Chameleon Breathing but Not Moving

[Raptor]

We have a veiled chameleon that is approximately 1 year old. It is breathing but she isn't moving. We thought she was getting ready to lay eggs since she had been on the bottom of her cage the last day. What do you suggest?

 

[Sticktongue]

The experienced keepers will need a lot more information to help you out... Fill this out completely

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Hoj]

not moving at all?? get her to a vet asap
fill out the how to ask for help form also do you have a layin bin for her

 

[Carlton]

We have a veiled chameleon that is approximately 1 year old. It is breathing but she isn't moving. We thought she was getting ready to lay eggs since she had been on the bottom of her cage the last day. What do you suggest?

Pictures? Does she react if you touch her? Are her eyes closed during the day? Does she have an egg laying sand box or is she lying on the bare cage floor? Has she been gaining weight lately or does she look fatter? Please give us a lot more information about how you've kept her. Check the sticky message "How to ask for help" and answer the questions.

If she doesn't respond to being touched, her eyes are kept closed during the day, her color isn't normal, she may be dying.

 

[Raptor]

Approximately 1 Year Old Girl Veiled Chameleon.
She is handled by my 11 year old son about 2-3 times a week.
She eats crickets, superworms and mealworms.
We dust the crickets with ReptoCal and Reptivite weekly.
We mist the cage daily and we have a waterfall that runs in the cage.
She laid eggs once about 3 months ago.
The cage is a screened cage approximately 1 1/2' x 2' x 1 1/2'.
We have the lights on a timer approximately 12 1/2 hours of light daily.
We have a humidifier that runs in the cage.
No live plants.
The cage is in our son's room. Quiet environment. Not high traffic area.
We are in Ohio.
She is still breathing but is laying on side on bottom of cage.
We thought she was preparing to lay eggs when this happened. Possibly egg bound?
Please offer any suggestions. My son loves his chameleon.

 

[Raptor]

She does respond if we touch her.

 

[Raptor]

Does she need an egg laying bin? With sand? I have brown mulch material on bottom of cage (we bought at store and is for reptiles).

 

[jannb]

Does she need an egg laying bin? With sand? I have brown mulch material on bottom of cage (we bought at store and is for reptiles).

Females do need laying bins. It sounds like your girl needs a good chameleon vet ASAP. If she does make it you need to make some changes in the way you are keeping her. A much bigger cage along with other things.

I'm attaching two of my blogs for you below. The first is about egg laying and the laying bin and the second is for general care.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ung-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment835

 

[brooklynelizabeth]

Approximately 1 Year Old Girl Veiled Chameleon.
She is handled by my 11 year old son about 2-3 times a week.
She eats crickets, superworms and mealworms.
We dust the crickets with ReptoCal and Reptivite weekly.
We mist the cage daily and we have a waterfall that runs in the cage.
She laid eggs once about 3 months ago.
The cage is a screened cage approximately 1 1/2' x 2' x 1 1/2'.
We have the lights on a timer approximately 12 1/2 hours of light daily.
We have a humidifier that runs in the cage.
No live plants.
The cage is in our son's room. Quiet environment. Not high traffic area.
We are in Ohio.
She is still breathing but is laying on side on bottom of cage.
We thought she was preparing to lay eggs when this happened. Possibly egg bound?
Please offer any suggestions. My son loves his chameleon.

I along with others suggest a vet visit asap, very strange for a cham to be laying on its side on the bottom of its enclosure, i just wanted to post and say good luck and i hope everything is ok

 

[pbveiled]

Definitely get her to a vet. Once she is healthy there are probably a few things you should change.

At that age the cage should be at least 2ft wide X 2ft deep X 4 ft high.
Waterfalls can be breeding grounds for bacteria. Unless it has a filter and it is cleaned daily, it should be removed.
You should be dusting with calcium w/o D3 at every feeding, calcium with D3 twice a month, and a multi vitamin twice a month.
What type of UVB bulb do you have and how old is it?
What is the temp (ambient and basking spot) and the humidity in the cage?
Can you post pictures of your current setup?

 

[kinyonga]

When a chameleon is laying on its side its very sick and its only chance is to get it to a vet without any delay. Its not something that can wait for hours.

 

[Pilotman800]

When a chameleon is laying on its side its very sick and its only chance is to get it to a vet without any delay. Its not something that can wait for hours.

I agree. I don't mean to scare the threadmaker, but it sounds like your cham is slipping away.

Please get her to a vet ASAP.

 

[brooklynelizabeth]

How is your little one making out? i have been awaiting a update?