How to Tell if a Chameleon is Dying, Learn if Your Chameleon Sick

How to tell if a chameleon is dying

There can be various reasons why a chameleon might die, be it from a parasite, a medical condition, or sheer starvation. The mere sight of a dying chameleon can be immensely horrifying for a chameleon owner.

Chameleons are one of the world’s unique creatures in the sense of what they can do, from adjusting their skin color according to temperature, or their tongues which lash out at a speed that is almost on par with a fast car.

This article will deal with how to tell if a chameleon is dying; for an owner, this can be helpful if they want to know a way to save their dying chameleon.

How To Tell if a Chameleon Is Dying

How to tell if a chameleon is dying? If the need to care for your potentially dying chameleon ever arises, then you can look for the following symptoms to know whether your chameleon is dying:

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the leading causes of death for chameleons; if a chameleon doesn’t receive enough misting, especially in the summers, then they may show the following signs as sunken eyes, lethargy, and loss of appetite along with the urates (white part of the stool) being either yellow or orange, both indicating either the need of an intake of water or a severe need of water respectively.

Check this article to know How Long Can Chameleons Go Without Water.

What Can I Do if My Chameleon Is Dehydrated?

To deal with dehydration in chameleons, the first and foremost thing that should be done is to give your chameleon a nice and quick ‘shower.’ One can do this by placing a fake or a natural plant in the shower so that the showerhead hits the wall, releasing some mist from which the chameleon can absorb water through their skin.

You may also try misting them with a suitable misting device, but if your chameleon is already stressed, this may make them even more stressed, affecting their health negatively.

Parasites

While all chameleons may have some form of parasites in their bodies, a few of the parasites may affect them negatively, mainly if some of the chameleons used to live in the wild. In this case, the sudden captivity of a chameleon may make them more susceptible to parasitic infestation due to the different environments they would be in.

Unsanitary conditions or certain foods (mealworms, earthworms, etc.) can also cause parasites to invade a chameleon’s body and cause trouble for them; some signs of parasitic infestation may include: Diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, and constant hiding from the owner.

How Can I Deal With Parasites in My Chameleon?

In this case, taking your chameleon to an animal vet may be the best idea, as some parasites may be severe enough for such. Keeping your chameleon in a clean environment, ensuring that the worms they feed on are relatively clean and free of parasites, and disinfecting and cleaning the cage of the captive chameleon will also reduce the likely chances of parasites multiplying in a chameleon.

Stress

Stress affects all living creatures on this planet, but too much stress for a chameleon might be fatal for them. Signs of stress can include Aggressive behavior, watery feces, moving around all the time, loss of appetite, and keeping eyes closed nearly all times.

How To Deal With Stress in My Chameleon?

In most cases, try to look for environmental signs, as a chameleon might feel threatened by something or someone; you may also check the UVB lighting or heating as they might have some fault.

Otherwise, if you are keeping another chameleon in the cage with your chameleon, then it might be wise to try and move them out separately.

If you are unsure about what is causing your chameleon stress, it may be best to get them checked by a vet.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

Metabolic Bone Disease is a condition commonly occurring in chameleons due to a lack of calcium, which results in a distortion or deformation of bones. Signs of such may include the inability to hold up on a platform, being unable to move the jaw properly, having a curved spine, and more.

How To Deal With Metabolic Bone Disease in My Chameleon?

Proper calcium intake is one of the most critical factors for keeping a chameleon free from this condition. Making sure that your chameleon eats worms such as earthworms or mealworms once a week or even twice, along with calcium-rich intake, will make sure to keep their bones working and OK.

Calcium injections are necessary if your chameleon already has the metabolic bone disease, supplements necessary for calcium, and keeping them under a moderate temperature in a clean cage.

How to tell if a chameleon is dying? Besides these, old age may also play a role in a chameleon dying as they live for an average of 2-7 years.

How Can I Help My Sick Chameleon?

Usually, a chameleon can have various problems from several factors, such as a lack of calcium, an unclean environment, or stress. Usually, keeping your Chameleon in a clean environment with a regularly disinfected cage and regular diet will ensure that they remain hale and hearty in the long run.

It is also essential to ensure that the UVB lighting or heating you are using for your Chameleon is set up correctly and is supplying your Chameleon with a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for bone growth and its normal function.

And last but not least, your Chameleon’s diet should include insects that are either captured and cleaned or bought from pet shops or bait shops that are well known.

Does your Chameleon is not eating? Check this article to learn Why Won’t My Chameleon Eat – 5 Reasons You Should Need to Know

How Do Chameleons Usually Die?

How to tell if a chameleon is dying, and how do they usually die? A chameleon at the time of their impending death may start sleeping more frequently, their skin will also be darker than average, and they may start hiding more than usual, along with aggressive behavior.

If nothing is done, they will eventually turn dull colored pure black upon death.

Chameleons usually die of severe stress, parasitic infection, old age, or Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD); besides old age, a chameleon should get checked for other conditions by an animal vet as soon as possible.

Do Chameleons Die Fast?

Do chameleons die fast? Unless the chameleon is not being served water, a week or less will be the average time for their death. Otherwise, a parasitic infection, MBD, or old age, along with stress, may take at least a good week or more for them to eventually die, depending on the severity of the condition they are facing and whether they are getting treatment at all for such.

Chameleons typically live for an average of 2-7 years; they can be challenging for their short stature in the face of stressful environmental factors, especially in captivity.

Check this article to learn How to Tell if a Chameleon is Dying, Learn if Your Chameleon is Sick

What Color Does a Chameleon Turn When It Dies?

How to tell if my Chameleon is dying and what color does a chameleon turn when it dies? A chameleon will turn dark or dull colored after death; this is most prominent in chameleons who are either stressed or angry before their deaths.

The loss of color happens typically due to the halt in control of chromatophores responsible for a chameleon’s colors.

Does your Chameleon is turning brown? Learn Why are My Chameleon Brown 5 Important Facts.

Conclusion

The death of a chameleon can be a tragic experience for an owner. However, a sick chameleon can still be saved if an owner acts in time, especially by looking at the symptoms of a sick chameleon and ensuring they get the treatment in time by taking them to a vet along with making sure to keep their cage and environment clean and hygienic.

FAQ:

How Do I Know if My Chameleon Is Dying

You can note certain things on your Chameleon to tell if your Chameleon is dying or not. Your Chameleon might be sitting low in the cage, not properly drinking and eating, always with closed eyes, swollen joints, bloodshot eyes, etc.

If you find any of the above symptoms on your Chameleon, contact your nearest vet immediately.

How Do You Know Your Chameleon Is Dying

You can note certain things on your Chameleon to tell if your Chameleon is dying or not. Your Chameleon might be sitting low in the cage, not properly drinking and eating, always with closed eyes, swollen joints, bloodshot eyes, etc.

If you find any of the above symptoms on your Chameleon, contact your nearest vet immediately.

How To Know if Your Chameleon Is Dying

You can note certain things on your Chameleon to tell if your Chameleon is dying or not. Your Chameleon might be sitting low in the cage, not properly drinking and eating, always with closed eyes, swollen joints, bloodshot eyes, etc.

If you find any of the above symptoms on your Chameleon, contact your nearest vet immediately.

How To Tell if My Chameleon Is Sick

With specific changes on your Chameleon, you can easily find out if they are sick or not. Check if your Chameleon is appearing pale or colorless. During the sickness, they cannot blend in with the surrounding colors. Check this article for more information to determine whether my Chameleon is sick or not.

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