Dripper + Chameleon problem

[P. Novak]

Does anyone know where I can find a dripper for my chameleons cage? Misting just isn't cutting it anymore. Atleast this is what I believe from the reading I've been doing. My male ambilobe panther chameleon has not opened his eyes the last couple of days. His eyes also beginning bulgding at times. I have read that this is from dehydration, and misting it several times a day seems to be doing nothing. So I began misting and placing ice on top of his cage to allow access to water longer, but still his eyes are staying closed. I'm thinking I'm gonna need a dripper with misting. Any other reccomendations on how to keep the humidity up, and/or the eye situation.

Thanks a ton,
Paul

 

[LeilaNami]

Drippers were sold at Petco last time I checked. My store clearanced them but others might still have them.

 

[skippy]

one of those repti-foggers would be good i think:}

 

[P. Novak]

Drippers were sold at Petco last time I checked. My store clearanced them but others might still have them.

I didn't see any at Petco or Petsmart.

 

[LeilaNami]

well boo. I guess you might have to resort to online dealers then.

 

[kupo969]

My local Petco/Petsmart usually have them in stock. If yours doesn't, you might have to resort to buying online or making your own (I have no idea how to go about this).

Here are some quick links I found.

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Zoo-Med-Drippers
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/bowls-drippers-misters-and-humidifiers/

Chameleons are such fragile creatures. I hope you get yours to pull through. Good luck!

 

[LeilaNami]

I know in some aquatic turtles, swollen eyes could also mean a vitamin A deficiency. Could this also apply to chams or is it usually dehydration?

 

[Endagr8]

I believe swollen eyes can also be caused by too much UV-B exposure.

 

[Endagr8]

Found the link:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-info.htm
This could be the problem, it has affected chameleons before. More pics:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-cases.htm

 

[LeilaNami]

yep you're right too. I guess it's time to troubleshoot

 

[P. Novak]

Oh wow, that's interesting.

I'm using a 2' floruescent UVB bulb. I believe 10.0 I'm not entirely sure though.

Any reccomendations on specific UVB bulbs?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[LeilaNami]

10.0 I think is meant for desert....if anything you would use the 5.0...that issue with the radiation was mostly with compacts if I remember correctly but it is possible if there isn't a gradient although you would probably also see evidence in the form of a skin disorder as well if it were radiation (blisters, dry cracked skin, etc.)

 

[Endagr8]

you would probably also see evidence in the form of a skin disorder as well if it were radiation (blisters, dry cracked skin, etc.)

not necessarily. The animals in the pictures appeared to have healthy skin. I don't think reptiles can get sunburned (at least not in the same sense as we do; dry, cracked skin is often caused by either too little humidity or too much heat, or a combination of the two. blisters are caused by disease).

 

[LeilaNami]

not necessarily. The animals in the pictures appeared to have healthy skin. I don't think reptiles can get sunburned (at least not in the same sense as we do; dry, cracked skin is often caused by either too little humidity or too much heat, or a combination of the two. blisters are caused by disease).

That's not entirely true. Yes, you can have evidence of radiation just affecting the eyes but radiation can very well affect the skin. I didn't really mean sunburned but blisters while often caused by septicemia infections can also be a result of radiation. The same is with cracked skin. I've personally seen the effects on skin with compacts on a leopard gecko. I was kind of aiming towards more advanced cases of radiation with my previous posts.

I would suggest at the very least switching to a 5.0 strip light. Do you have a hygrometer in the cage?

 

[Snuggles]

If you do end up getting a dripper (I got mine from Petco), be careful. Mine malfunctioned while I was at work one day and the whole reservoir emptied into the enclosure.

I had a 20L with a bunch of live plants and several house geckos. The geckos climbed the plants to get away from the water, but the temperature change for such a long period of time (until I got home from work) took it's toll. Although I changed the sand and took the plants out because they were soaking wet, I still lost every single gecko within the next few days.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Although utilizing a dripper for a chameleon is (in my opinion) a very good practice ( I have drippers on all of my chameleon enclosures) it may not be the reason he is keeping his eyes closed.
Eyes staying shut during the day is definitely a sign that something is wrong and I would recommend a trip to your reptile vet.
Be sure and have a fecal done.
Are there any other symptoms?
ie: open mouth? mucus in his throat?
Is he eating?
Has he eliminated recently?
How is the animals grip?
What type of enclosure are you keeping him in?
What are your temps, ambient and basking?
How old is the animal?

Ice on the enclosure provides water that is too cold for him and is not recommended.
You can make a dripper with any plastic container and some aquarium tube and fittings that should be available at petsmart or petco.

-Brad

 

[P. Novak]

Are there any other symptoms?
ie: open mouth? mucus in his throat?
Is he eating?
Has he eliminated recently?
How is the animals grip?
What type of enclosure are you keeping him in?
What are your temps, ambient and basking?
How old is the animal?

Ice on the enclosure provides water that is too cold for him and is not recommended.
You can make a dripper with any plastic container and some aquarium tube and fittings that should be available at petsmart or petco.

-Brad

Thanks a ton.

1. Nope, and no
2. He eats whenever he acutally opens his eyes
3. Yes, regular poop
4. He still has a strong grip
5. I'm keeping him in a 2'x3'x3'(roughly) screened enclosure.
6. Basking is 85-90F, cage is usually 78-80F. Lower spots go to around 73F
7. The chameleon is around 8 months old.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Can you post your feeding and supplementation schedule?
I do think a vet visit is probably in order.

-Brad