Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. So I just recieved some pygmy chameleons and have been noticing for the last couple hours now that they are having these bouts where their eyes (usually only one eye) will bulge to the point it looks like there are two eyes in one socket and they will rub their eyes and act uncomfortable. When they get misted with water, this seems to "cure" it for a while until another one will have eye bulging. What is this and is there possibly something in the tank that is irritating them, or was it the 24hr shipment that is bothering them? Thanks for any responses and imput.

When chameleons bulge their eyes out, they are attempting to clean them. You can mist them lightly with distilled warm water to help them with the process. I would concentrate on getting their eyes wet. Try to help your chameleon resolve it quicky. Otherwise, they will continue to rub against branches, which might injure their eye.

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Farrah & Vincent
Email: Screameleons@yahoo.com
Phone: (571) 437-0642
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Chameleon Info & Sale

When a chameleon is bulging its eyes like this, IMHO it is either
cleaning them or something is irritating the eye (either there is
something in the eye or its an infection beginning). There may be
other causes that I'm not aware of too.

If its got something in its eye, gently dripping water over it
might solve the problem, but if its an eye infection it will need
proper treatment..so a visit to the vet's will be in order.

You asked if it could be something in the tank that's irritating
them...its possible. What do you have in the tank? Did you let
the "dust" settle before you put them in? Did you clean the tank
out before you used it?

Hope you get the "problem" solved!

I would normally think that it is them cleaning their eyes or something irritating, but it seems to happen to all of them (which of course would not rule out infection or irritation) but it doesn't seem to be cleaning of the eyes. Plus, it is continual since I have received them. As for the tank, I have the bottom lined with Eco Earth coconut fibers. I did clean the tank with very dilute Ivory soap and then very generously rinsed it out, as the tank was previously a fish tank a year ago and had not been cleaned in as long. The only real concern is that a rubber tree was placed in the tank before I arrived home on the day they arrived and so they had contact with it, but it was promptly taken out when I found out.

One other thought is that I have a 100W heat bulb. Although I have never had trouble with a high watt bulb with reptiles, could this cause any eye irritation? All your imput has been very helpful. Thanks so much.

Too high a heat bulb could cause irritation. There's a specific, i think mercury vapor, that can cause it. Can you tell us the name of the bulb? Is it mercury? Look on the box of the bulb and see if there's any restricted times the bulb is suppose to be on.
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1.0 Savannah Monitor - Artimus
2.0 Emerald Swift - Jesus, unnamed
1.0 Baby veiled Cham - Sir August De Winter 1-20-05 RIP
1.0 Green Iguana - King Arthur
1.0 Rose-hair tarantula - Bill
1.0 Basilisk - Adam
0.1 Water Dragon - Lady

I would think the light could have something to do with it.
How big is the cage? What temperature is the cage at? Have you
got lots of greenery in the cage for them to hide in?
100 watts sounds awfully big for these little chameleons.