The number of people keeping a pet chameleon has rapidly increased over the last year or so and the popularity of keeping a pet chameleon shows no signs of slowing down.
Although chameleons were once a niche pet that very few people actually kept, They are now consisted to be the fifth most commonly kept pet reptile behind bearded dragons, leopard geckos corn snakes, and ball pythons.
As the popularity of keeping pet chameleons keeps growing, the number of questions that we see people asking about keeping a pet chameleon also increases too.
We have already published a number of articles going over keeping a pet chameleon in response to some of the questions that we see people ask but after our article on why your chameleon is laying on the bottom of its cage, we noticed a number of people reaching out about their pet chameleon being weak so we wanted to publish this article.
Why Your Chameleon Is Weak!
We have our list of the most common reasons that your pet chameleon is weak below:-
- Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)!
- Dehydration!
- A Poor Diet!
- Parasites!
- An Edema!
- Kidney Failure!
- Respiratory Infection!
- Diarrhea And Vomiting!
- Vitamin A Deficiency!
- Poor Breeding Lines!
- Bacterial Infections!
- Thermal Burns!
- Calcium Deficiency!
- Egg Binding!
Some pet chameleons can have multiple problems with them at the same time so keep that in mind. For example, a poor diet will commonly also result in calcium and vitamin A deficiencies in your pet chameleon compounding the problems.
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)!
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
Metabolic bone disease is caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D3 in your pet chameleon’s diet and it results in the weakening of your pet chameleon’s bones.
The first signs that your pet chameleon may have MBD is that it becomes slightly more sluggish than usual and you may notice that it isn’t climbing as much as it used to. As the disease progresses, you will start to see more obvious signs such as your pet chameleon’s legs becoming bent and deformed, an inability to stand or walk properly, and paralysis.
If you think that your pet chameleon may have MBD then the best course of action is to take it to a reptile vet as soon as possible.
Dehydration!
Dehydration is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
Dehydration is caused by a lack of water in your pet chameleon’s body and it results in the weakening of your pet chameleon’s body.
The first signs that your pet chameleon may be dehydrated is that it becomes slightly more sluggish than usual and you may notice that it isn’t drinking as much as it used to. As the dehydration progresses, you will start to see more obvious signs such as your pet chameleon’s skin becoming dry and wrinkled, its eyes sunken, and its mouth open and panting.
If you think that your pet chameleon may be dehydrated then you need to make sure that it has quick and easy access to water as soon as possible.
Some dehydrated chameleons will often refuse to drink water in the later stages of dehydration so you may have to take your chameleon to a vets office to have them help you hydrate your chameleon before its too late.
A Poor Diet!
A poor diet is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
A poor diet is caused by a lack of nutrients in your pet chameleon’s diet and it results in the weakening of your pet chameleon’s body.
The first signs that your pet chameleon may have a poor diet is that it becomes slightly more sluggish than usual and you may notice that it isn’t eating as much as it used to. As the malnutrition progresses, you will start to see more obvious signs such as your pet chameleon’s skin becoming dry and scaly, its eyes sunken, and its mouth open and panting.
Double checking that your primary food mix that you give your chameleon is suitable for chameleons should be your first step as many people give their pet chameleon an unsuitable food that is designed for other reptiles.
Supplimenting your chameleons diet with various reptile multivitamins and suitable foods is another quick, easy, and cheap way to improve the diet of your pet chameleon too.
Parasites!
Parasites are one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
Parasites are caused by a variety of different parasites such as mites, ticks, and worms infesting your pet chameleon’s body and it results in the weakening of your pet chameleon’s body.
A chameleon can have problems with both internal and external parasites but both are usually easy to treat with anti-parasitic treatments from your local pet store.
External parasites on your pet chameleon are usually very easy to see but internal parasites can be more dificult to confirm but you may be able to see them in your chameleons poop.
An Edema!
An edema is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
An edema is caused by a build-up of fluid in your pet chameleon’s body and it results in the swelling of your pet chameleon’s body.
The first signs that your pet chameleon may have an edema is that it becomes slightly more sluggish than usual and you may notice that its body is starting to swell up. As the edema progresses, you will start to see more obvious signs such as your pet chameleon’s skin becoming tight and shiny, its eyes bulging, and its mouth open and panting.
