Troubled Senegal chameleon

G

Gardener

New Member
Hello everyone.

My wife and I have a Senegal chameleon. In our home since December. As of yesterday he has taken to the bottom of the enclosure and is darkened in color. He paws at the sides of the glass walls attempting to get out. If allowed out and held he greens quickly bit still seems very animated and overly active compares to his normal behavior. Until yesterday I would have said his husbandry was fine. Today we can seem to get him to settle. A vet visit yesterday shed light on nothing and fecal test came back negative. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Eric
 
He is definitely a male? If he is I would likely guess he is just going through mating phase like every other male chameleon on this site that is of age XD

Otherwise definitely fill out the "How to ask for help" form. Just to make sure everything is correct.
 
Hi Andre.

We never have had the sex determined. My wife seems to think he is male based on what she has read. The store where we bought him did not clarify. She said she sees what she had termed a hemipenal bulge.
 
Ok guys. Here are my answers to the questions.
Senegal chameleon. Approx age 9 months? We first bought him in December. Our best estimate of sex is make bit not confirmed.
We handle as little as possible. Only when cleaning. In the past day and a half has been more with him being so unsettled.
He is fed crickets. Any attempt for other worms has proven unsuccessful. Generally 2 to 3 crickets per day.
Supplements of reptocal and repti calcium. Supplementation done every 3rd feeding.
We employ the use of a monsoon mister and hand misting. System set up for a spray every 50 mins for 10 secs.
Feces seems firm. If down at the ground it can be hydrated by the ambient water on the bed of the enclosure.
His change in behavior has been sudden as of yesterday. Prior to that he was very uneventful. He recently shed on April 1.
His enclosure is glass sided and mesh top. Heavily included with artificial plants on the side walls and at the bottom of the enclosure. His temp may hit a night low of 70. Day high 85 perhaps. Closer to the basking light may be 90? That would be very close and he doesn't get that close.
Humidity is roughly 70 percent. That varied duri g out heating season here.
Placement of the enclosure was adjacent to a window as of yesterday. Given his trying to escape the enclosure on that side we have moved it to the other side of the room to discourage his seeking the natural light.
We are in northeast Ohio. The temperature dropped quickly yesterday as we experienced a spring snow event. I would not have thought a big change would have occurred in the tank. That said perhaps a lower temp may be best. In the over night hours when the lights were off he settled quite a bit. Perhaps a lighted wattage basking light would be in order.

Our biggest concern is his wanting to head to the bottom of the enclosure and darkening in color. Near black yesterday. Never had anything close to that before.

All feeding drinking and bowel movements seems normal.
Please advise what additional imfpr you may need. Thanks to all
 

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Picture of entire cage? Base of tail, and his entire profile, please? Even if he's in a glass sided enclosure I don't think 10 seconds is enough to drink from. How do his urates look? Are you only offering 2-3 crickets per day or is that all he is eating? I know senegals eat less than some species, but that still seems like a relatively low amount in my opinion. Your dusting schedule is off too.

Lemme check to see what you need.
 
You need to dust with calcium at every feeding, and in my opinion should switch to a repashy all-in-one multivitamin or do a multivitamin and calcium D3 twice a month for each.
 
Pic of enclosure is coming. The vet saw no signs of dehydration. I adjust duration and frequency of spray to keep hydration up. I've been warned by vets not to overdo calcium supplementation. A I mix the 2 to lessen consumption of phosphorus. I offer what he will eat. He likes to eat in a cup so I don't leave extra in the enclosure. He can take all he wants.
 

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It would be nice to confirm if you actually have a male. I believe Andee was wondering if you might have a female that was going to the bottom of the cage to find a place to lay eggs.
 
Here is a pic while he is settled down. Not sure if it shows it clearly enough?
 

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The back leg kinda blocks it but, if I were to guess he looks more like a she. But definitely need a clearer picture.

Edit: Yeah in my opinion that's a she... Anyone else agree?
 
It's hard to over do calcium supplements with Senegals... though it is possible, but the powders are not as easily absorbed as everything else. Plain calicum with no phosphorous is what you want for every day dusting. And calcium with D3 is what you want for twice a month, witha multivitamin twice a month. I am confused on what you have as for a calcium that you are worried about phosphorous and there for mixing it?
 
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