Chameleons tongue

Question
QUESTION: My flap neck chameleon (1.5 years old) only wants to eat mealworms, however I basically need to put it in her mouth as she keeps missing when she shoots her tongue out to catch it and it just seems to be getting worse,could it be a problem with her tongue or could it be that her eye sight is deteriorating? Further more she is healthy.

ANSWER: Hi Nicci, As with so many other conditions with reptiles, tongue problems with chameleons are frequently related to calcium deficiency. There is a  structure called the hyoid bone that, along with the muscles, is responsible for launching the tongue forward. Changes in this bone will result in the type of tongue problems that you are seeing, poor aim and often less distance as well. He sees the insects perfectly, he just can't make his tongue go where he wants it to! Chameleons can also injure their tongues from hitting hard surfaces, usually glass. You might need to review your UVB lighting and calcium/vitamin D3 supplementation.
Many reptiles develop food preferences for mealworms because the fat content of mealworms is much higher then crickets. You will have to excercise a little "tough love" to get him back on a more varied diet which is really essential to his health. Mealworms are also very high in phosphorous which can be an added problem if you are dealing with a calcium deficiency.
I have taken in severely crippled chameleons who never re-gained the full use of their tongue. With a little assistance, as you are doing, they get on quite well eating like "normal" lizards. It's just not as much fun to watch!

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QUESTION: Her cage has EVERYTHING she requires, we try our best to do everything exactly right (UV light-large, and all the other things) she has cost us approximately R18000-00 so far, so as you can see we really try. when I give her food with vitamin supplements on she spits it out, how can I get her to take it in? I also take her outside in her terrarium for about an hour a day and the whole day Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting of coarse). I fed her Hills AD (food for sick dogs and cat's)once a week at a stage with a syringe (ml's) for about 6 months as she was not eating, I mixed her vit supplement in it as well and she was at her healthiest. could I do that again. I just want to do what's best for her. Thanking you

ANSWER: Hi Nicci, I can see why you are feeling frustrated, you have obviously put much effort and research into her proper husbandry. Personally I would be very hesitant to feed her the A/D diet on a consistent basis of any kind. It is used as a kick-start in severe cases of emaciation but the protein and purine levels (which cause gout) are very high for prolonged use. The levels are even high for carnivorous reptiles like snakes. Fortunately in the last few years there has been a product designed specifically for assist feeding insectivorous reptiles. It is one of the many products developed by well known veterinarian and reptile nutrition researcher Dr. Susan Donoghue. It is in the U.S and you are in S. Africa I gather, so I don't know how easy it will be for you to get, if at all. Perhaps it could be ordered through your veterinarian. I have included the link below toward the bottom is a second link for "Enteral insectovore"
Just a couple simple suggestions for the problem of her rejecting the supplemented insects. Are you using a multi-vitamin or just a calcium with vitamin D3 supplement? Some of the multivitamin powders have a distinct smell and, I assume, taste as well. I would try going with just a plain calcium supplement dusted lightly. With the amount of natural sunlight she is getting (her cage is screen I hope) you should be fine without the added vitamin D3, she will manufacture that on her own. Mealworms are easy to gut load so you can balance out your flapneck's nutrition by feeding your mealworms and good varied diet including green and orange vegetables.
If the problem continues I would also try switching supplement brands, perhaps another reptile keeper or your reptile pet store could give you just a sample to try of what they use. Lastly, if you have access to liquid calcium you can try adding that to her drinking water. Good luck!


http://www.rocksolidherpetoculture.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=16



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QUESTION: With the proper nutrient intake could her tongue regain it's normal functioning?

Answer
Hi Nicci, I have been trying to find some case history results in my veterinary literature that indicates the treatment success for this problem, (assuming that is in fact what is wrong with your cham) but I have not had much luck. Lots of discussion about causes and treatments but nothing about recovery. Soft bones will harden once proper calcium levels are attained but they don't always completely straighten out if they had become bent due to the deficiency. I have to assume it is the same with the hyoid bone. If it had not become deformed but merely soft then (and I'm guessing here) perhaps full tongue function is recovered when it hardens up but if the hyoid bone remains deformed then the tongue function is permanently affected.
I've included a link to the chameleon forum at kingsnake. I would suggest you post your question there where it will be seen by many chameleon owners. Perphaps some will have had a similiar situation to yours and can tell you how it resolves. Good luck.


http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=44