Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I recently ordered 10 baby veiled chameleons and have already had 5 die for no apparent reason. I am no beginner to chameleons and have successfully raised many chameleons from babies including Jackson’s and panthers. I keep the baby chameleons in 2-foot long rubber maid containers with florescent lights, live plants, ect. There is also a constant supply if baby crickets for the chameleons. Normally I have good survival rates but this time- no luck. My question is if anyone knows what is a possibility for these deaths. Please ask questions as I will be happy to answer any that will enable you to come to a decision.

Oh and by the way the chameleons are eating and drinking one minute and dead the next day. This is certainly weird. Some of the possible causes I have thought of are

1. The chameleons are very young (2 weeks) and the shipment took 2 days could this stress cause them to die several days later?
2. Parasites or disease? But wouldn’t the chameleons show signs of unhealthyness?

Any help is appreciated

-Craig

Have you sprayed any chemicals or pesticides in the area recently. I had a breeder friend of mine lose some of his Hoes because he was spraying for ants and the wind shifted in mid spray (back into the garage where he was keeping them). He had a sudden die off the next day.

They are definitely more fragile at 2 weeks old so the extra day in shipment could have caused issues as well.
Scales - Premium Exotic Reptiles

how long have you had them? could it have been something that the previous owner had done/ or not done? They looked healthy when they came to you? If it is a matter or you just receiving them, then 2 days later they die. I would write to the breeder and tell him you're specs as in lights and what not and that nothing you did could have caused them to die this soon. I dunno, just and idea, but good luck nonetheless.
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http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dubaliscous/lst?.dir=/Pablo(Picasso panther chameleon)&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/
1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
2.2 Red-eyed tree frogs
1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
1.1 Fire bellied toads
Emperor Scorpion (not sexed)

Another possibility is a health problem with the parents. If they had some underlying nutritional or other health problems they could produce babies with subtle congenital defects, metabolic problems, etc. One of the signs of population inbreeding and low genetic variation is depressed reproduction...either small numbers of babies produced or poor survival.

That is what im also leaning towards, that their was a problem with the parents. From now on I am only buying from repitable dealers. This guy was a rather independent breeder/seller. Anyone ever tried Bearded abd Veiled reptiles? They seem pretty good.

-Craig

Baby veileds require more attention than older ones, as you know. Another possibility is that the shipping temps were too low. Babies don't have to be cold very long to get upper respiratory infections. UPR and the extra humidity in your plastic bins could very well be the culprit. I house all my veileds in screen cages so I can clean up the poo & water from the cage bottoms. Just my two cents.
Good luck with the other ones.
Cricket

That makes a lot of since (the upper respatory infection). I usally house my chameleons in screen cages but these chameleons were so small... Mabey i should build some kind of "baby" screen cage.

Thanks for your help
-Craig

- is it OK to ship 2 week old cham's? And especially in the mail for 2 days? Is this a responsible thing to do? (not you, the breeder). I had always heard that thre months is about the earliest to be shipped...

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

There is NO WAY I'd ship any of my veileds at 2 weeks. If someone does, then they are not serious breeders that care about these animals. They are only out to make a quick buck or two. They don't want the responsibility of caring for them, and some people have no way of feeding them once hatched. It takes a lot of food to feed even a small clutch of baby veileds for even a month or two.
My two cents,
Cricket