What do you guys think?

[jhcarlton09]

Hey everyone, I've got a 4 year old male veiled. He's been eating and drinking normally, but for the past few days he just lays on the floor of his cage. He has barely any energy and doesn't even try to bite me when I go to take him out. As soon as I put him back on the branch near the top of his cage, he just runs back down to the bottom and doesnt move. Also, he hasnt pooped for about a week, which I know is not normal. I'm still gonna shower him, just to make sure he isn't dehydrated. Any other suggestions? Here are some pics:

 

[Julirs]

4 years could be the end for him. Have you had him for all 4 years? How long has it been since he has eaten?

 

[Justin Carl]

Well, it would seem that your cage hygiene isn't the best.
He hasn't pooped in over a week, yet he is laying on it.
So, it would be possible that his chance of having some kind of bacteria could be a problem.
Damp newspaper is a great breeding ground for bacteria.
One thing that I have notice about sick/near death chameleons is that their colors are very bright.
I would get that chameleon to a vet very soon.
Four years old is pretty good, but not a full life.
Was he a wild caught or captive bred?

Please fill the information below in detail.
ie. lighting brands and types, exact temps, supplement schedules and brands, etc.

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size?
* Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?
* Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas?


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[jhcarlton09]

I thought their life span was longer than 4 years. Yes Ive had him all 4 years and this has never happened. I force fed him yesterday and before that it was a few days. He doenst seem to have the energy to even stand up straight.

 

[jhcarlton09]

Here is his enclosure, food, and supplement.

 

[jhcarlton09]

Well, it would seem that your cage hygiene isn't the best.
He hasn't pooped in over a week, yet he is laying on it.
So, it would be possible that his chance of having some kind of bacteria could be a problem.
Damp newspaper is a great breeding ground for bacteria.
One thing that I have notice about sick/near death chameleons is that their colors are very bright.
I would get that chameleon to a vet very soon.
Four years old is pretty good, but not a full life.
Was he a wild caught or captive bred?

Please fill the information below in detail.
ie. lighting brands and types, exact temps, supplement schedules and brands, etc.

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size-SEE PIC
* Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?-12/12
* Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night? 80-85 DAY, 73-78 NIGHT
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? NOT SURE
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? NO LIVE PLANTS
* Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? LOW TRAFFIC, CLOSED AIR VENT


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. VEILED, MALE, 4 YRS
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? SUPERWORMS (APPROX 25 PER WEEK)
* Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use? HERBVITIVE, 1 DUST PER WEEK ON ALL WORMS
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking? EYE DROPPER
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. NO RECENT DROPPINGS
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. NO PROBLEMS
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about. VERY LAZY, REFUSES TO STAY ON BRANCHES, RUNS TO FLOOR OF CAGE

 

[Julirs]

Whoa-the poor guy has lived in that for all these years with no live plants and you are not sure of the humidity AND he only drinks with an eye dropper? Not to mention that you did not say anything about UVB lighting and your supplementation is completely missing calcium-Herptivite should be used once a month with adults. Are you gutloading your feeders? Not to sound mean but I am suprised he has made it this long.

 

[jhcarlton09]

Here are the lamps

 

[jhcarlton09]

Whoa-the poor guy has lived in that for all these years with no live plants and you are not sure of the humidity AND he only drinks with an eye dropper? Not to mention that you did not say anything about UVB lighting and your supplementation is completely missing calcium-Herptivite should be used once a month with adults. Are you gutloading your feeders? Not to sound mean but I am suprised he has made it this long.

Actually, Herptivite does contain calcium. 22,000 mg/kg. I used to mist him, but I found he got alot more water with the dropper because he puts his mouth directly to it and sucks the water out. UVB lighting is posted. No I do not gutload.

 

[Chamero]

Guess these guys really are a hardy animal. I know which kind ima get now. Thanks

 

[Chamero]

Oh and sorry for your loss. I recently lost mine too, but guess thats the nature of the game though. As long as you did all you can for him. And personally, if I knew death was inevitable, I would take him out and let him spend his last times with nature. Anyway, good luck with the whole thing.

 

[jhcarlton09]

sorry for my loss?, hes not dead dude. lol

 

[shaneandjennifer]

Does he really eat 25 superworms a week at 4 years? Is that a lot or does mine just not eat that much? That seems like a lot.

His cage does look awfully sparse though. Live plants are the best, get some.

 

[jhcarlton09]

Sometimes its less, but his appetite is usually pretty good.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

Looks like a pretty tough situation. A Vet visit might give him a chance. There are a lot of things that could be making him that ill. Fecal and blood tests might uncover what is going on. Otherwise, maybe a dose of unfiltered sunlight for a few hours might give some indication of which way he's headed from there on. Be careful not to let him cook in too hot of an outdoor environment.

Under the right conditions your ReptiGlo 5.0 might have been enough UVB but it is hard to tell if he was able to spend a few hours within 6"-12" of the tube's unobstructed surface (no plastic or glass in-between.) He wasn't getting any Vit. D3 with his calcium so that, combined with little or no UVB may have led to this condition.

What part of the world are you located?

 

[jhcarlton09]

I live in florida. I might need to get a new UVB bulb. But actually, I just put his cage in the shower and he's actually standing straight up on his branch and drinking and not running down to the bottom. We'll see, I have a vet appointment on monday if he is still not better.

 

[jhcarlton09]

i"ll try letting him bask in real sunlight for a while also