Turbo Hasn't Given Up Yet!

[Acinonyx]

And neither have we. This morning we got up expecting him to be in worse condition, or perhaps even dead, and instead we found him stronger and motoring around the tank.

Today, we went to the pet store and got a list of a few more vets who will possibly deal with Turbo, so perhaps I'll be able to get him some antibiotics.

We also completely cleaned his tank with soapy water, threw out his old plants, boiled his sticks, and put in some fancy new live plants for him to climb on. Hopefully a clean and bacteria-free tank will help his infection, or at least not add to it.

We discovered the doors can be relatively easily pried off the tank, so we will most likely make a mesh front so we can ventilate properly without leaving the doors open all the time.

Turbo is still taking water and vitamins, is allowing us to clean his eyes, and has stopped regurgitating his food. He still motors around and investigates his tank, and his colours are coming back. He seems unsure of his new plants, but he probably needs time to investigate.

The reason I'm posting this thread is that I'm not sure how quickly I can get him to the vet, and I want to help him as much as possible. It's been about a week and a half with no luck so far, so I want to try to make him as comfortable as possible while I spam the vets with calls until they can make time for him. Any suggestions? Right now, I'm trying to keep him warm and hydrated and that's as far as I've got. He's not letting go without a fight, so I'm going to stick with him.

P.S. I believe the pet store misinformed us about his age. Here's a couple pictures of him with measurements, so maybe you guys will have a better idea based on his size.

P.P.S. If anyone is worried about it, the plants are just a ficus and a schefflera.

 

[Chameleonic]

It sounds like you are doing your best to help him out. I think he would probably like some branches. Make a network of highways and make the branches really thin to make it more easy for him to get his hands round them. That will help him investigate properly. Are his eyes open yet?

 

[Acinonyx]

Nope, his eyes haven't opened yet. I think they're the source of the infection. They started forming gunk yesterday, which we've been washing away with warm distilled water. I wish the exotic vets in town were more accommodating. He really smells and he needs some medicine soon.

Also, I took the picture without the branches in. We have a really long, fake bendy vine in there now. It curls up and down and around the plants, so that he has a way to get all the way around the tank and to get up from the ground should he happen to fall. It is a little thick, though, so I'll try to find him some smaller sticks as you suggested.

If he ends up making it through this, I really, really want to make one of these: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/fearaffect/610-cage-making.html. This enclosure is just gorgeous. And I really like the rain dome that JonRich posted. I wish I had found this site during my research before buying the chameleon. I would have been better prepared and felt less handitarded.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I haven't read any other posts started by you so I'm not aware of Turbo's problems but regarding this post, he looks to be about 3 months. As for your plants, that is indeed a schefflera, but the one in the back is not a ficus...the other is a rubber plant. Both are on the approved plant list so not to worry.

If you are having problems with the eyes obviously the best thing is to take him to the vet but in the meantime, I use a product on my cham's eyes (he has chronic eye goop) called Polysporin for Red Eye. It is an OTC Antibiotic drop and it may assist in the absence of veterinary care FOR NOW, but you will need to get him to one ASAP to address the real issue that is causing the eye problem.

Good luck!

 

[Acinonyx]

It's funny you mention Polysporin, because yesterday I was just lamenting to Ben (my bf) that I couldn't just put Polysporin on Turbo's hurts. I'll drop by the drugstore and pick some up. I'm really hoping to hear from the vet by tomorrow. I called a mobile vet that services all the pet stores. I'm hoping maybe she can come see Turbo at home.

I did make another Health Clinic thread, so I've already had some husbandry-related advice, but I'm starting to think Turbo might have been a little sick from the get-go.

Does anyone have any particular comfort food ideas for him? I was hoping to mush up some real bugs or veggies or something as an alternative to the Repta+Boost. A friend of mine suggested vegetable baby food.