Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey gang: I'm having the darndest time keeping my Panther hydrated!!! Sheeeshh! I got him used the the shower and he goes in for 20-30 minutes a day. I got the humidifyer turned on 5-6 times a day for 15 minutes/time. I hand spray him another 4-5 times a day, and I drip from the top for hours at a time. He still looked dehydrated just a couple of hours after the shower!! I've been giving water and Reptaid by mouth 2-3x/day to be sure he drinks. I'm constantly draining the cage bottom!! Whats it gonna take??? HELP PLEASE!! The Labs came back great. No parasites, no Giardia. He's got nothing else bugging him. Just dries out, and won't eat. The doc says he's of good weight but dehydrated. Any thoughts?

Thanks-Maggie

Was bloodwork done????? If so what is the uric acid levels in
his blood? This could be renal failure, and there is no cure.
It is generally caused by chronic dehydration. I would advise
this blood test to be done. Remember that chameleons mask their
illnesses to survive, and usually it is too late to save them
before we realize that there is a problem.

Legendcham

No, no bloodwork! AHHHHH! Do I need to insist on this test?? I will if its crucial! He is looking much better today. But why is he not hydrated enough to begin with???

Thanks-Maggie

Just wondering, what makes you think he's dehydrated? He shouldn't be, even if he's not physically drinking after all that water.... Vets don't ALWAYS know what they're talking about, especially with chameleons.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

Hi: Well the skin is not bouncing back too well when pinched. The eyes are a bit sunken. He is also much less active then before. Today, however, he took a turn for the better. His eyes look almost normal and he was VERY active today. He is voluntarily drinking now. I don't have to go up to him every hour or so and spray his mouth or inject water/Reptaid with syringe. He looks more interested in the food too. Please advise, besides drinking by mouth how else do Chams retain hydration? Do they absorb water at all via humidity in the air through the skin as a frog might do? What is the optimal percent of humidity to shoot for in the enclosure of the Ambanja/Nose Be Cham? Thank you-Maggie