Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am pretty frustrated right now...not to mention STRESSED OUT!

I have changed anything except the UVB bulb. Had mentioned before that it was pretty bright when first installed. Squig was fine at first, now I am not so sure.

I first thought it may be overexposure so I "screened" the light to reduce it's brightness (It hurt my eyes!). Now I wonder if it is a metabolize thing or ??????????????????

Three days into it, he still remains stationary with his eyes closed. He will move about here and there, but not like normal. Hasn't drank or ate (that I witnessed). Managed to "soak" him pretty good last night with the mist. He will open his eyes briefly if I scratch on the cage side, but then closes again. I know this is a sign of illness...besides, my gut aches!

Trying to get an appt with the vet-will take him to a different one-Wasn't too sure about the first one (PUDGE).

This really sucks! I can't even imagine what it will do to me if I loose another....(thoughts of extreme failure come to mind).

Wish me luck, and pray for the Squigster.

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
3.0 Horses Smoothie, Rocky and Bogey
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor, Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

Don't know about the light if it had anything to do with it or not, but I will certainly keep you both in my thouhgts, and say a critter prayer for the Squigster that he be JUST FINE !

Let us know how is is and what the vet says!
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Reach in, and gently, palpate his abdomen, especially in front of his rear legs. Feel for anything that seems hard or swollen.

Got any new pictures of him, especially his head and face?

Gosh Kris, I can't offer anything except moral support. They're tough little guys, so don't give up. I used something called Hydrolyze with Valentino. Once I got him drinking I'd sneak in an eye dropper or 2 while his mouth was open. Good luck. Diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

Well, he licked his lips some while being misted this morning. He definately seemed more alert today, keeping his eyes open for longer periods.

His color looks great! His skin great! He shows no signs of dehydration (I remember how bad Pudge looked)! He even hissed at me and got fired up when I put a few crixs in! His eyes aren't swollen, and his casque is firm and tall! It looks better, not as greyish as it did a few days back.

I will do as Eric stated, and check to see if he has a blockage somewhere. Still working on the Vet! This holiday weekend isn't looking good-with only 3 available within a 50 mile radius!

Keep you posted!

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
3.0 Horses Smoothie, Rocky and Bogey
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor, Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

I hope that he will continue to do better!!! I know how hard it is to find a good herp vet. Good luck with that too. Keep us posted!!

Kris:

We have used mineral or castor oil successfully on the water dragons. It is amazing to see what can come out of one! if you can't get into the vet and you think impaction might be possible give 1 drop orally and repeat in 48 hrs. We had a CWD on the RZ forum that took 2 weeks to pass the nastiest wood chip I've ever seen. All encapsulated and slimy and so big that I don't know how the dragon ever swallowed it. the owner posted pictures when it passed it and the dragon resumed eating and was then fine. Good luck!
Diane
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

Used to pour gallons of it down our horse's throat through a big tube when they had colic. I even think my mom used it once or twice when I was young! (yes I am in the 30 something group). After his reaction this morning...will see. He definately is more alert and responsive!

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
3.0 Horses Smoothie, Rocky and Bogey
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor, Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

Well, I reached in to palpate his tummy...scared the living you know what out of me! Thought he was going to have a finger off each hand for breakfast! His defense system is still working well.

His tummy felt pretty squishy, all though he was all puffed up with air and he was squirming quite a bit. Look around his plants and cage for poop...cleaned it yesterday and there was some at the bottom, but none that I could find today.

We'll keep you posted.

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
3.0 Horses Smoothie, Rocky and Bogey
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor, Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

Kris, I am so sorry to hear this! I know you moved him to your new circular reptarium earlier this month and wonder if this is part of the cause. Maybe he does not feel safe or comfortable in it. Maybe he does not like being exposed all the way around. I know he did an escape/room adventure a couple weeks ago, too. have you considered moving the cage? Have you looked at things that are different now that he is in the new one? Have you checked his temps?

I know much of this may be redundant, but maybe you can run his whole setup by us again. There may be something that jumps out at us, but you have overlooked (sort of like "checking your own work" - always good to have a 2nd, 3rd 50(!) extra sets of eyes! lol!)

post pics of him and cage again, too if you can. Have you taken him out and allowed him to wander (with you right there) to see how he responds then? If he seems "normal" then it is probably the cage. Can you take him outside for some real sun? Just some thoughts to get you going.

As for vets...I am sure you have already done this (with your many animals) but check the ARAV listing (and other resources)?

Vet listings by state
http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist

Vet Connection
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
Real people experiences - has state listing

keep us posted!
The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV)

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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
1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan for now
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

I am positive that it is not his new home. He still has plenty of places to hid, and the black screen provides privacy. He had been perfectly content there. And I know he isn't feeling insecure, cuz he is sitting on a branch right near the opening, close to us humans.

Set up: 36" tall, 20" diameter (63" circumfrence). Pothos and ficus (the one in his previous cage). All necessary steps taken to clean them. 40 Watt bulb for basking placed at the exact same hight as before. 5.0 UVB Zoo-med compact light. Misting twice a day (as before) and he was lapping it off the leaves as of Saturday.

He never showed any signs of stress when moved to the new cage. It is almost identical to the old. The only thing that pops into my head is his little journey a few weeks back. I know they compensate...but it has been nearly 2 weeks since that occured. He never showed any signs of trauma or stress after that.

Found 2 new piles in the cage today. I don't know the technical name to describe it, but part is dark and part is ashy colored-looks as normal as it had before.

Same crix regimin. Same gut load, same dusting powder. Same, same, same. My old UVB bulb was nearing it's six month time (even though the manf. states a year). It did break (the wiring in the base probably) and was without for about 8-10 days until I was able to get one on order. I just don't know.

Still hissing and firing up at me this afternoon. Hate to mess with him too much.

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
3.0 Horses Smoothie, Rocky and Bogey
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor, Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky