Veiled fell and breathing heavily

[ashleywise]

HELP. I got my male veiled chameleon about a week ago. Today he was climbing out of his cage and took a fall to the ground. It was not very high but the calcium container fell on him. He is now sitting all puffed up and breathing heavily I believe.
What should I do?

 

[Beman]

Can you post pictures of him? Is he moving at all? Do you have a reptile Vet you can get him in to see?

 

[ashleywise]

Can you post pictures of him? Is he moving at all? Do you have a reptile Vet you can get him in to see?

He's moving a bit. He climbed onto the chords of my computer. I put worms in front of him to see if he wanted to eat and he ate 3 small mealworms. I just got him a week ago so I haven't looked into getting a reptile vet for him yet. I tried to get him to climb onto my hand so I could put him back in his cage but he puffed up when I tried to do that.

 

[CasqueAbove]

If he is healthy to begin with, he should be fine. The Puffing is probably because he is angry. As You don't know previous care, mdb could be an issue causing breaks.
I would let him settle down, do your best to look for any obvious injury. If he looks ok keep a close eye injury may not be obvious. If you see anything, or his behavior changes, I would definitely suggest a vet, as only an x-ray can see for sure.

Hopefully he was in good shape and will take the fall.

Pictures would help. and the are going to ask you to fill out these questions:
The form
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.




He is looking OK so I hope he is Good

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

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[Beman]

He's moving a bit. He climbed onto the chords of my computer. I put worms in front of him to see if he wanted to eat and he ate 3 small mealworms. I just got him a week ago so I haven't looked into getting a reptile vet for him yet. I tried to get him to climb onto my hand so I could put him back in his cage but he puffed up when I tried to do that.

I would get him back into the cage. And keep an eye on him. I would not feed him mealworms either but filling out the help form will assist you in knowing proper care for him.
As already mentioned... They can handle falls if they are healthy. Less chance of breaks but if they are not healthy this is when they suffer injuries easily. Since you have only had him a week I would keep him in his cage to avoid mishaps while he is getting used to everything.

 

[ashleywise]

If he is healthy to begin with, he should be fine. The Puffing is probably because he is angry. As You don't know previous care, mdb could be an issue causing breaks.
I would let him settle down, do your best to look for any obvious injury. If he looks ok keep a close eye injury may not be obvious. If you see anything, or his behavior changes, I would definitely suggest a vet, as only an x-ray can see for sure.

Hopefully he was in good shape and will take the fall.

Pictures would help. and the are going to ask you to fill out these questions:
The form
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 - Male veiled chameleon, the pet store worker did not give us an exact age but he said he's young. I have had him for a week.
• Handling - He has voluntarily come out of his cage 3 times so far. He really liked climbing around my arms and wouldnt like going back into his cage.
• Feeding - I feed him crickets and mealworms at 10am every day. I brush his food with a calcium supplement
• Supplements - I use repti calcium
• Watering - I have a dripper for his cage, I also mist him a few times a day, i've seen him drinking.
• Fecal Description - HIs droppings look pretty normal
• History - not that I know of.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type- It is a screen cage, roughly 28in tall and 16 wide
• Temperature - his temperature stays between 73-79ish
• Plants - i am not using live plants
• Placement - He is in a quiet, warm room next to a window
• Location - Northeast region of america

 

[ashleywise]

I would get him back into the cage. And keep an eye on him. I would not feed him mealworms either but filling out the help form will assist you in knowing proper care for him.
As already mentioned... They can handle falls if they are healthy. Less chance of breaks but if they are not healthy this is when they suffer injuries easily. Since you have only had him a week I would keep him in his cage to avoid mishaps while he is getting used to everything.

I have tried to get him on my hand to take him back to his cage but he does not seem to want to come on my hand right now. How do you suggest I should pick him up?

 

[Ramrod]

He's moving a bit. He climbed onto the chords of my computer. I put worms in front of him to see if he wanted to eat and he ate 3 small mealworms. I just got him a week ago so I haven't looked into getting a reptile vet for him yet. I tried to get him to climb onto my hand so I could put him back in his cage but he puffed up when I tried to do that.

I would get him away from that electrical box or there may be more issues

 

[ashleywise]

I would get him away from that electrical box or there may be more issues

I am trying to get him off the wires but he keeps hissing at me and puffing up. What do i do?

 

[Beman]

I have tried to get him on my hand to take him back to his cage but he does not seem to want to come on my hand right now. How do you suggest I should pick him up?

Do you have a stick he can climb up on?

 

[Chams=Gods]

I would come in slowly and get under his feet and make sure you don't breath on him in the process. He looks healthy so thats good.

 

[ashleywise]

Do you have a stick he can climb up on?

Update= I got him on my hand but he does not want to go back in his cage, he climbed straight to my head and wont get in the cage. He stopped puffing up and looks a bit better. how could i get him to want to go in his cage

 

[Chams=Gods]

Update= I got him on my hand but he does not want to go back in his cage, he climbed straight to my head and wont get in the cage. He stopped puffing up and looks a bit better. how could i get him to want to go in his cage

You can't make him want to go in the cage, but you can get him on your hand then coax him into the back of his cage.

 

[Beman]

Update= I got him on my hand but he does not want to go back in his cage, he climbed straight to my head and wont get in the cage. He stopped puffing up and looks a bit better. how could i get him to want to go in his cage

You just need to get him in the cage hun.... Then fill out the form so we can help you with his care.

 

[ashleywise]

You just need to get him in the cage hun.... Then fill out the form so we can help you with his care.

