Worried about my Grabby!

[Sang]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/werners-chameleon-sick-please-18407/

here was the thraed i was refering to, i would imagine if they ar chewed, they would be punctured.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Grabby looks terrible, and she is very stressed. Please quit handling her. She needs a well planted cage that looks like ones people previously posted on this thread. She needs a cage with a top (she will escape when you least expect it), a UVB light, a basking spot in the low 80's, supplements, live plants, and privacy or she will not be around much longer. She is small and hopefully not gravid, but you never know what you will get from a Petstore. A healthy, non-stressed, well fed Jacksons should look like this:

Thank you for posting this picture Juli.


Has Grabby eaten anything at all?

Honestly, those eyes look past the point of no return to me.

Time will tell ....

-Brad

 

[Lizardlover]

Plants!

Like everyone has mentioned so many times, you NEED plants for grabby, she doesnt have very much privacy, making her very stressed, if you want to have a chance at her living this is manditory, Brad is right she does not look good

 

[lyanlynn]

Thanks for the help guys! I know she needs plants, but I have to find something I can afford and something that will fit in her home. I bought two vines today that have leaves. I put one in and she is enjoying it very much. It also help with her recognizing the water. I hadn't seen her drink from misting before and she started licking her lips like I read that others did. I'm excited about her progress. It's only been three days and she really looks like she's doing a whole lot better. She didn't look like the pretty baby in that pic when I bought her, but I assumed she was fine. I'm still trying to get her to eat. She's eaten since I've had her, but I think she's been so dehydrated that she didn't feel like eating, but she's trying to change that dehydration part. I noticed her potty on the bottom of the pan and it's definitely not white and brown like it's suppose to be. Keep hope for her guys!!! She's got some shade now and she's free to go where ever she wants within her home. I have to put her other vine in, but she's digging what's going on so far.

 

[veiledchamguy]

Hanging pothos plants are only 8-9$ tops and they are very effective you can find them at a local fred meyer...safeway...lowes...home depot....or just one large ficus tree will suffice.

as you can see here i keep my guy hidden

 

[chequepoint]

I don't know if anyone else suggested it..
But if you can get some small hornworms and silkworms... it will help boost her hydration levels.

 

[Lizardlover]

good point chequepoint, hornworms especially will boost her hydration,

and does her poop have yellow/orange in the area where the white is (or is supposed to be)
Your doing a lot to help her and are taking all this info well Lyanlynn I hope she pulls through this

 

[chequepoint]

If she were mine, and I wanted to save her.. this is what I'd do.
1) Get her enclosure up to par with what everyone suggests here, a nice screen cage with appropriate lighting, and a nice schefflera or ficus.
2) Order some hornworms, but make sure they're small. Also some small silkworms. While I was waiting for those to get here I'd get some wax worms from a pet store and try and feed some of those. (Only to holdover for the silkies).
3) I would make sure the crickets that I were feeding were on a wet gutload of apple, carrot, and orange slices. I'd also offer plenty of water crystals to the crickets.
4) I'd get her to a vet, who would probably administer some liquid orally and show you how to do it. (Do not attempt this without vet supervision)
5) I'd consider trying reptaid. I used it on one of my chams recently who wasn't doing as well as he could have been.. and I think it played a role in his return to health, BUT I wasn't very scientific in making that assessment, as the chameleon was also undergoing medical treatment, and a change in diet at the same time.

I feel like if you get her hydration up, and quickly, assuming not too much damage was done internally, you've got a shot at success. If not, you've set yourself up to do it right the next time around.

 

[lyanlynn]

Pics of her with her vines. Can you spot Grabby?

 

[Lizardlover]

getting better! when you get a lid make them reach the top though

 

[lyanlynn]

getting better! when you get a lid make them reach the top though

I'll probably get her some more, but she's happy for now. The weird part about all this is that I can see her and she watches me a lot. It's very weird. I do get the feeling that she likes me, most of the time.

 

[desultadox]

After seeing your first pics here, I'm VERY happy you found this site. That may have been the worst setup I've ever seen. =x Not your fault of course, pet stores apparently see no reason to stock proper equipment for animals they sell or educate their employees on husbandry.

That being said, much of what has been suggested so far has not been implemented. Live plants will provide much needed cover and privacy for your cham. Furthermore they'll give her more areas to climb and exercise. Finally, they will help with humidity.

I assure you your cham isn't looking at you because she likes you. She is afraid of you and wishes she could hide. Every moment she has to keep her eye on the dangers around her is a moment she can't exercise, hunt, or sleep. I'm glad you've been so willing to improve her living situation, but please, the foliage is extremely important!

Good luck and best wishes.

 

[chequepoint]

Its important with animals like these to maintain perspective. It gives you a better understanding of the animals true needs and what they are communicating to you.

Your chameleon is watching you, because she fears you, and it is in her best survival interest to be aware of where you are at all times. You are a giant scary creature that stares at her with both eyes like she's food, and sometimes you pick her up, other times you manipulate the world around her in ways she doesn't understand.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Its important with animals like these to maintain perspective. It gives you a better understanding of the animals true needs and what they are communicating to you.

