any opinions on this behavior?

[daimonshaw]

hello, I'm new to the website as well as the cham ownership life. before I got my veiled I did my research. I have a large (vertical) mesh cage, a reptile drinking fountain for chams (I also mist the cage at least once a day), lots of foliage/branches (all fake), a 100w heat bulb, a 10.0 uvb w/ a small daytime heat bulb 50w (hot spot up top measures around 80-85 and the bottom of the cage is usually around 74, 12/12 hours daily with the lights on/off, I feed it crickets powdered with calcium & mealworms, basically all the good stuff you need.
I've had her for about 8-9 months (from petco) and she seems like she's been growing healthy, always up top and moving around climbing and eating. I try not to handle her very much because I know chams aren't the most accepting with being handled, but I do occasionally take her out to clean and such. I just recently moved her into the new big cage about a month ago so I don't know if she's still try to adjust to the new environment, but recently I've seen her crawling on the floor. I've never seen her on the bottom like that, and just a few days ago she's been laying on her back. that doesn't sounds like normal chameleon behavior so if anyone else has experienced this please lmk. I'm worried it could be medical. i haven't seen her around the top of the cage for a few days. it looks like she struggled a bit to climb up now. is mbd possibly the reason? it seems like with the cricket powdering I do that she would get enough calcium in her diet but I'm not sure.
again any insight would help greatly. thanks!

 

[LindsayG]

Do you have a laying bin in her cage for her? Even if she's never been with a male she will still lay eggs. Can you post a picture of her?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

What calcium and other supplements are you dusting with and with what frequency. How old is your UVB 10.0? When was the last bowel movement? Have your seen the chameleon utilize the fountain? Most chameleons do not and that would mean your daily misting is likely inadequate for the hydration needs of the animal. Mealworms and crickets are not a stellar diet, but unless the mealworms have caused constipation/blockage, which coupled with low level dehydration, is a strong possibility, that probably isn't your problem. What are you feeding the mealworms and crickets?
Try showering the chameleon gently, in a warm shower for an hour or more to let it drink and hopefully stimulate it's bowels.
If you have a female, egg laying and complications from not having a laying bin are also a strong possibility.
My suggestion:
Print out the sticky on how to ask to ask for help, fill it out, and head to a qualified vet, ASAP.

 

[daimonshaw]

Do you have a laying bin in her cage for her? Even if she's never been with a male she will still lay eggs. Can you post a picture of her?

Do you have a laying bin in her cage for her? Even if she's never been with a male she will still lay eggs. Can you post a picture of her?

the first image is a picture my step mother sent me while i was at work of her laying on her back. the second one i just took now as she was trying to climb up something. and to answer your question, no i don't have a laying bin.

 

[daimonshaw]

What calcium and other supplements are you dusting with and with what frequency. How old is your UVB 10.0? When was the last bowel movement? Have your seen the chameleon utilize the fountain? Most chameleons do not and that would mean your daily misting is likely inadequate for the hydration needs of the animal. Mealworms and crickets are not a stellar diet, but unless the mealworms have caused constipation/blockage, which coupled with low level dehydration, is a strong possibility, that probably isn't your problem. What are you feeding the mealworms and crickets?
Try showering the chameleon gently, in a warm shower for an hour or more to let it drink and hopefully stimulate it's bowels.
If you have a female, egg laying and complications from not having a laying bin are also a strong possibility.
My suggestion:
Print out the sticky on how to ask to ask for help, fill it out, and head to a qualified vet, ASAP.

uvb is only a few days old, i just replaced it recently actually.
last bowel movement im not sure.
i have seen her use the fountain before, so im pretty sure she recognizes it as a source of water.
im not feeding the crickets anything, i buy them from a store (20 per trip, i make the trip to go get crickets 2 or 3 times a week) and then i dust them with repti calcium w/d3 and then throw about 8-10 in there each day. if there are any left overs i usually give her a little chance to eat the rest before i throw more in, but if i only see a couple crickets hopping around i usually just throw some more in anyways in case she cant find the others. i do feed her wax worms too every other feeding time.
other than that, i will be looking up local vets asap and see what they say.
when you say shower her, do you mean take her out and literally put her under some gentle warm water? or just misting her with warm water?

 

[daimonshaw]

I just read up a little about pregnancy in female chameleons and the signs do seem the same. any input on this? I didn't expect her to lay eggs without a male in the enclosure (im still a chameleon noob)

 

[Extensionofgreen]

You need to do the following:
1) VET NOW!
2) warm showers, dim light, for 45 mins to an hour, every day, until you see a vet and according to the vets advice that you continue. It's not rocket science. Get a branch or small potted plant it can sit on and turn the water to warm, but just a bit cooler than you would shower in, unless you take scalding hot showers, then aim for just above warm room temperature. Aim the softest spray on half the perch or bounce it off the shower wall. This is stimulating, hydrating, calming, and will help her feel better.
2) Laying bin
3) start gut loading your feeders
4) you need to take a look at the plethora of care sheets and resources here, regarding care and gut loading.

 

[Chachi]

Listen, I have NEVER seen or heard of a cham laying on her back like that. It is bizarre. You have a couple of serious problems and you are running out of time. Go to a vet, make a laying bin. Gut load yr crickets.(There is info on how right here on the forum) and if you look at her and her eyes are sunken in even a little bit, if you want, message me and I'll give you my phone number. I'm not a long standing forum member, but I know about adult veiled, Jackson and panther chameleons.

 

[daimonshaw]

so thank you to everyone for ther advice on this! after I got all the messages I did a little research and called some local vets and we came to the conclusion she was laying eggs, and she did! (first attached picture) I got everything set up for her and let her do her thing and now she's doing great! the only thing is, I noticed after I got her cage set up and gave her a couple days of privacy (keeping the towels over the cage, and of course all the while misting constantly and feeding her some healthy feeders, i.e. dusted crickets, some goliath worms, etc) when I took the towel off I noticed her front leg is pretty swollen (see second picture attached) does this look like a broken arm? I'm gonna call the vets back to get their opinion on it. she has difficulty climbing on it, but she still constantly tries to pull herself up with it. and idk why but she doesn't use her tail or back legs to anchor on anything anymore. it's like she only uses her front arms to pull up even though one is obviously hurt. I was reading that it could be due to mbd, or it could something called "chameleon gout"? I'm not sure though. I've seen her fall a few times trying to climb with it. would putting it in a splint help at all? just thought I'd get some of your guys' opinion before I call the vets. thanks guys

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Looks like a bone infection and MBD. Vet help is needed, ASAP!

 

[Chachi]

I was going to agree w extensionofgreen. Mbd and that wound looks like a burn. You gotta get some betadine and a q tip and carefully clean that sore. Then, get to a vet and do every single thing he says.