Not going to the bathroom?

[marisa]

How often is Gus (veiled cham) supposed to go to the bathroom?

Since we have had him I had been feeding him SOOOOO much to get him into shape....not excessive but I certainly expected him to go to the bathroom, he hasn't yet. He went the day he got here, and that's it. Nothing else.

Any thoughts?

Marisa

[dank7oo]

hmm ... when i first got max, he didnt go for 3 days ... prolly because of being in a new environment stressed him out!

right now he goes every day and i clean it EVERY day :S lol

hope this helps a bit

[marisa]

Well, we have had him for over a week so that's why I am somewhat concerned. But it could very well be he is just getting used to the whole idea of actually frikkin eating and being in a new home! *L*

:)

How long is too long though?
Marisa

[Trace]

You've had him for a little over a week right? That is a little odd... Most of my Veiled's poop daily, but I do have a few that want to save it up and present me with a rather large pile every 3 or 4 days. I'm not sure if they think it is some kind of gift or what!

Has he possibly eaten anything he shouldn't have that would cause an impaction? Does he appear to be straining to defecate at all? Again, are his colours good?

Considering the amount of food that he's gotten over the last week, he's probably processing those insects into viable nutrients for growth and health, but I would suspect that he should be pooping a little more often than that. Make sure he's got lots of water and that should get things moving.

Good luck with Gus, and keep me posted.

Trace

P.S. One of the female Veiled's I'm rehabbing here originally came to me with a constipation problem (among other things) and I've become a PRO at giving enemas! Thank you! That is something to be proud of! :/

[marisa]

Hi Trace. No he doesn't uncomfortable at all. He has started drinking when I spray him too. I spray twice per day and fill up his dripper twice per day. He ignores that but he definitly has had some water when I spray him directly. Lots of old shed has come off too. His colors are what I would expect them to be I think....darker green outside, and lighter green/blue and yellow at night and when he is in the shade it seems.....

Although I don't watch him outside all day, I haven't seen him eat anything he is not supposed to. So far we have been giving him crickets, a few moths that my roomates son "hatched" last week in his little moth hatching thing (lol just normal moths) and couple mealies today and a few silkworms. He has also eaten butternut squash, collard greens and a fav seems to be tiny cut green beans although I only tried them out once to try and get him to eat any veggies at first, he seems to love them. But I am sticking to collards. mustard greens and butternut for now.

Hopefully he hasn't gotten clogged up from all this feeding! LOL. I do NOT want to have anything to do with Cham enemas or anything like that. LMAO. that sounds scary! When should I worry?

Marisa

[Trace]

Come on chameleon enemas are fun! All the cool kids are doing it!

When should you worry? Hmmm. I'd give him a few more days really. His colours sound good and he seems to be perky enough. Fluids are the best thing to get the poops moving. It's great that he's drinking for you now, and not running in fear from the sprayer, but make sure he's drinking a lot. What you could do is syringe feed him a few cc's of water once or twice a day to ensure he's getting more than enough fluids. That should help, and I would do it until he passes that poop. Prepare yourself for a rather large poop too! Obviously watch for signs of straining to pass feces... if you see anything along those lines, a trip to the vet would be warranted.

Ok, I have to ask you this though... when are you going to be in Ottawa so you can teach my Veiled's to eat their dang veggies? Mine refuse to even look at them and most times aim their poops right at the bowl of food.

Good luck! Let me know when he finally does the deed.

Cheers!

Trace

[marisa]

Oh the veggie feeding this is TOTAL agony for me. So I can't teach nothing! LOL.

It seems the only time Gus wants to eat them is if I offer him the bowl, (hold it up close to him) then when I start taking it away he wants it. He always starts moving toward it and grabbing the edges of the bowl, but only when I start taking it away. Anyways then he like tries to eat some of it but its hard for him, it seems he can' decide if he should use his tongue or just bite at them. Anyways my best luck has come from cutting them into longer stripes and wiggling them like worms LOL.

I will get him to drink lots from now on to make sure he goes.

Marisa

[Pia]

Try soaking him in a bowl of warm water - about 85 degrees or so for about 1/2 hr (or longer if he wants to stay in). I haven't tried this on chameleons but it's worked with other reptiles. Another method I have been told about but haven't tried is giving a couple of drops of light mineral oil (2% not 5%) mixed with water via a syringe or if it's easier put a couple of drops on a worm before you feed it. I would try the soaking first, if that doesn't help do one dose of the mineral oil. Hope this helps. Let us know how he does.