female jackson with right swollen knee

Question
QUESTION: Hello I got this beautiful female jackson chameleon that just started to show a swollen knee.  As far as housing I have 2 full spectrum lights, one heater lamp and a uv light for the plants. I keep the temperatures during the day between 70-75 with a humidity of about 50%. I dust my crickets about every other day with a compound called 2:0 from T-rex it does not have Phosphorous in the mixture I'm almost thinking that maybe I should be supplying with a small amount rather than none. I'm not very sure. I just read the label and it says that is supplies the quantity stated per kg...lol is that real? I think I just found my answer...Well maybe I could be wrong. Is there something else you can suggest as far as supplementation. I do keep gut load my crickets with organic veggies.
Thank you.

Yani

ANSWER: Hello Yani,

What type of basking light are you using?  The full spectrum lights, are they basking lights then?  What type & brand of UVB lights do you use?  Your chameleon needs UVB light.  
What sized tank is she in, is there adequate ventilation & is the top a screen top?
What are you measuring your temps with?  A stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?  The daytime temps, or the basking temps need to be at 85 or so, but no higher, with a cooler end around 75-78.  The humidity should be 30-50% which is fine.  
How old is your female?  No she does not need any phosphorus though.  The calcium should be given 4 times or so weekly for young jacksons that are still growing.  
The phosphorus will bind the calcium from absorbing into the body.  The insects provide enough phosphorus for her so no need to add any additional to her diet.
If she is not getting adequate UVB lighting, then she could be having some trouble absorbing her calcium.  Also, if her basking temps are not optimal, she might not be able to excrete uric acid very well which can build up.  The swelling around the knee could be metabolic bone related, or it could be early stages of gout.  
Your crickets need to be gutloaded with more than just veggies though.  Try getting a powdered or dry gutload as well to feed the crickets 24/7.    

Let me know how she is doing.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


This is the set up mad   QUESTION: I do have a separate basking UV/light. I got her from a pet shop and her knee was not swollen but I'm considering that at the pet shop she didn't get the adequate lighting her knee was not swollen when i bought her. She lives in a fairly big screen cage about 3 ft long by 36. I fit in it and there are small trees for hiding and basking. I keep two thermometers one on the out side and one on the inside to measure fluctuations. Most of the time it reads 70-75 with humidity 50%.
Last night I was reading some more on husbandry and they recommended mineral all (sticky tongue) so I'm going to change my quality of vitamins as the one I does not offer good nutrients.
I think that you might be right she is having a flare up yesterday i watched as she moved her leg every once in a while as she was in pain.  Kind of like we do when our knee hurts.

I got an extra light to ensure that she is getting the adequate UV I'm hoping that this is going to make a difference. I also bought the cricket gut load stuff.

Thank you for your quick answer.  

Answer
Hello Yani,

That is a great looking tank, but unfortunately the UVB lighting is not going to do a whole lot of good up that high.  The screen will block out a large portion of the UVB emissions.  
Also, what type & brand of UVB did you get?  It looks as if you got a coil or a compact type of UVB?  If so those are not very good ones.  They do not put out hardly any UVB & most of the ones put out low wavelength UVB which is close to UVC lighting.  The wavelength is not favorable to D3 synthesis, as well.
I need the brand of UVB light that you purchased.  
Somehow, we are going to have to figure out a way to get the UVB light 6-8 inches from your girl.  Does she climb all of the way up towards the UVB?  If so, then that is ok, but we still need a better UVB other than a coil.  
The best UVB light for her would be the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube light.  
Are you in the UK?  If so, try getting the Arcadia D3 12% flourescent tube, it is a great bulb.  
Ok, the Miner-all is straight calcium, so that will work.  
It sounds like to me, that she is getting gout & maybe a touch of metabolic bone disease as well.  The main culprit will be dehydration, improper temps, & lack of UVB, & poor calcium absorption.
So, increase your basking temps to no higher than 85 but at least 82-85.  The 75 is way too low for basking.  Make sure to get the Arcadia D3 12% or the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulbs.  Do not get any coils or compact lights.  

Let me know how things are going.

Tracie