Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do Panther chameleon ,grow more rounded in shape as they get older
not eating extra or making himself expand for sunbathing ,but belly def rounder
have been to vet for x rays and blood test ,but nothing showed up
is prone to not drinking enough
any one else experienced this ?

Do you have a picture? Male or female? How old?
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SandraChameleon@gmail.com
BC Canada

sorry no picture,been meaning to buy a camera but money goes on pets first
he is 14 months old , not impacted ,is sprayed 3 times a day and is misted with a fogger twice morning and evening
has a dripper,water has reptile drops that remove the chlorine etc.
has had problems with dehydration and going off his food.
the latest episode happened after having morio zoophobas for the first time (coincidence?)
and he was munching a bit at the soil in his plant (can not remember the name off hand but did check it was herp safe )
hade changed the soil because it had those little polystyrene balls in it when we purchased it ,but have changed it again to organic peat and left it under the shower for a good wash just in case
had been having critical care formal (by oral syringe)and has perked up considerably
but still looking bloated
was just wonering if they go more rounded as they grow ?

You said..."have been to vet for x rays and blood test ,but nothing showed up"...did you have a fecal done?

Is he pooping?

Does he have a UVB light or exposure to sunlight? (Neither should pass through glass or plastic.)

Do you supplement the crickets with calcium? Do you gutload them?

Hi
yes he has uvb light(bulb changed every 6 months) separate heat bulb, has supplements dusted on food once a week
has a variety of Hoppers, Mealworms,Pheonix worms, Cut worms and their moths Silkworms,Wax Worms and their moths, green bottles (home reared) and just the superworms the once will not eat them now and has not eaten crickets for months

All the worms are fed special prepared food obtained from the breader ths hoppers bug grub and various greens,the green bottles a mixure of bug grub, honey and powdered milk and greens

He is still pooping (although does take ages to do so )and the urates are not too hard and are white ,no blood in stools

You said...he has supplements dusted on food once a week...I dust with a phos.-free calcium powder at most feedings. Most insects that we feed them have a poor ratio of calcium to phos. so this helps to make up for it.

I also dust twice a month with a vitamin powder that has a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene sources won't build up in the system but preformed vitamin A can. Excess preformed vit. A can also prevent D3 from doing its job and lead to MBD.

Since my chameleons get no sunlight, I also dust with a cal./De powder lightly twice a month. D3 from supplements can build up in the system too....so don't over-do it.

Do you have a substrate in the cage?
Are some of the insects you feed him WC?

He might have picked up a parasite. Parasites can not only cause constipation but bloating. Sometimes parasites can cause a prolapse...so if he is strainging to poop...I would worry about this happening.

Hi many thanks for your response and advice
no substrate in cage,floor covered with Reptle Carpet (changed every week or sooner if soiled )
No wild caught insects
do get him out in sunlight when its warm enough but with him the whole time so would notice if he ate any.
Would there by any parasites in the soil he could have picked up ?
he has performed Vit A because i read somewhere that Panther Chameleons need it .
Perhaps can try leaving that off his diet

You're welcome for the comments!

You asked..."Would there by any parasites in the soil he could have picked up ?"...there are parasites in soil if its from your yard, etc. but I can't say for sure.People have also said that even captive raised insects can carry parasites.

You said..."he has performed Vit A because i read somewhere that Panther Chameleons need it .Perhaps can try leaving that off his diet"...I have never heard of preformed vitamin A causing bloating in the body...but it can cause gular pouch edema if you give too much to the chameleon though. Just don't overdo it.

Hope you figure out what's going on with your chameleon!

Guess keep a close eye and continue for a litlle longer with the Critical Care Formula

if he still get problems pooping will get back to vet

thanks for responding
will let you know what happens