old cage.
thanks for the help

 

[laurie]

Now long was the female in with the male? Did she act less that happy when you first put her in his cage? Just trying to get a feel for when this all started.

 

[dayzzardguy]

actually they have been in the same cage for about 3+ weeks and she wasn't actively opposed to his presence in the beginning, but has never acted receptive either. She would just tell him to forget it when he wanted to mate. a week ago Sunday they both ate a good meal and he continued eating as usual, but she wasn't interested, I was gone more, so by Friday I recognized she was hiding and I didn't see her drink. I watched her closely Saturday and tried feeding/ watering w/ no luck. The male was taking advantage of her slow clumsy response, she was still displaying nonreceptive colors and bobbing some. Sunday morning she was clumsy and had her eyes shut mostly and they looked a little sunken like she was dehydrated. When I opened the door, I think she actually came to me somewhat so I quarantined her.



She's actually looking much better today, drank last night before bed and this morning. I just got some more crickets, so I'll try feeding



does anyone know if there are any problems feeding lady bugs (since slugs carry a lot of things, I thought I'd ask first

Thanks for the advice!

 

[dayzzardguy]

So Buttercup has been in her new cage for 4 days, she ate a cricket that I left in there for a few days but she is still just laying around. When I try to feed her from a small cup, some times she reacts after thinking about it, turns her body as if to strike and then closes her eyes or just stares at it (cricket, beetle, or wax worm). She rarely roams unless we hit her when misting the cage or filling the dripper. If I move her to a good spot to drink form the dripper she will drink, often while on my hand, but she doesn't go get a drink of her own initiative, except maybe twice. We were snowed in last week, so no vet, hopefully this week. Any ideas until then?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Lady bugs are toxic fyi, so don't use them for feeders.