Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just wondering how you and Houdini are doing? Are you giving the NCg or are you doing what I suggested re:stopping altogether. How are the showers going?

lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Lele, I really appreciate your kindness and concern for Houdini. I was about to post when I saw your new post. Here is the low down-

I have been giving him 2 showers of daily. I place the potho in the shower, but he hates the indirecty mist, so i place him in the back so he will not be freaking out about the water dropplets, and also recieving the high humidity. I havent noticed him actually drinking any, but does this high humidity still benefit him? He usually just sits with his eyes closed, just waiting for me to take him out I guess.

About the calcium supplements- I have had him off the supplements for 3-4 days now. I haven't noticed a difference yet, but can improvement be seen so soon, or does this take more time? I am swaying back in forth between staying on or off, I trust the vets decision, but he did not know his feedong habits and supplements, so I am kind of stuck. He looks better latetly, and after an extra long shower, his eyes were filled in noticibly better. I am still deciding on the 5.0 or the 10.0 bulb, but am going to the pet store SOON. Any feed back would be awesome.

Thanks in Advance

Sorry to barge in, but I think 3-4 days is too soon to see a lot of change. It took time for him to get like this and given herps' slower metabolism it will take some time to change back. If you switch husbandry too quickly you may not be able to figure out just what effects you are seeing. Yes, he can benefit from the showers so unless he is constantly falling or trying to get away I would continue.

I would definetly get him the repti-sun bulb asap. I have never used the 10.0, so I can't comment on that, but the 5.0s seem to work well. My bro got a tegu about 2 weeks ago, and right from the start he basically wasn't eating. He was losing weight fast. I told my bro that he has to use a repti-sun (which I supplied ) and the next day he was eating and has gained 9 grams in the last 2 days. Thats not a coincidence in my opinion. Get the bulb. Keep him in the shower, and force feed him if necessary.

Ank-Inc.
Adam.

i've never seen a 10.0 bulb that is a flourescent. i have seen the 10.0 compacts that screw into incandescent fixtures like clamp lamps. do they make this 10.0 in a tube style flourescent? i use 24-36" 8.0 bulbs with my chams, they get replaced every august/february.

rachel
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4.3 African Clawed Frog
3.3 Calfornia Newt
0.1 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake
1.2 Veiled Chameleon
0.1 Albino Cranwells Horned Frog
0.1 Paddle Tail Newt
0.1 Green Iguana
0.5.0 Indonesian Floating Frog
0.1.0 Blizzard Leopard Gecko

Ditto on everything Carlton said. He has his eyes closed in the shower just like you or I would - to keep the water out of his eyes Luna would just sit in it or climb sometimes just to get into a better spot. She loved the mist from the humidifier, too.

I'd hold off on the calcium for now. When he gets healthy you may want to find another vet and have a fecal exam and blood test. I think it would be important to see what his calcium
level, kidney, etc. and also make sure there are no other problems. Vet visits always stress out a cham so I would wait until he is back to eating, drinking and just being a cham before you do this. And you may choose not to if he really seems OK. Then you might start up the calcium 1x/week and multi-vit 1x/month. Make sure you gutload his feeders really well with healthy foods. Did I give you the links to the gutload recipes and veggie info? If not, let me know. Btw, how and what is he eating? I would try the Flukers repta-aid. They seem to really like the taste so will take it easily (just follow directions).

As for the bulb get the 5.0 for now then you can research the differences and decide when you replace this one. The pet stores charge A LOT of $$ for these ($36+) and there are places online where you will pay half (about $18) and sometimes less if you buy 3 or more. That is what I do so I always have fresh ones on hand.

Please keep us posted

lele

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet