vitamin A deficiency? Male vield closing right eye

[jhoover]

I believe my Vield Cham, Age 4months is suffering from a vitamin A deficiency, is it true that chams can not produce vitamin A from the beta carotene? He continuously closes his right eye with no swelling or being sunken in. He is in a 45x45x49 screen cage, using feeder crickets, and meal worms rite now, dusting with repti cal every feeding and herptivite twice a week. I mist 4 times daily for aprox 3 min, along with a drip system. He has the duel dome light fixture with a zoo med 60w blue daylight bulb and reptisun 5.0 UVB. Django means the world to me as i waited years for him to come into my life and i love him to death. Money is not an object i just want to do everything i can for him. Please help. I am very concerned

 

[Surferchick]

Awe, Django is cute! Were you able to figure out what was wrong with him? My Cham has been doing the exact same thing. Wondered if you found the problem or what caused it? Thanks!

 

[jajeanpierre]

The research suggests chameleons are not capable of converting Beta Carotene to Vitamin A.

 

[Surferchick]

@jajeanpierre What do you suggest so chameleon can get Vitamin A?

 

[PJK]

The research suggests chameleons are not capable of converting Beta Carotene to Vitamin A.

can I see some links for that? I have read the opposite as well. Seems like there is lots of discussion on this. Like is it healthy to skip the precursor(beta-carotene) or it is healthy to just give the vitamin A.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

This might help! I agree, Retinyl Palmitate is the way to go!

https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...nced-keepers-please-share-your-wisdom.152159/

 

[Surferchick]

Thank you for posting this

 

[Mawtyplant]

i dont think Vit A the problem, but i know your uvb source are the worst (i already test reptisun 5.0 vith solarmeter and after 4 inch of distance you have no uvb at all (or low low low.. loooooooowwwww uvb)..

Any recent shedding? maybe it can be the cause? any other sign ? (how the tongue work? nice or weak? the grip?

i think some cameleon can convert vitamin A if you give vit A oil be caution.. it can be toxic and vit A balanced with vit D3 i think so you can provoque one imbalance

do you give any extra vitamin to your chameleon?

 

[Surferchick]

@Mawtyplant Not sure about the shedding...he might have something in his eye which i have squirted eye wash and misting him a bunch in hopes that whatever is in his eye gets out. Only supplement i am using for chameleon is Repashy calcium plus LoD on the back it says there is vitamin a min. 80,000 IU/lb (https://www.lllreptile.com/products/31052-repashy-calcium-plus-lod-176oz ) Interesting you say tongue because ive been giving him crickets in a cup and put it close to him to get to and he has missed a couple of times. Like almost his tongue is not sticky enough... i am very concerned since he is not getting better at this point any suggestions?

 

[Mawtyplant]

@Mawtyplant Not sure about the shedding...he might have something in his eye which i have squirted eye wash and misting him a bunch in hopes that whatever is in his eye gets out. Only supplement i am using for chameleon is Repashy calcium plus LoD on the back it says there is vitamin a min. 80,000 IU/lb (https://www.lllreptile.com/products/31052-repashy-calcium-plus-lod-176oz ) Interesting you say tongue because ive been giving him crickets in a cup and put it close to him to get to and he has missed a couple of times. Like almost his tongue is not sticky enough... i am very concerned since he is not getting better at this point any suggestions?

Yep, go buy a good uvb source (like a t5ho reptisun or minimum exo-terra uvb 150 (not ideal.. but better than the reptisun 5.0 so keep in mind its temporary) If its possible for you to bring him outside for real sunray it could help.. sunray is the best of course!) Give lot of water, good calcium without phosphorus and be patient how the poop look like?

 

[Mawtyplant]

and, have you notice any weight gain recently? it is a he or a she?

 

[Mawtyplant]

and, have you notice any weight gain recently? it is a he or a she?

i notice something else, there is no backing spot in your setup, what are your temperature? (important because he need to digest food to metabolize vitamins

 

[Surferchick]

Yep, go buy a good uvb source (like a t5ho reptisun or minimum exo-terra uvb 150 (not ideal.. but better than the reptisun 5.0 so keep in mind its temporary) If its possible for you to bring him outside for real sunray it could help.. sunray is the best of course!) Give lot of water, good calcium without phosphorus and be patient how the poop look like?

His poop looks white to me. What is interesting he seems more active outside of his cage , as soon as he goes inside. He just lays in his basking area... this normal?!? :O

 

[Mawtyplant]

His poop looks white to me. What is interesting he seems more active outside of his cage , as soon as he goes inside. He just lays in his basking area... this normal?!? :O

and the brown part? he dont look deshydrated to me so no concern for the white part

 

[Surferchick]

No not weight gain, certainly not because he doesnt eat much crickets so id say probably weight loss if anything

 

[Surferchick]

@Mawtyplant I think we are discussing about two different chameleons here LOL . I happen to be concerned with mine as well. Here is a picture of him outside. Is this normal coloration and behavior?

 

[Mawtyplant]

@Mawtyplant I think we are discussing about two different chameleons here LOL . I happen to be concerned with mine as well. Here is a picture of him outside. Is this normal coloration and behavior?

lollll!!! ok yeah definitely! so maybe you could give me information about your setup? lol

 

[Mawtyplant]

So jhoover your chameleon need good uvb source, basking spot and all the advice i give to surferchick

 

[Surferchick]

For sure!! I have a 18" 24" 36" screen mesh cage, I will include a photo of his husbandry so can see if something needs to be changed or not. If you see in the photo, he loves to be in basking area (normal?)
The basking temp is anywhere from 80 to 90 degrees. The humidity seems to change since its screen but i put towel on side, will be adding a shower curtain to retain the humidity better.
Humidity is anywhere from 30 to 60% and 30 is the lowest it has gotten.
Check out the photo it explains everything

 

[Surferchick]

I also have a mister and a fogger system since i live out in the desert which is hot and dry climate.