No offence to you, but its no wonder your WC'S are dyeing if your not taking them to the vet. I would highly recommend taking your Meru and Rudis to the vet as soon as you can.
I could not disagree more. There are a number of people who keep and breed
Trioceros species successfully without taking them to the vet. A trip as such when an animal needs privacy and stability to acclimate may be counterproductive, especially when the animal does not require emergency care or when an experienced chameleon veterinarian (not just general "exotics" vet) is not available.
On the other hand, fecals are important, but this can be done without stressing out the animal by transporting it. What is the benefit of a trip to the vet, other than for excessive handling, X-rays, and an often-erroneous diagnosis?
Don't get me wrong-- I am not diminishing the value of professional animal medicine; on the contrary. A qualified, medical opinion and general examination may mean the difference between success and failure, but let's not generalize and make blanket statements regarding this practice and chameleons.
Now, regarding the chameleon in question. Mt. Meru Jackson's chameleons are notorious for (what may appear to us) quick declines in appetite-- this may be due, as it has been said, due to improper thermoregulation, food boredom, stress, dehydration, or pathology. I would begin by evaluating each of these things in a process of elimination.
Check and double-check your husbandry (lighting, temperature, gut-loads, photoperiod, cage positioning, supplementation, etc).
1. Is there a proper temperature gradient in the cage?
2. Does the animal drink regularly and/or is the relative humidity appropriate?
3. Is the animal being offered a varied diet?
4. Is there a lot of traffic near its enclosure? Has his behavior changed recently?
5. Is he actually losing considerable weight?
All of these things are important, as is the issue of potential (and likely) parasites. These animals live harmoniously with parasite loads in the wild and depend on plenty of varied food, optimal environmental parameters, and the acceptable levels of stress to maintain a healthy immune system. Bringing them into captivity (and the difficult days or weeks spent in transit, from collector to distributor to owner) may prove to be too much for these lizards by the time they find themselves in your home, so their immune systems are compromised and parasites must be managed. This is not always the case, and often times, deparasitation may lead to death as the weak animal may no longer properly dispose of the dying and decomposing parasites-- leading to systemic toxicity.
This is where a fecal becomes so important-- you can take the fresh sample to most vets (or even forum members) who will perform a float. Not all parasitic infestations are visible through these tests, and certain protozoa may require a blood sample. Once again, the process of elimination comes in.
Hope this helps,
Fabián
