Very sick Chameleon, please help!!

[clare197338]

I have a 4 month old female chameleon, who since getting her 2 months ago, has absolutely thrived! Has eated really well, at least tripled in size, good colour, happy to be handled and an absolute pleasure to care for.

Last weekend, I noticed she was wobbling, and rather unsteady.... so obviously concerned.

Next day, phoned breeder and he said it was possibly a calcium problem, and purchased Zol-cal D as he advised. Have been adding to water supply (drip feeder), water bottle, food etc. She seems a little more steady, but has lost so much weight, also has developed a large jet black patch on side in last few days, colour not good (very light), skin dry, and is now refusing to eat!

Wood and glass viv 2 x 3 foot, mesh top. 5.0 UVB compact light housed in reflecor canopy, green tropical heat day lamp 100 w, little dripper system (with vitamins added to water system), high temp 100degrees, low 70, ambient temp 85-90 degrees (daytime) dropping to 65-70 degrees at night.
Spray enclosure at least 3 times a day.

Feeding on locusts, crickets, mealworm and occassional waxworm. Dusting with calci-dust and nutrobal.... now also supplementing with zol-cal where i can.

I will post a photo of her 8 days ago and one of her now, and you will see how shocking she looks... im worried sick!!

I have a male in a seperate enclosue, from same clutch and he is absolutely fine, on exactly the same routine and set up.

Phoned vet at beggining of week, but reptile specialist not in until end of next week, and I fear I will have lost her by then.

Please, any Cham experts can you offer some urgent advise?

Many thanks

 

[Kate]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your little one is not doing so well. It could be a supplement problem. I would stop putting zoocal in her water as they use water to clean their eyes and would have problems if she used her dripper for that. Also you dont know how much she is getting. You could drop some on a feeder instead. How often are you using nutrabol? I use it once or twice a week only. Your temps are too hot , you are cooking her. For a four month old female mid 80s is enough. Can you post a pic of the dark bit on her side please. Could be a burn. are you misting her or just using little dripper?

 

[clare197338]

Hi,

Thanks for reply. I thought it was too hot!! I originally had hot spot at 80, down to 65 at night, but was advised on another forum that i had the temps too low, so turned temp up... shall lower again now!!

I mist enclosure and try to get her to dring when misting, which she does a little but hates it.

Nutrobal 3 times a week, calcidust daily.

Shall replace water supply with just water, it was the breeder whom I bought her from that told me to put zol-cal D in water.

How do I put a pic on here?

Thank you for any advise, she is actually my daughters cham, but I really have become attatched, and it is me that does almost everything as she is in school etc.

 

[pigglett79]

Hello, Zolcal D is designed for birds and dosage instructions are based on them. Also note it contains a decent amount of vitamin D3 which could lead to overdose in your chameleon. The amount of D3 needed depends on many factors such as amount of real sunlight, quality of UVb lighting, gut loading etc, but commonly it is only given 2 times a month to your species of chameleon.

Edit: and on top of that you are giving nutrobol 3 times a week which also contains D3. I think you are overdoing the D3 as well as the multivitamins. Most people give multivitamins and D3 only a couple times a month.

 

[deadhd5]

How do I put a pic on here?

Hi Clare, sorry to hear about your family's sick chameleon. I certainly understand the stress and worry of having a sick chameleon.

The heat very well could be the culprit, but for us to best offer advice, can you fill out this form?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

To post a picture, upload it to a site like google+, photobucket, facebook, etc. Then right click, choose properties, highlight the address (URL), and copy. Then come to back to the comment and click that button above that looks like a mountain with a little sun. Paste the URL address in the pop up window and hit OK. Picture will be important for us to help you figure out what is wrong.

 

[pigglett79]

You can also upload a picture directly by clicking the icon that looks like a paperclip at the top of the reply box that you type in.

 

[Kate]

As a rule I use nutrabol once or twice a week depending on feeders, dusted very lightly. That contains enough d3 and vits for my boy. Using another source of d3 could well be too much. I also use calcidust daily. As far as photos are concerned I can only help with an iPhone.