My chameleon is thin, not eating, and has tongue issues. What can I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Pascal and including photos. He does appear thin as ribs are evident but also spine and cask on head. A veterinary visit is recommended for multiple reasons: (1) Determine cause of loss of body condition which could be intestinal parasites or infection, metabolic disorders and others; (2) Review husbandry and diet as optimal temperature, humidity and nutrition is needed for health. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about the chameleon and including pictures. The first photo with the swayed back is very suspect of MBD/calcium deficiency. Diet and husbandry need to be review and correct, and a veterinary visit should be scheduled ASAP. Typically concerns are poor calcium in the diet, lac of UV light, poor temperature, etc. This is an emergency. Good luck.

I would recommend taking him to a vet as soon as possible. Most chameleons will eat every single day. If he has become anorexic I would be concerned about fungal or bacterial disease. They also can get injury to there mouth from eating which is painful and will cause anorexia. I would recommend making sure his environment is proper and he is in a low traffic area to help decrease stress. Try feeding him a special treat he loves. This might motivate him to start eating again

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including photos. Lethargy are just general signs of illness and not specific for anything. Check and correct husbandry and diet, as these animals needs to be kept warm and nutritional deficiencies can add up. Ultraviolet B wavelength exposure is very important for calcium metabolism and other concerns. Intestinal parasites or infections, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), stomatitis (oral infections), nutritional deficiencies are all possible. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Try offering food and water via a syringe. Good luck.

Check the temperature of the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes daily to treat or prevent minor dehydration. Make sure prey is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between her eyes. If the behavior persists, have her physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat illness or injury. Review the information at the link below for care of veiled chameleons. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Veiled-Chameleon/

Thanks for reaching out about Stretch tongue and including photos. First thoughts are this is a male and impacted hemipenes. Second thought is calcium deficiency and coccygeal (tail) vertebral luxation. Check and correct husbandry and diet, but an examination with someone with reptile experience is recommended. Good luck.

Check the temperature in the cage. Make sure it isn't too high or too low. Soak Cheech in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide warmth and hydration. She should be seen by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet as soon as you can to diagnose injury or infection. You can find a qualified vet here: http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661