Posted by:
kinyonga
at Thu Jan 12 09:57:58 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by kinyonga ]
Tongue problems have been said to be caused/the result of imbalances in the chameleon's diet (calcium/D3, vitmin A in particular...although there may be more involved) or dehydration or from bowl feeding (lack of "exercise" of the tongue)or even from injury.
Its not necessary or even recommended to leave the heat on all night provided that the room is above 60F for a veiled. They can take cooler than that, but I have never tried it with my veileds.
All I can tell you regarding lighting is that I have used reptisun 5.0's mainly and had no problems with them. I'm not familliar with the one you are talking about.
Re: water: you could use a dripper as well. Are the pads on either side of his head crest protruding or sunken in?
Re: food...crickets...I don't know how healthy or unhealthy crickets from a bait shop would be. I believe banana is high is phosphorous so it wouldn't be a good choice to use to feed your chameleon. I never feed them tomatoes, but have no real reason for not using them. Try dandelion greens and a little ROMAINE lettuce, melon, sweet potato (slightly cooked or finely diced) diced butternut squash, diced red pepper. See the ADCHAM diet for further gutloading information.
Your gutload should be improved IMHO. While apple, collards,grapes, and carrots are good, try adding sweet potato, squash, red pepper, dandelion greens, mustard greens, etc. for the crickets. I use the same mixture for my mealworms and superworms.
For supplementation...how much you use or whether you use it at all depends on where you live and how much direct sunlight(not through glass or plastic) that your chameleon gets. I use Herptivite and RepCal calcium and RepCal calcium with D3...but my chameleons only get UV light from bulbs as a rule....so I need to use some supplements to make up for the lack of real sunlight. Check the vitamin A and see if its a preformed source or beta carotene. Preformed can be overdosed. There are several good articles about D3/calcium/A regarding interactions of them and their part in MBD that you might like to read on ChameleonJournals. There are several studies being done concerning lights that should be on the web too.
Re: plants...be careful that you use only non-toxic ones in case the insects chew on them or the chameleon chews on them. Make sure that they have been well washed (both sides of the leaves).
You said you have seen the vet twice....did he have any comments on the tongue or your chameleon's health?
Hope you can get this problem solved!
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RE: Tongue Problems - kinyonga, Thu Jan 12 09:57:58 2006