Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my dad has a breeding pair of jacksons he keeps in a 30"x16.5"x16.5" verticle cage, and his female is limp, has very skiny arms, and has her eyes shut. i think it could be MBD but i work with monitors and tegus, not chams. also he has a UVB coil light that hes used since he got his male over a year ago, i told him to get a new UV light but he doesnt belive me. please help..

thanks
Gage

np

if she was that far along and no one took the time to care for her long before this she is better off. Sorry, not to be mean but this is why we try to stress the importnace of knowing how to care for the cham BEFORE you purchase it - obviously there were many problems, beginning with the cage size. I feel bad for your dad, but I feel worse for the chams. He really needs to reasses his setup or he will likely lose the male, too
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

there is no evidence that chams benefit from UV. Ive never used one with mine, and ive never had any problems whatsoever. definately make sure the male has a varied and healthy diet, as well as chaging his set-up.
-----
- Happy herping!

KE

are your chams outside and in natural sunlight? The need for UVB rays has been proven - it is needed in order to produce Vitamin D3. The lack of it can lead to MBD so for those of us who cannot expose our animals to sunlight on a daily/regular basis the need for a good UVB source id essential.

2 of many articles online
www.chameleonnews.com/
www.calumma.com/Lighting Heating.htm
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

I'm convinced they dont need it for some reason...just my experience. Ive never had MBD problems with my girls. It cant hurt to give it to them, though, especially the montane sp. that need light, but they definately dont need to be cooked to death by a regular light...jacksons etc. Otherwise I always use UBV, just not with chams.
-----
- Happy herping!

KE

how long have you had your chams? Do they get natural sunlight? I am curious b/c if they are indoors with no UVB and they have not had a problem with MBD I am sure some folks who research cham nutrition would be interested in your care. This is not meant to be sarcastic, you are the first who has had this experience.

What is your feeding/dusting/lighting schedule?
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

I don't think they give off enough UVB.
Have him try a Reptisun 5.0
How about supplements? Does he use them if so how much and how often?
He sounds like he could benefit from some care sheets or books on cham care. If he does not want to learn about his animals to give them the proper care he should consider finding them a good home. Chams need special care and are not for beginners or for someone who is not willing to do some research about their care.

this is all the same things i told my dad, he just dosnt believe me because i keep the large monitors, i make him use miner all for suplement, now that he reliaved i know what i,m talking about hes biulding a 4x2x2 cage for his male and 2 females and dont worry i will make him do his research before purchuse( in april)

introduce him to this forum - we don't bite - so he can get other necessary info as well. Didn't you say he had a pair? How is the other one doing?
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

np

It sounds like the way to deal with his "not believing me" is to show him the better online care articles that echo what YOU said. Have him read the links we gave...he'll read mostly the same info several times and realize you do know something!