Cham Problem. Can anyone help?

[seandom]

Hi everyone i have a problem with my cham. Its a 6 month old female. About a month ago i noticed that she started to walk and dig on the bottom of her terrarium and thought that she had become gravid. So i introduced play sand at about 6 inches deep along the bottom of the terrarium. She has dug all through it, but does not seem interested in laying. She also clings to the top of the terrarium as if in an attempt to escape. She also scratches at the glass. Before all this she was doing superb, but now she's not even interested in eating unless its from the hand. I have also felt her stomach and there does'nt seem to be any eggs. The terrarium is 45x45x60 and she has everything she needs. I cant see any reason for what she is doing other than she might need a bigger terrarium. I am at a loss and now its getting frustrating. So please can somebody help me as i love her dearly and would hate to lose her.

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

Please fill out this form.
Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

In my oppion-She may be getting ready to lay an infertile clutch. Female chameleons can lay a clutch of eggs with and without a male. 6 inches does not seem deep enough. Make it 10-12 inches deep

 

[seandom]

Hi Clea i have done quite a bit of homework and to my Knowledge once they start walking the floor and digging it should only be 2 to 5 days untill she lays her infertile clutch. This has been going on for about a month now. She looks fine and is still holding her own but she isnt eating as much. I can only add upto 6 inches of sand as i have an exxo terra terrarium and the sand would cover the front vents if it was any higher. Thanks for the input i will try and add some pics of her and the setup. We are now taking out the sand and going to try and add a box with sand.

 

[Julirs]

please fill out the form. It never hurts to check your husbandry. All of your homework should have revealed you need something at least 10" + deep for her to lay in. She is young and could have a small clutch, but since she has been digging and has stopped she may become eggbound.

 

[seandom]

Veiled Cham, Female, 6 1/2 months old, We've had her since 8 weeks old. I handle her once a day and she has a ficus tree that she climbs on for about an hour a day that is indoors. It has not been sprayed with pesticides. Her main diet is locust gut loaded with beaphar cricket feed and water. they are dusted in komodo cricket dust and once a week dusted with Nutrobal. she has about 5 per day. Now and again she might take a few crickets but isnt partial to them. She will not take any greenstuffs or fruit as we have tried on several occasions, but the cricket feed has all that. About once a month we give her 1 or 2 waxworm. We've only seen her drink a couple of times from the waterfall, but she always gets misted 3 or 4 times a day. She has never been tested for parasites. Her fecal deposits are half white and half brown with no orange deposits. She is in an Exxo Terra glass and screen combo terrarium that is 45x45x60cm. She has an Exxo Terra reptiglo 5.0 at 15 watts. An Exxo Terra reptiglow 2.0 at 15 watts and a 75 watt Exxo Terra infrared heatglow lamp. Both reptiglow tubes are on a timer and come on at 9 in the morning till 9 at night. The heat lamp is set at 78 during the day and 68 at night. The ambient temp at the bottom is 77.5 and at the top it is 85 with about a 10 degree drop at night. Humidity at the bottom is 86%. This is measured with an Exxo Terra Temp and Hygro meter. I am not using any live plants in the terrarium but have 4 large plastic plants and 2 long vines with 2 smaller vines twisted around. The terrarium is situated in the corner of our bedroom away from the window and sunlight with no traffic noise. It is about 5 feet at the top of the terrarium to the bedroom floor. I am located in Southampton, UK.

 

[seandom]

Filled out the form. Has anyone got any answers?

 

[Elizadolots]

I suspect you'll hear about a few things but my only comment is about the sand. As Julirs noted, it really should be at least 10 (some say 12) inches deep. It needs to be moist. You should be able to dig out a 1 to 2 inch wide 6 inch deep tunnel with your finger and have it stay intact. When you say she has "dug all through it" it makes me suspect it's dry.

She needs to be able build herself a little cave she can get into to lay the eggs.

 

[seandom]

Just Like to update everybody on the situation. It looks like my chameleon wanted a box to lay her eggs in rather than the sand that was put in to the base of the terrarium. She is now laying her eggs in 6 inches of sand and is doing fine.

 

[draetish]

Great news! make sure you treat her well and put back all that calcium she lost!

 

[seandom]

Hi everyone i would just like to update you all. My cham has laid her first infertile clutch. She laid 42 altogether and is doing well.

 

[Elizadolots]

That's good news!