I got him in his cage finally,

• Your Chameleon - Male veiled chameleon, the pet store worker did not give us an exact age but he said he's young. I have had him for a week.
• Handling - He has voluntarily come out of his cage 3 times so far. He really liked climbing around my arms and wouldnt like going back into his cage.
• Feeding - I feed him crickets and mealworms at 10am every day. I brush his food with a calcium supplement
• Supplements - I use repti calcium
• Watering - I have a dripper for his cage, I also mist him a few times a day, i've seen him drinking.
• Fecal Description - HIs droppings look pretty normal
• History - not that I know of.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type- It is a screen cage, roughly 28in tall and 16 wide
• Temperature - his temperature stays between 73-79ish
• Plants - i am not using live plants
• Placement - He is in a quiet, warm room next to a window
• Location - Northeast region of america

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[CasqueAbove]

• Your Chameleon - Male veiled chameleon, the pet store worker did not give us an exact age but he said he's young. I have had him for a week. My guess would be about 5 months.
• Handling - He has voluntarily come out of his cage 3 times so far. He really liked climbing around my arms and wouldnt like going back into his cage. If He is willing it is OK, you will get used to gently manipulating his direction.
• Feeding - I feed him crickets and mealworms at 10am every day. I brush his food with a calcium supplement. Avoid mealworms, they are not great. There are Superworms, dubia, Black Soldier fly and others.
• Supplements - I use repti calcium You want to dust every feeding but 4 with calcium WITHOUT d3. The other four feedings alternate onec a week, calcium with d3, and multi vitamin w/beta carotene. Fluker makes both. I think the are a decent brand.
• Watering - I have a dripper for his cage, I also mist him a few times a day, i've seen him drinking. You are good here, except generaly it is accepted practice to mist in morning, and evening just before lights out. Letting it dry during day.
• Fecal Description - HIs droppings look pretty normal
• History - not that I know of.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type- It is a screen cage, roughly 28in tall and 16 wide This may be on the small side for a male, but it depends on how it is used.
• Temperature - his temperature stays between 73-79ish This is OK, but is there a basking area ? is that the 79 ? if so that is good.
• Plants - i am not using live plants. Live plants in IMHO are key. They help with everything. I would look into adding some. Us low loght plants, or you can add plant light on cage.
• Placement - He is in a quiet, warm room next to a window
• Location - Northeast region of america

You did not mention lighting, this is the most important part. What are you using for basking bulb, and UVB. Do you have picks of cage.

 

[ashleywise]

• Your Chameleon - Male veiled chameleon, the pet store worker did not give us an exact age but he said he's young. I have had him for a week. My guess would be about 5 months.
• Handling - He has voluntarily come out of his cage 3 times so far. He really liked climbing around my arms and wouldnt like going back into his cage. If He is willing it is OK, you will get used to gently manipulating his direction.
• Feeding - I feed him crickets and mealworms at 10am every day. I brush his food with a calcium supplement. Avoid mealworms, they are not great. There are Superworms, dubia, Black Soldier fly and others.
• Supplements - I use repti calcium You want to dust every feeding but 4 with calcium WITHOUT d3. The other four feedings alternate onec a week, calcium with d3, and multi vitamin w/beta carotene. Fluker makes both. I think the are a decent brand.
• Watering - I have a dripper for his cage, I also mist him a few times a day, i've seen him drinking. You are good here, except generaly it is accepted practice to mist in morning, and evening just before lights out. Letting it dry during day.
• Fecal Description - HIs droppings look pretty normal
• History - not that I know of.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type- It is a screen cage, roughly 28in tall and 16 wide This may be on the small side for a male, but it depends on how it is used.
• Temperature - his temperature stays between 73-79ish This is OK, but is there a basking area ? is that the 79 ? if so that is good.
• Plants - i am not using live plants. Live plants in IMHO are key. They help with everything. I would look into adding some. Us low loght plants, or you can add plant light on cage.
• Placement - He is in a quiet, warm room next to a window
• Location - Northeast region of america

You did not mention lighting, this is the most important part. What are you using for basking bulb, and UVB. Do you have picks of cage.

I am using the lights that came with the cage set up.

 

[CasqueAbove]

I am using the lights that came with the cage set up.

OK I see. So I hate this part, but most of that kit is a waste of money. You say he is new, so the store may let you return the kit.
Lights are the biggest thing. Given a standard screen setup you need T5HO 12% or 10.0 depending on brand. I would just go with arcadia. This assumes the light will set on top of the screen. And The fixture. And here is the burn, they don't sell the fixture with the light you need. Make sure it is a T5HO Fixture.
As big a screen cage as you can get. A male can get 17 in tip to tail. There are a couple options out there. Usualy 24x24x48 is the standard size. There is a glass front one that is good too, Exotera I think.

These are your biggies. Cage $100 or so Light with fixture probably $50-$60

For a basking bulb it is just any dome, even $6 one from hardware store. and an incandescent light. there is a little more in that.

It is not as bad as it sounds, and once done you can have a happy pet for many years to come.

Let me know if you want more specific details. Others will likely add to this as well.

 

[CasqueAbove]

He does look good, so starting with a healthy animal gives you a great start.

 

[Serbianchameleon]

I am trying to get him off the wires but he keeps hissing at me and puffing up. What do i do?

If he’s scared of your hand, and that is normal, you can always try to get him with a stick. Just get the stick underneath his belly and get him on the stick and put him back in his terrarium.