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Veiled Cham Loss of Grip, Coordination, Appetite What am I doing Wrong? Help!

bostonbruins99 Dec 05, 2003 07:47 PM

Hope someone can help. My 8 month old veiled Cham began to lose his coordination. He can't seem to grip vines etc. He looks to be having muscle spasms. I aske for advise here before and was told it was likely a calcium deficiency. I dust jis crickets with calcium powder. I also bought liquis calcium water treatment that I add to his mist when I spray. It has been about 2 weeks and I don't see much improvement. I am worried that he will have permanent damage. Has anyone had similar problems? Can anyone help me develope a better rehab plan? I don't have a herp vet near me or I'd try to get a calcium injection as one person suggested.

Help!!!

Replies (4)

jovcham Dec 05, 2003 08:41 PM

could you please give us more information. you dust calcium? is that all you dust? does it have d3 in it? does he get natural sunlight? do you have a uvb bulb? what kind of cage, whats in it? exc... this will help us help you.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

bostonbruins99 Dec 05, 2003 09:39 PM

Yes I dust with calcium powder brand name :stickey Tongue Farms MINER-ALL it contains all vitimins and D3. He is in a 30 gallon aquarium with a screen top. It sits in front of an east facing window and gets filtered natutal sunlight all day. I also have a UV florescent bulb and a 75 watt bulb for basking. The basking spot stays at about 85 degrees. The cage has both real and atrificial plants ( Ficus ) and many artificial vines for climbing. Last week I bought ExoTerra's CALCIMIZE water conditioner liquid that I hav added to the spray bottle when misting his cage. I feed him a variety of foods. Crickets, meal worms, wax worms, some fruit (lime pump) and greens.
He just finished a shed which I thought might account for his reduced appetite. ( I also keep snakes (Boa & Python) so I was aware that a shed may affect appetite.

What concerns me most is that he seems shaky....unsteady and he favord his front limbs and either drags his hind limbs or has ver spastic reaching or gripping ability with his back legs.

When I think I answered your questions, I hope this helps you help me. I would hate to think he is suffering in any way.

Thanks for your help and concern!!!!!

Charm_Paradise Dec 05, 2003 09:56 PM

Hi-

Exact name brand of bulbs used is important, don't just say UV bulb. Also dusting schedule is needed how often are you dusting? Glass tanks IMHO are a NO NO. This may just be the cause of all your problems. Glass is reflective, holds in moisture, doesn't allow for good air circulation. All these issues cause problems and heavy stress. Light coming in through the window is useless, one the glass in your window will filter out most of the UVB then what ever gets through will be filtered out by the glass on the tank. So do not rely on that light source for UVB. The UVB bulb should be a 5.0 Zoomed fluorescent bulb. Back to the 30 gallon glass tank, you need to get him out of that tank and into an all screen cage ASAP. It dose sound like MBD is an issue the calcium additive for water is no good. You need to get a liquid calcium like NeoCalglucon from a vet. Hope this helps!
-----
John W. Lucas

CHAMELEON PARADISE

CHAMELEONS ONLINE E-ZINE AUTHOR

Feeding Baby Chameleons
Caging Baby Chameleons

F. pardalis

Ambilobe Locale
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Rhampholeon uluguruensis

Eggs Incubating-

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got SILKWORMS!


Photo © Chameleon Paradise 2003

jovcham Dec 06, 2003 07:27 PM

Well theres more than likely your problem. You have him in glass which can stress him out greatly and cause sever health problems. John is also right saying the window does not let in UV light.

One more thing, Chameleons appitites are not usualy effected by shedding, they are not like snakes in that manner.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

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