Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please help, my friends chameleon looks nothing like mine, he is 2.5 years old and is really skinny, and his eyes are starting to sink in. He hasn't pooped in like 3- 3.5 months, and is now walking his cage slow and staggery. He'll try to poop but just this white liitle bit of liquid comes out, he's been doing this all yesterday. Please write back with info. I tried to tell him to pump the vitimins to his cham, but he refuses to eat, anyone know anything else???
-----
Lizard Smoke

Well, obviously many things are wrong and I am sure there have been signs right along - as much as chams may hide certain illnesses this did not happen overnight. Sounds like negligent care to me.

"Pumping up vitamins" is not an answer. The animal is surely dehydrated and if it has been for some time then organ damage may well have occurred.

If this person is serious about keeping this animal alive he needs to see a vet. The cham likely needs sub-q fluids & calcium injection at the least.

I'd get it to the vet ASAP. Also, post the complete setup and feeding regimen (if there is one!) to see all the places where things have gone wrong. Sorry to sopund sort of harsh here, but it is really distressing when people let their animals get to this point and then wonder what is wrong and want a quick fix.

here are the setup questions, and if you go to the link below you will find links for vet listings (these setup ??? are there, to) - my guess is this friend of yours does not have a vet and that this cham has never seen one. Can you get a pic of the cham posted? Can you get this friend on this forum?

# Cage type: What size and type of cage (screen, glass, etc.)?

# Temperatures: What is the basking temperature? How do you measure the temperature in your setup? What is the temperature in the warmest spot? The coolest spot? At night? During the day? You should measure the temperature of the chameleons' skin or the surface of its current branch to get a more accurate reading. Do you leave any heat on at night? What is the temperature in the room at night?

#1 Lighting: What brand is your UVB light? How long have you been using it? How long are your lights on each day? Do you leave any lights on at night? Where are the lights? on top?

#2 Humidity: Do you have a humidity gauge? What is the range of relative humidity (RH) from lowest to highest? How long does it take to go from high to low? Do you use a humidifier? Do you live in the north or south (or other)?

#3 Water: Have you observed your chameleon drinking? How often do you mist? Do you have a dripper?

#4 Food: Have you observed your chameleon eating? What is the chameleon's diet? Where do you get your live feeder prey? What are you feeding the feeders? Fresh veggies? Gut load? If you use a commercial gut load what is the brand? If you make your own what are the ingredients?

#5 Supplements: What type of supplement(s) do you use? Brand name(s)? How often do you use supplements?

#6 Plants & branches: What plants do you have? Are your plants alive or fake? Do the plants provide lots of coverage where the chameleon will feel safe? Can you see your chameleon most of the time or can it hide from your view?

#7 Chameleon facts: How old is the chameleon? Do you know if it is wild caught or captive born? Did you get the chameleon at a show? Breeder?

#8 Handling: Do you handle your chameleon? How often and how long? What is its reaction to you? Is the cage in a quiet part of the house or is it in a busy or noisy area? Any big stereo speakers near the cage? Is your chameleon alone in the cage? Can your chameleon see any other herps or pets from the cage?

#9 Veterinarians: Do you have a veterinarian who KNOWS chameleons?
-----
Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

This chameleon is in need of help quickly and I, like Lele suggest that he be taken to a vet ASAP.

You said..."He hasn't pooped in like 3- 3.5 months" and "He'll try to poop but just this white liitle bit of liquid comes out, he's been doing this all yesterday."......is there a substrate in the cage or a pot with soil in it that he may have ingested and become blocked? What are the basking temperatures in the cage? Is he getting UVB light or sunlight? Has he been drinking?

You also mentioned that he is staggering, etc....this is not good. He needs help ASAP, IMHO, or he is not going to be here much longer.

I also agree with Lele about NOT pumping the vitamins into him. I doubt that its vitamins that he needs. Its usually calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin A that might need to be corrected. (Notice that I did NOT say to dose him with those either right away...you need to find out what is wrong before you do anything or you might make matters worse.

Does he have crooked legs, what looks like an extra elbow above the real elbows? Does he hold his body up off the branch when he walks or sort of low/close to the branch?

Keep him well hydrated if possible.

Hope you can help him in time!

ok I am not sure about his feeding and vitimins this cham has got over the years since I don't live with him. I know the cage setup is good he has a 3' x 18" x 3'. He has uvb and 2 heat lights at the right temp. I am pretty sure this cham was impacted from superworms. I was over at his house on Saturday and I gave his cham a bath and rub his sides and belly. I did manage to get the blockage out of him, it was this big white hard piece of poop. It also had a really stong ammonia smell. I felt so bad for this little guy. I do beleive it is neglect too, his food was nothing but supper worms for so long and there were no proper vitimins being used. the cham drinks out of a dish quite a bit I have seem him do this. I hope he pulls through cause he is such a freindly chameleon. I feel so bad cause my chameleon is so strong and healthy and poops every other day. I think a vet is out of the question cause my friend is a real jerk and he'd go buy another one rather than take care of this one and that makes me so mad when people do that. These animals have feelings and are not disposible like razors. I dunno what to do I just want him to pull though i can't take my mind off of his cham.
-----
Lizard Smoke

heavy sigh...so very depressing. I sure hope he DOES NOT get another! Is there any way you can adopt it from him? Is he really willing to let this animal suffer and die? I sure would not want a "friend" like that. I hope you/he (I realize this is not your responsibility and there is just so much you can do)does something soon as I am sure this little fellow has suffered for a long time. From the description of the impaction and poop there is probably some serious organ damage and/or sepsis.
-----
Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she's back!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

I hope that the white part that you got him to pass was what was causing the problem and that he'll now be able to produce feces as well as the white (urates) part. (I feel bad because I never thought to suggest the warm water and massage.)

Its a shame that he's been neglected. Too bad you couldn't persuade your friend to let you keep the chameleon and convince your friend not to get another one unless it will be looked after properly.

You said..."I feel so bad cause my chameleon is so strong and healthy and poops every other day. I think a vet is out of the question cause my friend is a real jerk and he'd go buy another one rather than take care of this one and that makes me so mad when people do that. These animals have feelings and are not disposible like razors" so true.

You said..."I dunno what to do I just want him to pull though i can't take my mind off of his cham."...I understand completely. It would be good if he could turn around.

Good luck with him!

Yeah so it's been a couple of days now, I was over to his house on teusday after work and it's not good. I thought the chameleon would be doing better after passing the blockage but i was wrong. The poor little guy was sitting at the bottom of the cage by his little water dish in a very sad state. I beleive there has to be some organ or digestive track damage like suggested by people. He also said he was going to the vet to get him uthenized so he doesn't suffer anymore. I was sure that he would have been walking and sunning like a normal chameleon but he wasn't, very sad =(. I am thankful though my friend is doing the right thing and not being stubbern to the life of a small animal. He was a good chameleon, when I would go over he'd never hiss at me like mine, he'd always want to come out and chill and eat lots. Oh ya he also said that he isn't getting anymore chameleons he's staying with his cornsnake, I told him good idea because their easier than a chameleons needs, and he's good with them, not chameleons.
-----
Lizard Smoke