If you think that your pet chameleon may have an edema then you need to take it to see a vet as soon as possible as they will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication to help reduce the swelling.
Kidney Failure!
Kidney failure is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
Kidney failure is caused by a variety of different things such as dehydration, a poor diet, parasites, and an edema and it results in the weakening and eventual shutdown of your pet chameleon’s kidneys.
If you suspect kidney failiour is the issue with your chameleon then you really do need to get it to the local vets office as fast as possible.
Respiratory Infection!
A respiratory infection is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
A respiratory infection is caused by a variety of different things such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites and it results in the inflammation of your pet chameleon’s respiratory system.
If your pet chameleon does have a respiratory infection, the cause of the weakness is usually due to low blood oxygen levels or swelling due to the infection discouraging your chameleon from moving around much.
Thankfully, most respiratory infections in chameleons are very easy to treat and the majority of people should be able to take their chameleon to a vets to get the correct medication to treat their pet.
Please keep in mind that the longer you leave a respiratory infection to develop, the more difficult it becomes to treat the issue.
Diarrhea And Vomiting!
Diarrhea and vomiting is one of the most common problems that we see in pet chameleons and it’s also one of the leading causes of weakness and lethargy in pet chameleons.
Diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by a wide range of different things making it very difficult for most people to identify the problem with their pet chameleon.
Thankfully, most diarrhea and vomiting will usually pass after a couple of days and there will be no need to use medication.
In a small number of cases, usually due to viral or bacterial infections, medication will be require to help your pet chameleon make a full recovary so keep that in mind.
Vitamin A Deficiency!
Vitamin A deficiency is suprisingly common with chameleon but thankfully, supplimenting your chameleons diet with suitable foods high in vitamin A or using a reptile multivitamin can easily fix this.
Vitamin A deficiency can cause your chameleon to lack energy and although it may not be weak, it will be far more lethargic than usual.
There is usually no need to take your chameleon to a vet if you suspect that this is the problem with your chameleon though and increasing the dietary vitamin profile in your chameleon should be enough to quickly treat the problem.
Poor Breeding Lines!
There are a lot of people breeding chameleons for money and as such, a lot of people end up with poorly bred and weak chameleons.
There is no real treatment for this problem other than to make sure that you do your research before buying a chameleon and only buy from reputable breeders.
Unfortinatley though, this is becoming an increasignly common problem due to many inexperienced chameleon breeders trying to breed their pets to meet the increased demand for chameleons due to their spike in popularity.
Many of these breeders accidently overlook the importance of proper nutrition in the young chameleons that can cause issues with the reptile for the rest of its life.
Bacterial Infections!
Bacterial infections are a very common problem in pet chameleons and they can cause a wide range of different symptoms depending on the strain of bacteria that your chameleon has contracted.
The most common symptom of a bacterial infection is usually lethargy though and if you think that your chameleon may have a bacterial infection then it’s important to take it to see a vet as soon as possible.
Bacterial infections can be very serious and even life threatening in some cases so it’s important not to delay getting your chameleon the treatment that it needs.
Thermal Burns!
Thermal burns are a relatively common problem in pet chameleons and they’re usually caused by the basking spot in the terrarium being too close to the heat source.
This can cause your chameleon to become weak and lethargic as the burn starts to heal and it can take a few weeks for your chameleon to make a full recovery.
We have a dedicated article going over dealing with chameleon burns though so that should be able to help anyone who is having problems with this.
Calcium Deficiency!
Calcium is an important nutrient for all reptiles, not just chameleons, and a lack of calcium can cause a wide range of different problems.
The most common symptom of a calcium deficiency is usually twitching or spasms and if you think that your chameleon may be calcium deficient then it’s important to take it to see a vet as soon as possible.
A calcium deficiency can be very serious and even life threatening in some cases so it’s important not to delay getting your chameleon the treatment that it needs.
Egg Binding!
Egg binding is a relatively common problem in female chameleons and it usually occurs when the female is unable to lay her eggs.
This can be due to a lack of calcium, improper diet or even just stress and if you think that your chameleon may be egg bound then it’s important to take it to see a vet as soon as possible.
Egg binding can be very serious and even life threatening in some cases so it’s important not to delay getting your chameleon the treatment that it needs.
There are a few things that you can do to try and prevent egg binding though such as making sure that your chameleon has a proper diet and providing her with a laying box.
