Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, my 10 mo old Charm, Inky, has had a seizure type attack last Sunday nite. I took him immediatly to a herp on Monday morning. Where he was deemed ok but in guarded condition. I was told all im doing for him is great. He was eating about 5-6 large crickets per day untill the Friday befor the "seizure" has all the proper lighting, climbing, humidty, dripping water, gutt loaded and dusted crickets. He has been refusing food befor shedding and I thought nothing of the refusal to eat that night as he is due to shed. Here is what happend Sunday:
I noticed him on his branch with his eyes twitching very fast he was wobbling and arching his head back about to fall off his stick. I opened cage and he fell befor i could get him. He landed on the bottom all tensed up and stiff. I got him out and laid him on a towel on the counter. He writhed around in contortions tongue comming out and he pooped a mucus his eyes bulged in strange ways and he made a squeeling noise. Then he went limp and I thought he was dead. I walked away horrified at what i had just witnessed. Came back 15 min later to deal with him and he was still alive but unconcious. I just sat with him quietly waiting for him to pass on. He then came too about 20 min later and sat up clutched my finger turned brite green and was "ok". Like i said i took him to the herp next day where i was told he looks fine but to keep close eye on him. This morning he had a similar type attack and I am returning to the herp with him. Has anyone ever seen or heard of such behavior? I feel so helpless and im doing all I can to save him but I fear it may not be enough

Whenever I see someone post that "all husbandry is OK" but there is some type of health problem, I immediately want to know WHAT the husbandry is. So often, the person who gave you your initial instructions was not a cham expert (such as a pet shop employee or non-herp vet). There may be a subtle thing in your particular setup that is not quite right that someone else on this forum may see right off.

I have not seen exactly what you describe, but a couple of things to come to mind. Possibly an accumulating overdose of a vitamin (vit. A is often very high in herp vitamins not designed for chams, and it can be quite toxic) or a very large prey item getting "stuck" somewhere in the gut. I've seen chams writhe, thrash around and fall if they are in great pain. I doubt it's some kind of congenital defect, because chances are the cham wouldn't have survived this long. The eye and tongue movements also fit with this. Sometimes when an animal has had a severe sudden stress it will defecate too. When you said he's eating 5-6 large crix a day, it made me wonder if that is too much sheer bulk of prey (legs etc). If you chose smaller crix but more of them and more softer bodied insects like silkworms, superworms, waxworms, moths, flies, etc it might be easier on his gut. Just a suggestion, but maybe if you could give some care details it might bring up some other ideas.