Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took an ambanja from someone because it was not looking good at all about 3 1/2 weeks ago. It does not have URI, it just looks like it has not eaten in months, you can see every little bone in its tail, feet, body and legs. its very lathargic, but it does drink. I have been waiting for it to poo to get a fecal to the vet to see if worms are the problem but he has not poo'ed.

I've raised the humidity to 80% and up'd the wattage of the heat lamp to 100.

I've offered it crickets, waxworms, silkworms, hornworms, and superworms with no luck. the other people who had him said they do not know if he was eating or not, they offered him crickets. I tried to pop one in his mouth when he gaped at me but he spit it out.

Today I made some cricket head soup for him and gave him 8cc's of it and he ate it. (fyi.. it smells BAD)

Has anyone ever had to do this? how much and how often should I give him his soup? sould i add a 'smiggin' of dust to the soup to keep him from getting mbd? any info would be helpful so im not doing this by guessing.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

...she rescued Zoe about a year(?) ago and he made a remarkable recovery - I feel like I know him! (and her - LOL!)

lele
-----
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

he's a beautiful orange with blue bar. it would be horrible to lose him.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

np

It is made by Flukers and I have had great luck using it.
It has done wonders for the chameleons I have used it on .
It is also much easier than squishing bug heads and because it can be mixed rather runny like a liquid they tend to not spit it out.
It also helps with rehydration.

I looked in my 2 large pet stores here and they do not have repti-aid.. anyone know where i can get it?
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

I got it at PetCo for around $10. I was going to order it thru a smaller shop and they guaranteed me the price that Fluker's (maker) sells it for. Since your stores don't carry it see if they will get it for you at the Fluker's (or less) price. This way you save on shipping. I would think that the chain stores should have it but try little shops if you have any around. Also, do a Google search for "Fluker's Repta-Aid" and you'll find lots of online stores.

Here is the Fluker's link:
Repta-aid

-----
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

Petco has it here. Petsmart does not carry it.
-----
Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

ok there is a petco about 45 min. away, I'll make the trip tomarrow to see if they have it. thank you all, wish me luck.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

During Zoe's crisis I had to use bug juice to keep him going...and it was awful. The mess, the smell...and he didn't seem to like it, so it was a wrestling match whenever it was time to feed him.

Then, I discovered repta-aide. I live in Canada and I can ONLY get it at PetsMart. I have threatened them with firebombing if they ever stop carrying it. (kidding of course...but I have let them know that I NEED them to always carry it)
I have asked some of the more reptile friendly family owned stores to order it in, but they don't seem able to get it.
We do also have "jump-start" here (also at PetsMart), but from what I've read on the box, compared with repta-aide, it is simply a caloric replacement, rather than a nutritional replacement. So, I'm not really sure about it's overall benefit to the cham.

The fluker site actually sells repta-aide if I'm not mistaken, BUT, if I recall correctly, it sells on there for 13.99 U.S, which is $1.00 more than what I pay for it Canadian without any shipping costs.
I could be wrong about the prices though.

Anyway...before you make a 45 minute trip, call them...call everyone, and have them check their shelves to see if they have it.

I always buy a minimum of two boxes, usually three. That way I don't have to make the trip as often, and I never worry about running out...I go get more when I'm down to one box.

Good luck with your newest member of the family!
-----
Kim

Thank you all for the posts. i will keep you informed on how he's doing, and I will call around today before i make the trip.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

No poop because there is probably nothing in her system. If a cham gets really dehydrated they stop eating too. I would get lots of fluids into her and try the "bug juice" recipe listed on http://www.adcham.com also. They are liquid and may be more easily digested than solids. She may be unable to process solid food even if you got it down. Liquid is critical, food second at this point.

PS: get a new ReptiSun on her or get her outdoors in sunlight if possible. It can really help!

ok I stated in my post, he's drinking, I watch him under the dripper drinking alot.

I know he's not pooping because there is nothing in his system...I dont mean to be rude but come on...common sense...

anyway, sorry I'm so edgy, it does not look like he's going to make it though the night and it pisses me off, if only I could have gotten to him earlier! Who knows how long he has not eaten for. If only people would be responsible cham owners! you should be required to have a permit to own chams! maybe this would stop the impulse buys and in-breeding and dead helpless chams!
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

What I meant was that if he was dehydrated for some time before you got him it would slowly undermine his ability to eat. A cham who has been dehydrated for some time can end up with kidney failure and even if it drinks constantly it can't metabolize anything after a certain point. I've had a couple of rescues that did this. They were so far gone that all the good nutrition and rehydration fluids in the world couldn't save them. Sorry he looks so bad.