Your chameleon is watching you, because she fears you, and it is in her best survival interest to be aware of where you are at all times. You are a giant scary creature that stares at her with both eyes like she's food, and sometimes you pick her up, other times you manipulate the world around her in ways she doesn't understand.

And ... her environment is sitting on the floor, below eye level.
Poor thing.

-Brad

 

[lyanlynn]

I realize you all know a whole lot more than me when it comes to chameleons, but she crawled up on my knuckles, light as she gets when relaxed, and laid. she went to sleep. I swear she likes me. Her eyes aren't roaming while they're closed, which means she's snoozing. She feels comfortable in her new home, whether I'm watching her or not, and walks, climbs, drinks, sun bathes, etc. She's pretty much accepted that I exist. Although my size frightens her, she knows I'm making her world better. And, she's responded well to all of the changes. It's kinda cold here and a bit hard to find live plants. That's why I've gone with the fake vines for now. She could hide if she wanted to. She's got the coverage.

 

[jannb]

Lumberton's not that far from Charlotte.....there's a vet there that know chameleons quite well......he's on the forums allot. If she were mine, I'll be calling first thing in the morning for an appointment with him. His name is: Dr. Matthew Wheelock if you're interested. Form looking at her pictures, she looks like she really needs a vet. Jann

 

[chequepoint]

I realize you all know a whole lot more than me when it comes to chameleons, but she crawled up on my knuckles, light as she gets when relaxed, and laid. she went to sleep. I swear she likes me. Her eyes aren't roaming while they're closed, which means she's snoozing. She feels comfortable in her new home, whether I'm watching her or not, and walks, climbs, drinks, sun bathes, etc. She's pretty much accepted that I exist. Although my size frightens her, she knows I'm making her world better. And, she's responded well to all of the changes. It's kinda cold here and a bit hard to find live plants. That's why I've gone with the fake vines for now. She could hide if she wanted to. She's got the coverage.

I'm not trying to discourage you or ruin your enjoyment of your animal, I'm really not. But its important to understand whats going on.

She crawls up onto you out of that cage because its on the ground and she wants to get higher. When she is past that instinct and suddenly overwhelmed she shuts her eyes in an absolute panic attack and tries to stay perfectly still. She isn't sleeping, she is paralyzed with fear. This is absolutely as stressed out as a chameleon can be. They do not close their eyes in the daylight unless something is severely wrong or upsetting them.

You can't apply human traits to animals, especially non-social animals. I believe that social animals like cats, dogs, horses, elephants, etc. can bond with their keepers in a positive way, but I do not believe that to be possible with most reptiles.

Its great that she's doing better, I want to see her make a full recovery and you be the best chameleon keeper ever, truly I do.

 

[kenya]

I'm not trying to discourage you or ruin your enjoyment of your animal, I'm really not. But its important to understand whats going on.

She crawls up onto you out of that cage because its on the ground and she wants to get higher. When she is past that instinct and suddenly overwhelmed she shuts her eyes in an absolute panic attack and tries to stay perfectly still. She isn't sleeping, she is paralyzed with fear. This is absolutely as stressed out as a chameleon can be. They do not close their eyes in the daylight unless something is severely wrong or upsetting them.

You can't apply human traits to animals, especially non-social animals. I believe that social animals like cats, dogs, horses, elephants, etc. can bond with their keepers in a positive way, but I do not believe that to be possible with most reptiles.

Its great that she's doing better, I want to see her make a full recovery and you be the best chameleon keeper ever, truly I do.

Agreed. You are really going very far in anthropomorphizing a very sick chameleon. Please stop handling her- it may be what kills her.

Also, there are some fine plants near you. Go get one as soon as you can and come back when you have. I suggest pothos. This thread is painful to read.

 

[summoner12]

Lyanlyn, I think you have come a ways in correcting some of your issues with your cham. But, there are some things that MUST be addressed. If you don't correct some of the issues being brought up you will lose your cham. No one here wants that to happen.

So please, take the advice you are receiving and just do what is asked and your cham will turn around.

We understand this is your first cham. and I hope everyone understands this, we can't save them all... BUT it really can be painful to give helpful advice and not have it followed.

• Put a lid on her cage.
• Don't handle her anymore.
• Place her cage higher up, on a dresser or table.
• Get her a plant to hide in.
• Think about a vet visit.
• Mist her well.
• Remove standing water.
• Monitor poop and urate

 

[BocaJan]

After you have done all that leave her be for a week or two and see how she is. If you have a question start a new thread. This one is getting pretty convoluted and pretty long. You need to ask a question, get answers and follow advice. If you aren't going to follow the advice don't keep asking the question over and over.

We try to be helpful here but it is hard to see if your question has already been answered by someone else pages ago. Thank you Lyanlynn and good luck with your cham. I'm sure that if you follow the advice of Summoner12 and all the other people who tried to help and answer your questions your little one will thrive.