Very Very Very sick senegal

StacyWattles

New Member
Cage Info:

Cage Type - 16"x16"x32" - two sides are glass, two sides are screen, top is screen.

Lighting - REPT-GLO 5.0 UVB Exo Terra 14w - 15 inches in a strip light and Rept-Glo red bulb (can't remember the specs) - I keep the lights on from 8a.m. to 8p.m.. (I have been leaving the red light on but I guess I was wrong after reading the threads)

Temperature - 70 to 75f at night to 80 - 85f in the daytime

Humidity - Not sure of exact levels but I keep it pretty moist with The Big Dripper and misting at least 5 times a day for about 5 minutes, I am also using Eco Earth bedding which hold a lot of moisture.

Plants - plastic foilage, vines and 24" inch piece of twisted drift wood.

Location - Under our stairwell. No fans or air vents. The top of the cage is at least 3.5' off the ground.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Female Senegal approximately 6 months old.

Handling - I try to hold her every day but since she has gotten sick - I only handle her to put her in the shower once a day. When she is in the shower, she is at the wall that is only being misted - she has no direct contact with the shower spray.

Feeding - Medium sized crickets, when she was eating about 4 crickets a day but she has not eatten in at least 3 days. Crickets are gut loaded with carrots, strawberries, tomatoes - whatever is in the fridge.

Supplements - Sticky Tongue Farms - Miner-All.

Watering - The Big Dipper drip system and heavy misting at least 5 times a day for at least 5 minutes each time - since she has been sick a 30 to 40 minute shower every day is the only way I can hydrate her.

Fecal Description - Bright yellow to pale yellow and white. Not sure that she has ever been tested for parasites - pet store said that she was.

History - She was an impulse buy, when I took my boys to buy dumpy frogs - I saw her and she came right up to me and climbed on my shoulder (well it was love at first sight and since I had everything I needed from having veils - I thought what the heck. Mommy's got a new pet. (I only have the senegal right now - no veils)

Current Problem - Right from the get go I knew that something was wrong - she just did not seem right - but she was very lively, bright eyes, and she loved to be held - she would sit outside on my head and eat flies (hopefully they did not make her sick), she ate her crickets real well and was drinking water - she also has a little crick in her tail. but she always seemed really skinny to me so I took her back at least 3 times cause I knew something was wrong but they kept telling me that she was fine, maybe a llittle dehydrated and suggested the shower - well that worked wonders and she was fine again for a week or so - but now she won't open her eyes, she is very weak, very docile (like I said she loves to be held) - I found her in the water catch bowl this afternoon and knew something was wrong. Her coloring has always been consistant though - she ranges from a pale leaf green to a darker green/brown with cheverons or stripes. I have seen her turn black twice (which was real creepy).
Anyway, I know I need to take her to the vet and will make appointment as soon as possible but thought that someone would have a thought - please don't bash me I am doing everything in my power to get this little girl healthy. Hopefully someone has an idea or two.
 
I was trying to download a picture but I don't know how - it asks for an http address but it is on my computer - anyway, i don't get it - maybe someone could help with that too.
 
go to photobucket.com
upload your pic there.
after uploading, copy the "direct link" address.
and put that http address on the box when you insert the image in the post.
 
here u go

ok just hit at the bottom when replying to a post it says attachment then add ur pic make sure the pic is 240x300 pixels
 
Cage Info:

Cage Type - 16"x16"x32" - two sides are glass, two sides are screen, top is screen.

Lighting - REPT-GLO 5.0 UVB Exo Terra 14w - 15 inches in a strip light and Rept-Glo red bulb (can't remember the specs) - I keep the lights on from 8a.m. to 8p.m.. (I have been leaving the red light on but I guess I was wrong after reading the threads)

Temperature - 70 to 75f at night to 80 - 85f in the daytime

Humidity - Not sure of exact levels but I keep it pretty moist with The Big Dripper and misting at least 5 times a day for about 5 minutes, I am also using Eco Earth bedding which hold a lot of moisture.

Plants - plastic foilage, vines and 24" inch piece of twisted drift wood.

Location - Under our stairwell. No fans or air vents. The top of the cage is at least 3.5' off the ground.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Female Senegal approximately 6 months old.

Handling - I try to hold her every day but since she has gotten sick - I only handle her to put her in the shower once a day. When she is in the shower, she is at the wall that is only being misted - she has no direct contact with the shower spray.

Feeding - Medium sized crickets, when she was eating about 4 crickets a day but she has not eatten in at least 3 days. Crickets are gut loaded with carrots, strawberries, tomatoes - whatever is in the fridge.

Supplements - Sticky Tongue Farms - Miner-All.

