My Vieled Chameleon keeps falling!! HELP!!

[Aries08]

I got Swank about a year ago from my girls cousin and he was doing fine until recently. Now as he climbs around his cage he falls a lot. Has anyone else had this problem or heard of it? Any Advice? I'm really worried about him and would appreciate any and all feedback. Also do they shed part of their 'Casque' the horned thing on their head. Thanx

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I don't keep Vieleds but that sounds fairly serious.
What is your lighting & your calcium supplementation like? Are you using UVB lighting? If so, what type & brand is it, a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light? How old is the light?
How old is he?

Tracie

 

[Aries08]

I have a Reptisun 10.0 and I use hertivite supplementation he eats a mixed diet of superworms, crickets, and I'm trying to get him to eat phoenix worms but he is not really into them. Any help or your ideas would be great. Thanks

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

You are using a Reptisun 10, ok, is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil? How close is it to him? It is recommended at 6-8 inches.
You only use herptivite? That is the vitamin but you do need a straight calcium as well. The herptivite will not provide enough calcium for him, so you do need to get a container of Repcal calcium with D3. I think his calcium levels are low, as he should not be falling like that.
What is the humidity in the tank, is he hydrated adequately?

Tracie

 

[Aries08]

he gets vitamin D3 supplememts I thought it was from herptivite but I could be mistaken his Reptisun is a 20 inch fluorescent, and he can get to within like 5 inches of the bulb.

Thanks

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

My apologies, I had forgotten about this post since I am not in this section very often.
If you are using Herptivite, that does not have enough calcium in it for him.
Please get a straight calcium supplement such as Repcal calcium without D3. I suggest without D3 because chameleons are sensitive to toxicities such as vitamin A, & D so as long as you have a good UVB bulb, he should synthesize enough D3 without having to supplement it.
How old is your Reptisun 10 flourescent tube UVB right now? For safety, no closer than 6 inches is recommended for the protection of his eyes. Do you have a bright white basking light directly beside the UVB light?
If his light is older than 5-6 months, it is time to get a new UVB light.
He may not be getting enough calcium.


Tracie

 

[Puritania]

I just wanna add in here quick.... Chameleons are canopy creatures. They're not subjected to as much UV as such things like Bearded Dragons. I NEVER use more than a 5.0 on my Chameleons, and have heard of nothing but problems. It really sounds like a calcium problem... So, the regimen I use for adult male Veileds is as follows: Rep Cal Calcium w/D3 2x a week, and Rep Cal Multivitamin 1x month. Any more than that is unnecessary if you've gut loaded your insects appropriately.

Oh, and a note on the Pheonix Worms, adults rarely eat them, they're just too small to strike their interest. Try Hornworms or Silkworms instead.

Hope he's doing better.

 

[Aries08]

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO REPLIED ON HERE, SWANK IS DOING MUCH BETTER. I HAVE GOTTEN THE HIM ON THE PROPER SUPPLEMENTS NOW AND HE IS DOING BETTER, I STILL HAVE A REPTISUN 10.0 FLUORESCENT BULB ON HIM BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE THE ONLY OTHER ONES THAT I HAVE ARE THE 10.0 COIL Fluorescent BULBS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. :lol:

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I read this reply awhile back & FORGOT to reply, literally! Sorry!
I am very happy to hear that Swank is doing better. So how did you change your supplementation schedule? Is he eating better as well?
Yes, very true, they are canopy reptiles. They definitely do not need as much UVB, but still do need some. I have not had a veiled but have friends who do that use a Reptisun 10 but it is far enough away not to over power their chameleon & they do fine with it.
I guess it just depends on how you have it all setup.


Tracie

 

[bubadeven98]

well, i was gonna say maybe if you lie all his sticks or whatever on the ground, and if he climbed on them, mabye he wouldnt notice if he was only an inch off the ground. but if he's good now, that's better than my idea. see, i dont have a chameleon, or a lizard, just a turtle. i was reading everything, so thought, " might as well check this out", but i'm glad he's doing better! :lol:

 

[cackums]

sounds like you got to him just in time. My veiled, yoshi, started to fall off his canopy vine plant i set up for him at the top. about 3 days later, he died. Was very sad, he took his last few breaths in my hand and I was really bummed about it. Glad you were able to rescue yours in time!