DEHYDRATION
WARNING: This health chapter is written in hope to educate new chameleon owners to recognize early symptoms of sickness. Many of the pictures shown in health chapter are an advanced case of the disease. If your chameleon exhibit symptoms like these, it is HIGHLY advised for you to bring your chameleon to an exotic veterinarian as soon as possible. This article should NOT be used as a substitute for a vet visit. Please be a responsible pet owner. The author cannot be held responsible for any abuse or form of misused of the post. The identity of the sick chameleon's owner(s) is kept hidden to respect their privacy.
Case Study of the chameleon pictured above:
I used the color "red" to highlight the underlying problem
Cage Type: 24X18X18 (in.) ExoTerra Screen Terrarium
Lighting: ESU Slimline Reptile Fixture with Super UV Lamp (UVA and UVB bulb)
Temperature: 70 degrees at night and between 75-85 in the day. 85-90 degree basking area.
Humidity: No humidity gauge used.
Misting session: 2-3 times a day in addition to dripper bottle.
Length of misting session: Unable to get data.
Plants : Fake plants and fake vines.
Picture of the dehydrated chameleon's husbandry:
After series of forum conversations, It is quite obvious that this case was an example of improper husbandry due to a lack of research and misleading advices given by the pet store where the chameleon was purchased. Since hygrometer was not present, the owner was unable to know the accurate enclosure's humidity. Also, regardless of the proper misting and the little dripper used, the chameleon never got the chance to drink since the fake plant foliages didn't hold any water.
The owner, realizing the grave situation, gave the chameleon a prolonged misting session while searching for an available exotic vet in the area. The chameleon started drinking in an instant.
Unfortunately, regardless of the genuine effort that the owner gave, the chameleon passed away. With the owner's permission, the case is presented in this blog to educate people of the importance of proper husbandry method and extensive researches about chameleons care before trusting the advice of Pet store reptile "specialist".
FACTS:
Dehydration is the most common death of chameleons in captivity. It is extremely fatal if not treated as soon as possible. Dehydration is pretty much a self-explanatory condition mostly caused by inability in giving your chameleon enough water, delivering a proper drinking method, and maintaining humidity. However, if your husbandry, misting, and watering method are proper and your chameleon is STILL dehydrated, there might be an even more serious underlying problem. If that is the case, you will need to consult your veterinarian to find out exactly what is wrong. An untreated dehydration can permanently damage your chameleon's kidney and liver which lead to fatality. A chameleon owner has to be alert if his/her chameleon start to show the symptoms of dehydration. A Chameleon in this condition can go spiraling down hill in no time. Please refer to the chameleon care chapter for proper enclosure, misting, and drinking method.
Symptoms to watch out for:
Case Study of the chameleon pictured above:
I used the color "red" to highlight the underlying problem
Cage Type: 24X18X18 (in.) ExoTerra Screen Terrarium
Lighting: ESU Slimline Reptile Fixture with Super UV Lamp (UVA and UVB bulb)
Temperature: 70 degrees at night and between 75-85 in the day. 85-90 degree basking area.
Humidity: No humidity gauge used.
Misting session: 2-3 times a day in addition to dripper bottle.
Length of misting session: Unable to get data.
Plants : Fake plants and fake vines.
Picture of the dehydrated chameleon's husbandry:
After series of forum conversations, It is quite obvious that this case was an example of improper husbandry due to a lack of research and misleading advices given by the pet store where the chameleon was purchased. Since hygrometer was not present, the owner was unable to know the accurate enclosure's humidity. Also, regardless of the proper misting and the little dripper used, the chameleon never got the chance to drink since the fake plant foliages didn't hold any water.
The owner, realizing the grave situation, gave the chameleon a prolonged misting session while searching for an available exotic vet in the area. The chameleon started drinking in an instant.
Unfortunately, regardless of the genuine effort that the owner gave, the chameleon passed away. With the owner's permission, the case is presented in this blog to educate people of the importance of proper husbandry method and extensive researches about chameleons care before trusting the advice of Pet store reptile "specialist".
FACTS:
Dehydration is the most common death of chameleons in captivity. It is extremely fatal if not treated as soon as possible. Dehydration is pretty much a self-explanatory condition mostly caused by inability in giving your chameleon enough water, delivering a proper drinking method, and maintaining humidity. However, if your husbandry, misting, and watering method are proper and your chameleon is STILL dehydrated, there might be an even more serious underlying problem. If that is the case, you will need to consult your veterinarian to find out exactly what is wrong. An untreated dehydration can permanently damage your chameleon's kidney and liver which lead to fatality. A chameleon owner has to be alert if his/her chameleon start to show the symptoms of dehydration. A Chameleon in this condition can go spiraling down hill in no time. Please refer to the chameleon care chapter for proper enclosure, misting, and drinking method.
Symptoms to watch out for:
- Sunken eyes (Be aware, the chameleon in the case study is already in advanced stage of dehydration. When your chameleon exhibits the same symptom in the picture, you need a vet to treat and hydrate your chameleon).
- A yellow or orange urate
- Loss of appetite and chameleon appeared lethargic
- When pulled GENTLY with 2 fingers, the skin is too slow to return back to its position (or, even worse, does not go back at all).
-"Healthy Eyes" photo courtesy of Karen Bainbridge-
UNHEALTHY URATE (ORANGE COLOR) AND POOP (TOO DRY OR TOO RUNNY)
-notes: a yellow urate is also unhealthy. Your chameleon can produce runny feces after being fed silkworms or hornworms. In that case, it is completely normal.
