Veiled chameleon sitting bottom of cage

Notanugget

New Member
Hi we have a male veiled chameleon who is approximately 8-9 months old. For the past several days, almost a week, he has been sitting on the very bottom of the cage not moving, not eating or drinking. He will move if I clean his cage but only slightly. I was worried something was wrong with his legs so I picked him up and put him on top on a branch and he sat there for a bit then went back to the bottom. The cage isn’t too hot or cold, he’s in a large open air ReptiBreeze cage. I’m new to chameleons and have no idea what’s wrong. Any thoughts?
 
Hi! And welcome, what your describing could be caused by various things and he may need to see a vet. So we can help you, please fill out the help form. Just copy and paste, then fill in each section. Be as specific as possible. Thanks! :)
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.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
  • Placement - 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?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Hi! And welcome, what your describing could be caused by various things and he may need to see a vet. So we can help you, please fill out the help form. Just copy and paste, then fill in each section. Be as specific as possible. Thanks! :)
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.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
  • Placement - 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?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Make, veiled chameleon, got him in early December when he was a few weeks old.
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Very rarely. He’s never liked it.
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? We buy from a reptile feeder food seller. We go between superworms, silk worms and meal worms.
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? None
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? We spray their leaves twice a day with water from a spray bottle. Don’t see him drinking but never paid attention.
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Brown and firm but not too hard
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Got him and a girl at the same time from a breeder but they are kept in different cages

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Screen cage, 16x16x30”
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? The cage kit came with a domed heated light. We turn the light on in the morning and leave it in til evening
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Don’t measure the temps. House is kept at 70 degrees
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Don’t measure
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Fake plants that came with the cage
  • Placement - 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? In our office. Not a lot of traffic. Cage is on top of a file drawer about 4 feet off the ground. No ventsor fans.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? Northern California
 
  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Make, veiled chameleon, got him in early December when he was a few weeks old.
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Very rarely. He’s never liked it.
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? We buy from a reptile feeder food seller. We go between superworms, silk worms and meal worms.
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? None
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? We spray their leaves twice a day with water from a spray bottle. Don’t see him drinking but never paid attention.
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Brown and firm but not too hard
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Got him and a girl at the same time from a breeder but they are kept in different cages

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Screen cage, 16x16x30”
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? The cage kit came with a domed heated light. We turn the light on in the morning and leave it in til evening
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Don’t measure the temps. House is kept at 70 degrees
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Don’t measure
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Fake plants that came with the cage
  • Placement - 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? In our office. Not a lot of traffic. Cage is on top of a file drawer about 4 feet off the ground. No ventsor fans.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? Northern California
 

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MBD, 100%.
No supplements with CFL UVB, I’m shocked it’s made it this far.

Please post pics of the entire viv and the back of his rear feet.
 
How is the other chameleon? You said you had two and that the other was a female. Can you post pics of her and her hind feet? She too is needing veterinary care ASAP most likely.
 
How is the other chameleon? You said you had two and that the other was a female. Can you post pics of her and her hind feet? She too is needing veterinary care ASAP most likely.
Here’s pics of the girl. Or the one we thought was a girl
 

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That I don’t know. I’m very new at this myself and learning. However, that many months with no proper UVB lighting or calcium supplements, he most likely has MBD too. The experienced members can guide you much better than I.
 
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