Watering - The Big Dipper drip system and heavy misting at least 5 times a day for at least 5 minutes each time - since she has been sick a 30 to 40 minute shower every day is the only way I can hydrate her.

Fecal Description - Bright yellow to pale yellow and white. Not sure that she has ever been tested for parasites - pet store said that she was.

History - She was an impulse buy, when I took my boys to buy dumpy frogs - I saw her and she came right up to me and climbed on my shoulder (well it was love at first sight and since I had everything I needed from having veils - I thought what the heck. Mommy's got a new pet. (I only have the senegal right now - no veils)

Current Problem - Right from the get go I knew that something was wrong - she just did not seem right - but she was very lively, bright eyes, and she loved to be held - she would sit outside on my head and eat flies (hopefully they did not make her sick), she ate her crickets real well and was drinking water - she also has a little crick in her tail. but she always seemed really skinny to me so I took her back at least 3 times cause I knew something was wrong but they kept telling me that she was fine, maybe a llittle dehydrated and suggested the shower - well that worked wonders and she was fine again for a week or so - but now she won't open her eyes, she is very weak, very docile (like I said she loves to be held) - I found her in the water catch bowl this afternoon and knew something was wrong. Her coloring has always been consistant though - she ranges from a pale leaf green to a darker green/brown with cheverons or stripes. I have seen her turn black twice (which was real creepy).
Anyway, I know I need to take her to the vet and will make appointment as soon as possible but thought that someone would have a thought - please don't bash me I am doing everything in my power to get this little girl healthy. Hopefully someone has an idea or two.

A few things wrong here-first off it sounds like you are using a compact bulb-these are known to cause eye issues and other serious problems. Red bulbs are also bad, chameleons associate white light with basking heat. All lights should be off at night. If the bulbs were older from when you had Veileds the UVB could have been worthless anyways as they need to be replaced every 6 months. Senegals are almost always WC, so what are the chances that the Pet Store lied about a fecal? She could have and probably did have parasites of some sort. Her being docile could mean that she was always sick/run-down. Handling daily is way too much for a chameleon. You are giving way too much in the way of the miner-all. You would really only need to use that once a month but should have been using a calcium supplement several times weekly. Live plants help maintain humidity and help with hydration and you are using all plastic. No substrate is best to reduce the chance of impaction AND FINALLY-if it is female she could be eggbound from lack of an egg laying container. I hope you can pull her though.
 
both light fixtures are brand new and isn't she too young to be egg bound? the store said six months but she may be younger - she is around 3 1/2 to 4 inches long from nose to before her tail. She is awfully skinny to be egg bound. What do you make of the black color she has turned? Does that sound like stress cause she flashes that color so quickly? Know of any good vets in the simi valey, ca area?
 
You've got some great advice already and i would add that it most likely is a w/c and that is why she has gone down hill and looking skinny. With the vet checks have you ever brought in a fecal? I would do that asap. Also, if she is really lovable then something IS wrong. Have they done blood tests at all? Are they reptile vets? Or just regular vets? If you need a reptile vet check out this site.http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
And i commend you for keeping up with her, we do see that you are trying but you need to change the things that julirs said right away and get a fecal done. That should make a huge difference in her. Do you know what an egg laying bin is and stuff? Has she been going to the bottom of the cage at all or acting like she really is restless? Those would be signs that she is looking for a place to lay. If she has then it is imperative to get her to the vets tomorrow!! Keep us informed of your changes and her recovery.

Debby
 
she is definately not restless. In fact there have been a few times that I thought she was dead only to reach in to get her and have her move a little. What sort of light should I be using because two different stores told me to use the same strip light?:confused::confused::confused::confused:

Snakes are soooooo much easier!!!! But I sure do love her, she is such a sweetie, hopefully I can pull her through this.
 
Juli has pointed our some errors in your husbandry ... in my opinion, there are several more.
I keep my senegal exactly the same way I keep the veileds.
Please read the information on my site and get her into the vet for a wellness check asap.

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

-Brad

Brad - I looked at your site (awesome) but your habitat looks exactly like mine except for the substrate - what am I missing? I will try again to post some pictures but I am lame when it comes to computers.
 
It's more about the supplementation schedule, feeding and watering.
Senegals are big drinkers and require a lot of water.
Feeding should be only every other day, and only 3 to 5 feeders.
Lighting should be the Repti-Sun 5.0 linear tube.

She has parasites (count on it) which is most likely the cause of her feeling ill.
The stress of being in captivity, and being held so much will weaken her immune system enough to allow the parasites to "bloom" and gain a better foothold.
She is wild caught (count on that too)

On my site there is a link to finding a vet in your area ... chamlover posted one as well.

Good luck.
Cleaning and acclimating a wild caught chameleon is very rewarding .... but a big job.

-Brad
 
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