-photo courtesy of Dave Weldon-
HEATHY URATE (WHITE) AND POOP (MOIST AND DARK BROWN)
-photo courtesy of Dave Weldon-
TREATMENT:
If dehydration detected early, the treatment is quite simple. Misting more often and prolonging the time per session is recommended.
If your chameleon is old enough (5 months or older), a "shower" method can be used to effectively hydrate your chameleon. DO NOT SHOWER BABY CHAMELEONS. The water droplets can clog its nostril and cause it to drown.
How to shower your chameleon:
UNHEALTHY URATE (ORANGE COLOR) AND POOP (TOO DRY OR TOO RUNNY)
-notes: a yellow urate is also unhealthy. Your chameleon can produce runny feces after being fed silkworms or hornworms. In that case, it is completely normal.
-photo courtesy of Dave Weldon-
HEATHY URATE (WHITE) AND POOP (MOIST AND DARK BROWN)
-photo courtesy of Dave Weldon-
TREATMENT:
If dehydration detected early, the treatment is quite simple. Misting more often and prolonging the time per session is recommended.
If your chameleon is old enough (5 months or older), a "shower" method can be used to effectively hydrate your chameleon. DO NOT SHOWER BABY CHAMELEONS. The water droplets can clog its nostril and cause it to drown.
How to shower your chameleon:
- Put a fake plant (recommended) or a live one with lots of foliage into the tub
- Adjust your showerhead so the water hits the wall and the REFLECTED DROPS hit the plant. You do not want the water to directly shoot your chameleon. If you can set the showerhead to different modes, set it so that the water droplets that comes out from the nozzle is small and fine instead of big and coarse.
- Put your chameleon on the plant. A first timer chameleon usually freaks. But, overtime, he will learn to tolerate this session.
- Let your chameleon shower for a good 30 to 45 minutes (especially for those that are dehydrated). DO NOT leave your chameleon unattended during this session.
- Continue doing these therapy sessions daily or once every 2 days (depending on your chameleon condition) until he regain his hydration status.
- Do realize that shower method can inflict some degree of stress to your chameleon. I do not shower my chameleon just for the sake of hydration. I only do this method when it is absolutely necessary and when the benefit outweigh the risk of inflicting discomfort to your chameleon.
5 comments:
I am SO grateful I found your blog from the Chameleon Forums.
My chameleon has sunken eyes and has no appetite. I am starting to get worried. I just started misting the tree she lives in more often so I hope it's not too late, but she's hardly moving, has her eyes shut almost all the time, moves very sluggish, etc. Unfortunately, there's no vet here that would specialise in reptile's. She's not looking too good. ): Is there still hope for her?
Judging from the symptoms your chameleon exhibited, unfortunately, she will not heal on her own.
If you live in US, you may check http://www.herpvetconnection.com for an exotic vet nearby your area.
Sorry to hear about your chameleon.
I really thought my chami was a goner, we bought him from a pet store too, I noticed over the coarse of a couple of weeks in the store all the older ( way bigger) ones were doing great, but they were only putting jumbo crickets in with them, the one i ended up buying refused bugs of any kind and almost fell trying to run from them all, meal worms too. He was small enough to fit on the tip of my finger. He has been hand fed repti aid, and loves ferns, & fruit, also we give him crested gecko diet but it is only because a year later the sight of a bug makes him bolt as fast as he can and I am afraid he will get hurt, and he never eats the bugs even if I leave them overnight, & have found them dead after 2-3 days all accounted for not even one would he eat. I am writing because despite our best efforts, just 4 days ago he was doing great moving about, happy feeding time, but after we put him up he fell. He has been taken from his enclosure to a tank because he was just lying on the plants on the first day, day 2 the floor of the enclosure, day 3 noticed heavy breathing, didn't want to eat day 4 limbs a flailing eyes sunk down. I just gave him a shower & he seems to be doing better, eyes are moving not staring limbs are still failing about but not as bad, hes actually moving fr the first time in days. I don't know what else to do for him, I know the diet is not great, but with no instruction, & having successfully had for over two years, water dragon, & iguana had no issues.I had no idea how hard they are to care for but through alot of research he has done great to be one year old & only wanting to eat ferns & fruit. Store had a no return policy, I am doing all I can please if you have any idea what I can do in his diet to help his condition since bugs are not an option. I do have carpet in the enclosure with the front fully screened uva/uvb full spectrum 60W live plants daily misting Am & Pm noting I have read mentioned the carpet,which i will be taking out before he goes back in the enclosure, if all goes well with treatment. what can I do?
There are multiple concerns I have with your chameleon. one thing is for a chameleon to refuse his main staples of insect and go for a completely different diet is worrisome. Chameleon won't survive on fruit diet. And, for a year old to not grow is also another critical concern. unfortunately, your chameleon is going to need an exotic veterinarian care ASAP.
If you think, you can no longer care for your chameleon for whatever reason, please contact www.chameo.org
This is a non profit organization specialize in rehabilitating chameleons. I am not affiliated with this organization. But, I heard good things from fellow hobbyists.
If you ever decide to have another chameleon, I would highly encourage you to read my chameleon care 101 blog series. In there, I cover all the basic husbandry and proper care for panther and veiled chameleon.
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