veiled cham with broken arm?

khunu

khunu

New Member
so i got a young female veiled chameleon named khunu about two months ago ive always handled her every day ot two and had explored wherever she could access and about a month ago my girlfriend had her out of her cage and had supposedly put her back.. after about an hour we found her on the floor in my kitchen so i got her and put her back in her cage since then she kind of scoots along and babies her front legs and often grabs them with her back legs her shoulders look like they could be dislocated or broken and she has what looks like a second joint on her front legs and her grip is very weak and doesnt explore at all and spends alot of time on the bottom of her cage..

i have been feeding her crickets (fed with carrots/potatoes) powdered with some mystery supplement from my local pet store
i water her by hand with a spray bottle every day or two when she will drink and mist two to three times daily

she lives in a 55 gal aquarium about a foot from the floor with bean plants some fabric vines and cottonwood sticks she has a plant light with a 100 watt daylight and 75 watt night light

ive had many iguanas that have done very well but this is my first chameleon and need some help as to what to do for her :confused:
 
Hello, welcome to the forum :) Sorry to hear she's not doing well, could you post pictures as it sounds very like she could have mbd, which means a visit to the vet is in order.
You can't just use mystery supplement, you need phosphorous-free calcium for everyday dusting. A better variety of food and gutload is important too.
Do you have a uvb bulb? This is vital as well. You don't need any heating at night unless it gets below 60F, a nightlight can cause sleep problems.
Ventilation is important for Chams, so aquariums are generally not used for them.
Here's a great caresheet with all the basics you need to keep her happy and healthy - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
 
I have to agree with David...sounds like MBD.

If it is you need to correct the MBD and then make sure you are using proper supplements, gutloading/feeding the insects properly and providing appropriate UVB to ensure that it doesn't return.

The quickest way to get the MBD under control is to have a vet give her calcium injections and when her blood calcium levels are high enough, a shot of calcitonin to draw the calcium rapidly back into the bones.

Until the chameleon gets her strength back, I would keep the branches low so that it will be less likely to fall and break more bones.

Here's some information I hope will help you ....
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.

Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.

Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.
 
what is a mystery suppliment? I havent heard of it. Has she been eating and drinking normally? How old is she? it is a female correct? she could have produced egg's possibly if she was going to the bottom of the cage.
 
heres one arm and i definately will get a uvb bulb tomorrow what specific suppliments would you guys recommend? and the night buld is like a black light
 

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It looks as if your chameleon has MBD (Metabolic bone disease/disorder)

This is a calcium deficiency which slowly eats away at the bones until the chameleon is no longer able to support itself. The condition can be stopped but not reversed. Your best bet will be to get her to a vet so they can give her the proper injections.

As for specific supplements, calcium WITHOUT D3 every day, calcium WITH D3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month. Of course, you could get Repashy Caclium Plus, which is an all in one and is meant to be used every day.

Even if it is a black light, chameleons should not have it on while sleeping. They sleep best with complete darkness.
 
yes, your chameleon has severe MBD(Metabolic bone Disease) which is due to you not providing a UVB light and supplementing with calcium correctly. You cham needs to get to veternarian immediately. They will probably recommend calcium injections. Please read up on the info the other members provided for you. MBD cannot not be reversed but can be halted with treatment. You chameleon can improve but will never be completely normal. Unfortunately, the damage is done already.
 
Hi. I, sadly, have to agree.

I want you to look over this thread:https://www.chameleonforums.com/please-help-poss-impaction-veiled-female-67257/

I know it's a long read, but if you read the early pages then jump to the back pages you'll be inspired. You might even decide to read the pages in between.

Your chameleon will never be "normal" but your chameleon can be a wonderful pet. It will just take some work.

I hope you post pictures and updates for us. These stories are always very moving and often quite uplifting.
 
wow thanks everyone i will definately get all of the proper suppliments/lighting in the morning and get ahold of a vet in my area ill keep everyone posted for sure:)
 
so i went to my local pet shop this morning they didnt have either reptisun or reptiglo bulbs so i got a voltarc reptile 18" tube, zilla calcium supplement food spray, zoo med repti calcium with d3, rep cal herpitive multivitamin, gut load cricket and insect food, a rep cal cricket shaker, and some super worms.

i set her up a 10 gal aquarium with the 18" light on the top screen, a heat lamp, sticks along the bottom with cricket food, crickets, and super worms all coated with a mix of the two powdered suppliments will be sufficient until i can take her to the vet?
 
The crickets might start chewing on her in the dark since she is not moving to well. Make sure they are eaten or out of there before the lights go off.

Her best chance is going to be a Vet. Hopefully you found one. There is a list on the forum of Vets I believe if you have not.

Good luck with your Cham, just remember it will take patience, dedication and commitment to do this. It will be worth it all once they are back to being healthy.

You took the first step in coming here just keep following through- we are all rooting for you two!
 
Me three. The site does say they make bulbs used to display reptiles, but then there is no information about UVB and the only "animal" use that gets a section is for aquariums.
 
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