Blind Chameleon!!!

[K-Hanks]

Hey wondering if anyone has ideas! Need some advice!
We just bought a baby chameleon..He is doing great...eating lots and drinking. Walking around lots. But today we noticed he is keeping his eyes closed and walking around blindsighted. He will open them and eat but then he closes them again and impossibly tries to move around. Anyone got any ideas what is going on?

[Siren]

Maybe he has some kind of eye infection?

[Neil]

It sounds like it's sick.Return it to whoever you bought it from and get a healthy one.

[K-Hanks]

Ya we talked to a friend...we recleaned everything in the tank in case something is irritating his eyes. if nothing gets better in a day we will take him back and exchange him for a new one...I kinda like the guy though so if we can fix it that would be great!

[leezard]

Krista, if you take him back make sure to keep your eyes on the other ones -- if they're doing the same thing, there's something not right at the store level.

[K-Hanks]

Thanks!
Ya we brought him back to the same store...but got a new one from a different store. This guy seems much more healthy and lively. We have another 15day guarantee on him so yes we will def be watching him!

[Herpetologic]

It may be reaching, but it sounds like maybe the chameleon was getting some bad UV and possibly suffering photo-kerato-conjunctivitis. Apparently a while ago Westron Canada (one of the few makers of reptile UV bulbs in the world) was shipped some abnormally clear glass with which to make their bulbs, and this has had the unfortunate outcome that bulbs made with this glass allows the transmission of short-wavelength UVB. It could be from either a bulb you have, or one from at the store where the animals were from, and from what I've heard, chameleons have been particularly susceptible to it. Here's a site with links describing more about it.
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/westronrecallspring2010.htm

[K-Hanks]

Def not the bulb. We use exoterra bulbs and plants. And the tank is half infront of the big front window so it gets lots of UV sun rays. The new guys is doing really awesome. Onto 2 weeks and he is not scared to come out and play or anything. Outlook looks great! Store manager only seen blind thing a couple times before. Talked to numerous people and they haven't heard of it before either. It's weird. But thanks for all the info!

[roflcopter101]

Def not the bulb. We use exoterra bulbs and plants. And the tank is half infront of the big front window so it gets lots of UV sun rays. The new guys is doing really awesome. Onto 2 weeks and he is not scared to come out and play or anything. Outlook looks great! Store manager only seen blind thing a couple times before. Talked to numerous people and they haven't heard of it before either. It's weird. But thanks for all the info!

Window's block out all UV beneficial for reptiles. If you dont have a UV bulb, get one ASAP.