Suggestions about my Ambilobe Panther

[chamlove]

For about two weeks now my boyfriends Panther Chameleon (about 7 months old) hasn't opened her eyes. I read somewhere in one of these threads that giving the chameleon a *bath* is a good idea and will help with dehydration. i started doing this about a week ago with warm water and it seems to help. she will open her eyes a little after i bathe her but she keeps her eyes closed all day until i get to his house and do this. humidity is hard to keep up since he works all day. he recently made drip system with a cup and tried to keep it filled with warm water. today i was giving her, her bath and i noticed that when she was trying to open her eye that it seemed a little swollen on the top, then she rubbed her eye on my hand and this clear-like substance came out of her eye. I am really worried about her , does anyone have any suggestions? it would be greatly appreciated, we would like to avoid going to the vet but will if it is necessary.

 

[PITBULL]

Please answer these few questions....

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.

Pictures are helpful


What type of lighting are you using? Linear tube or compact? Your best bet is to see the vet asap. Has she been eating?

 

[westcoastchameleons]

By giving her a "bath", do you mean you are soaking her in warm water? If so, stop doing this, and start putting her in a plant in the shower, and let it get a little steamy (with WARM NOT HOT water).

The fact that she was able to clean the stuff out of her eye is good. However, I would still look into this further. You may be able to take a Q-Tip and help some of the "gunk" out. You only want to VERY LIGHTLY rub it on the eye.

Lastly,
Answering the questions posted above is also important for us to further assist you.

Thanks,
Jake

 

[Syn]

My chameleon had the same gunk, do you have a ficus? Could be irritating the eye. Sounds like a vet visit is in order.

Clue us in as to where you live so we can get you some good herp vets!

 

[chamlove]

i will answer those questions when my boyfriend comes over and we will try to get some pictures tomorrow. when i gave her a *bath* i held her in my hands and ran warm water over her.
we live in North San Jose.

 

[NewOwner]

Your supposed to put her on a plant, and then put the plant in the shower... and put the shower head so the water is hitting the wall and 'raining' on her

 

[Syn]

​

 

[nightcrawler]

I think that if the chameleon hasnt opened her eyes much in two weeks there is not avoiding the vet and you should do that as soon as possible.
go to http://www.herpvetconnection.com/ to find one near you.

 

[chamlove]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Screen 3ft H 3ft W 1ft D
Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? reptisun 5.0 or 10.0 not sure and the heat bulb is a flood light from proexotics, lighting is 8am-8pm
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)?71-90 Lowest overnight temp? 73 How do you measure these temps? temp gun bought from proexotics
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? we dont know the humidity levels, we mist twice a day and have a home-made dripper
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? yes, weeping fig
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? not near any fans or any of those things and is about three feet off the ground

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, i have had her about 6 months and she was three months old
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? lately it has been everyday to give her the *bath* because it really seems to help but before it was only to take the occasional picture and to clean cage
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? crickets and B. Dubia Roaches, we were feeding her as much as she would eat because it was sold to us as a male but now we feed when her eyes are open(after the bath) which is roughly one or two roaches a night, Roach/cricket diet(from progeckos) and occasional fruit/veggie and water crystals.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Rep Cal calcium and vitamins dustings, calcium is twice a week (mon fri) and the vitamins are once a week(wed)
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? mist the cage twice a day until the whole tree is wet and a home-made dripper (added about a week ago), yes i see her drink, more so before
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.brown and almost no white/yellow. the most recent was extremely runny almost like egg yolk Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? no but she is captive bred by a california breeder
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. n/a
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about. Explained above
Pictures are helpful ill try to get some tomorrow


What type of lighting are you using? Linear tube or compact? Your best bet is to see the vet asap. Has she been eating?tube for UVB and bulb for heat, she eats some when both of her eyes open

 

[kinyonga]

Does she have a suitable place in her cage to dig to lay eggs? Has she been restless (before the eye shutting)...roaming around the cage...especially the floor or lower areas of the cage?

 

[laurie]

did I understand correctly you are giving warter crystals to the crickets & roaches not to the cham? Giving water crystals to your chameleon is VERY bad. Also what size is the flood light you use? I don't see enought of a temp drop at night for the cham to rest well. You need a 10 degree drop at night. My thoughts, now we will wait for more of the "big guys" to post thoughts.

 

[dondeb562]

Yah I think that was reading as she is feeding crix and roaches, then stated what they are feeding the crix and roaches as well.
The cham needs a vet asap though since she has been this way for two weeks.

 

[chamlove]

yeah that is what we feed the crickets and roaches. we will take her to the vet very soon. thank you all for the advice

 

[chamlove]

Well she is going to the vet on the 3rd of March(earliest they had), so anything I should look out for? Like any signs that a vet is giving unnecessary exams or treatments just for more cash? Just trying to save money where I can, things are tight.

Thanks

 

[nightcrawler]

Well she is going to the vet on the 3rd of March(earliest they had), so anything I should look out for? Like any signs that a vet is giving unnecessary exams or treatments just for more cash? Just trying to save money where I can, things are tight.

Thanks

I havent had any of these situations and i doubt you will too. Its very unlikely but I think that it should be going in sooner. Juts my opinion tho. Glad to hear that shes going to the vet. Good decision.

 

[chamlove]

We tried to get a sooner vet visit but it was not possible :/
She opened both of her eyes yesturday after we put her in the shower and let it mist on her off of the walls so thats a good sign. I'm hoping she will be alright until the vet visit.