Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male panther chameleon, probly around a year old, that wont open his eyes. Its been around a week now and at the beginning of the week he would open them a little, now he wont at all. He hasnt eaten in about 5 days. He has had no prior problems and has always been a great eater and drinker. I know He needs to be taken to a vet, I just wont have the money to do so until wednesday. And I know it cant really be diagnosed without being seen but any Ideas or advice on what I can do till wednsday that would be great.

Have you changed the light recently? Has anything in your husbandry or his cage setup changed recently?

What brand and type (compact, spiral,long linear tube) UVB light do you use?

Can you post a picture?

I forget the brand of uv because its not the one I usually use. It has the 3 u shaped lights coming out of it, and its only about 2 months old. I did move 3 weeks ago but ive checked to make sure all the temps and everything are the same. The only thing I can think is that the night time temps (since here in ga its just getting cold) have maybe dropped a few degrees, but the house is heated so its not that big of a drop. maybe I should leave the heat light on at night? He are and acted fine the first 2 weeks. Ill try to post pictures later, I dont have a camera but my sister is bringing me hers.

The reason it's important to tell what light you are using is because some are known to CAUSE eye damage...this is critical.Take the bulb and look at it...you could be causing worse damage every day.Night-time fall in temps.down to 63 are fine.

Chams can take temp drops into the high 50s at night, so chances are you don't need any heat at night. They can see most wavelengths of light and it will keep them from sleeping. If your UV light is the "coiled" compact fluorescent, stop using it. Some of these bulbs actually cause eye damage due to the way they compact the UV radiation. Some of them have fixed this problem but I don't know which are safe as I haven't used them. In the mean time, switch to a linear tube ReptiSun 5.0...a known safe type.

One other thing to check...because you are now heating the house check your room/cage general humidity. It may be much drier now and irritating his eyes.

I wouldn't recommend the temp dropping below 60 at all at night...esp.if the animal is ill or health compromised in any way....eyes not open is a health problem.Also,if you look at all the websites by the top breeders,on-line care sheets,none recommend drops below 60.

How's the chameleon now??

Ive got him to drink a little, but he still wont open his eyes often so he hasnt eaten. ive been making sure the humidity is up and the uv is fine. I do however use a zoomed blue daytime bulb for heat. since it is full spectrum i always figured a little extra would help. Ive been using it for my other panther for a good while though with no bad effects. could that be it? Im taking him to the local reptile shop to let the owner take a look.

I meant to say a little extra uv would hurt.

Do you use another bulb besides the blue one? I never use ANY colored lights,and don't know breeders that do...that type of bulb doesn't produce uvb.Are you looking at the websites of big-name breeders for care instructions? The guy at the pet store may not[and probably won't] know more than you yourself.

I see in one of your previous replies that you did mention that your uvb bulb has three "prongs".That IS a compact flourescent and those are the very ones KNOWN to cause eye problems.If you want your Cham. to recover you MUST get the other type [ long tube ]uvb bulb,like repti-sun 5.0.If your pet-shop guy is the one that you got the cham.from and your supplies,then he obviously will not have a clue about the problem.Just get your bulb changed,that is almost certainly the problem.

I bought him one of the long reptisun lights a few days ago. thats what I use for my other chams. I needed a new uv for my beardys so i just moved that one over and got him a new one. Im still taking him to the vet though. since i have the money id rather be safe than sorry. and it is a reptile vet, just wanted to say that before people started telling me to go to one and not a normal vet.

yes I have an actual uv light as well. The blue one is a reptile heat buld. It has heat and full spectrum so I figured the little bit of extra uv it put out would help. and its not a problem a care sheet can fix. I have a lot of reptiles and I consider myself fairly experienced, the problem isnt a general husbandry problem. I got the money to take it to the vet today if I have time after classes, or im taking him in the morning.

just a question on the bulb I got mine at wal-mart should I be worried about eye damage with these bulbs and can anyone list safe bulbs.

You can use a regular incandescent household bulb for heat,just make sure it's strong enough wattage,at least 75 probably,even a 100 watt.For uvb you can use Zoo-med reptisun 5.0 or 10.0,make sure it's the linear tube and NOT a coil type bulb.I don't know of reptile bulbs sold at Wal-Mart.

The bulb name is called critter culture.

I've never heard of it,don't know anyone that uses it.Does the box say uva and uvb are produced? You will be in big trouble w/out a proper light/heat set-up.Many bulbs sold as reptile bulbs are useless...really look at what pro breeders are using.None are using that bulb.Your animal's health may decline rapidly with improper lighting...go back over this thread and you will find appropriate types.

Ok I found out that bulb is a UVA. I been using it for about 3.5 weeks now...... also i take him out side for about 30-45 mins to get some real Sun light hes passing his food well, it has a white tip at the end of his passings I herd that was a good key to look at. UVB is what i need then what if i only use a UVB an no UVA will that work or will i need both. good thing i saw this post or I might have been in trouble this is my first animal i kept inside lol my other panters Lived outside an got the good o Sun.

You must be in a warm state....if he is outside for 40 min.a day,that will give him his uvb just fine,as long as the cage is screen.So he should be fine !!

I live in florida

This is what i got today is this what i needed?

Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp

Zoo Med ReptiSun Desert Compact Fluorescent UVB Lamp

link

http://www.petco.com/product/13365/Zoo-Med-ReptiSun-Desert-Compact-Fluorescent-UVB-Lamp.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

http://www.petco.com/product/12129/Zoo-Med-Powersun-UV-Self-Ballasted-Mercury-Vapor-UVB-Lamp.aspx?CoreCat=certona-_-ProductList_Reptile_4-_-Zoo Med Powersun UV Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp-12129

Compacts are the ones to be avoided.....causing the eye problems!!Get the long tube type....and if you are putting the cham. out in the sun,you don"t need a uvb bulb for the rest of the day when you bring it in,just a heat bulb.

I looked into this topic they did a recall. Zoo_med says 9/01/09 all the problems where fixed in the lights and make sure you dont have an older one. Since 9/09 there has not been any new case of eye damage in reptiles and if so they where from older lights owns never traded in for new ones.