Last Tuesday I recieved a call from the local pet store saying that a lady came by and dropped off her sick veiled chameleon. She told the store attendants that it had taken off eating for the past few months and she did not want to see it die (I guess a vet never crossed her mind). So the pet store called me up as they have done in the past when they get sick stuff in (mostly leopards geckos and other aboreal lizards) to see if I can get them back on their feet. I was very hesitant with the veiled as I haven't had a chameleon in many years.
Anyhow, I get to the store and was shown to the back room where there was a 20 long tank with a screen mesh top. Inside was a maze of quarter inch nylon rope suctioned to the side of the tank, repti-bark, neon fake plants, a large water dish with a air pump and stone running to it, 25 crickets running about, and finally, a Male veiled with a 4.5 inch snout/vent length laying on his side gripping his front legs with his back. Very little feces in the cage.
THE CHAMELEON: Coloration is not bad, dull on the tail but still very beautiful. Has some scabs on both front legs due to grabbing them with his back legs. Top of crest is rubbed but not infected, probably due to rubbing on screen (by the way, the tank like I said before is a 20 long and was in original orientation giving less than 12 inches high to climb). His strength was not totally bad, he was able to grip but not enough to climb. No swollen joints. Eyes weren't sunk in and no bones were showing in the base of the tail. He was not dehydrated ( surprisingly!) Seems underweight and very weak. Not very defensive either. He's very alert.I watched for shaking movement in his slow strides and cannot detect any apparent shaking. THE Biggest issue is, when he will walk for a while fall over, and not be able to get back up! He lays on his side and immediately grabs his back legs with his front.
OK, brought him home, put him in a screen cage that is 20 inches high, 12 inches wide and about 24 inches long. Got a basking spot in there that does not exceed 91 degrees and I have a cool side on opposite end.Got a UVB flourescent in there too. Structures are not set up high either for when he falls. Bubbler dish is set up ( figured if it has been working before).Daily mistings. Paper towel bottom was put in for feces analysis.
He was at first not very interested in food.
The next day I took him outside to get 100% sun and while on the limb (not a very high one either) I held a cricket with a tweezer and he just looked at it, then opened his mouth, so I gave it to him followed by 4 more dusted in rep-cal. He is not using his tongue, he merely opens his mouth and I place it in, then he of course does the rest.
Thursday, He was not interested in crickets at all and would not drink.His eyes looked sunken. Spent the whole day on his side in the "fetal" position. I syringe fed him a tastey concoction of gerber apricot food with herptivite.
By friday, strength has had a major improvement. He fell over while walking and we watched him right himself. Not interested in meal worms or crix, gave his apricot gerber, rep-cal, and small piece of romane.
Saturday, I offored a small piky with rump dipped in rep-cal and he took it( once again, opened his mouth and I just layed it in there). He was not hesitant to eat it at all!
Today....still can not hold long on perches, still in "fetal" position. Strength has improved tremendously! Color is better. Tongue is still not being used and is real light pink almost white. Fed him gerber turkey/apricot mix with rep-cal. He took water from the syringe today as I dripped it onto his front lips. In the past, he rejected this technique. I know he moves around a bit because he will position himself under the lamp and then later will be found away from the spot.
I do see improvement, hands down. But this whole thing about him not able to hold long to a perch is so frustrating and I am confused.
What I think is this. He is not accustomed to climbing high because he was in the 20 long for god knows how long. I think his muscles are possibly not developed well. There may also be early stages of MDB involved, still unsure. I am trying to reinforce his diet with the rep-cal and herptivite and I am still trying to find some Miner-al (sp?). I know the previous owner used Herpcare cricket dust by Mardel because there was a half used bottle used in the "bag o' stuff" that came with him. I feel he is making progress but I still don't 100% know if a chameleons can succumb to psychological issues if they are brought up in a cage that they out grow.And if so, can they be broken out of it. My herp vet just recently moved to colorado. The soonest I can get him to a vet is in a week and I still have to find a vet to treat him.
Any ideas you have, please feel free to blast away. Escpecially if any of you are in the atlanta area and know a good "herp" vet. If you think I am doing something that I should not, please inform me, but I please ask that you do it in a professional manner. In the past, some people have become too opinionated in a rude/obnoxious way and I don't deserve that. My turn around for rehabilitation is over 75% but I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything and that is why I am here!
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for reading this and any additional info you may have. I will respond to any questions and I will try to post a pic tomorrow ( I am too tired right now).
Thanks again!
Severa
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2.3 leopards( 2 tremper albinos,1 high yellow, 2 tang)1.0 African fattail,0.1 pink toe tarantula,1.0 mexican red knee tarantula,1.0 albino sonoran gopher,1 eastern painted turtles,0.1 sun conure,55 gallon freshwater tank, and one five gallon brackish tank with a flounder, and two chihuahuas......and thats all!
