Female not laying her eggs

[magicalkh]

First of all, I am new here and delighted to be here. I have had my female veiled chameleon for almost a year now, and I just love her. I did research before I bought her because I wanted to make sure I could do everything that she would need.
In February I took her to a vet to confirm that she had infertile eggs. It is now a few days from May and she still has not laid them despite following all the information I could find to make sure her cage was ready. I have tried everything from putting her in the dark to everything in-between. Tonight as I covered her up and turned out all her lights, she looks like she is going to pop. I even took her to the vet to have the injection to bring on labor. I love Luna and I don't want to lose her. My question is how long is to long to have eggs? Thank you,
Kathleen

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the forum!
Did the vet take xrays at either visit?
Did he give her oxytocin?
Please describe the egglaying bin? Is it in her cage?
Please post recent photos of her.

 

[magicalkh]

Thank you for replying. The vet took 2 ultra sounds a few weeks apart and she is definitely caring a lot of eggs. He gave her the oxytocin a few weeks ago, but nothing. Her egg laying bin is the entire bottom of her cage. A mixture of organic dirt and clean sand. I test it everyday to make sure it is damp enough to make a tunnel. She is very healthy and strong and continues to eat her gut loaded crickets and worms. She usually drinks quite a bit. I am at a lost of what next to do.

 

[kinyonga]

We're the eggs round or oval?
If oxytocin isn't given at the right time it won't work.
Is this vet a chameleon/exotics vet?
How deep is the substrate for her to dig in?
Please post a couple more clear photos of your chameleon.

 

[magicalkh]

Round or oval, hmm....I'm really not sure. The Vet treats reptiles but treats all animals. I wish I had a vet close that treats only reptiles. The substrate is a little over 12 inches. I can see the outline of her eggs.

 

[kinyonga]

She looks healthy but gravid with a large clutch. I hope she will lay them for you. I hope she won't become e eggbound.

Make sure she's getting enough calcium and has good UVB light.

If she starts to show signs of decline...sitting low in the cage...eyes closed during the day...lethargic....etc GT her back to the vet right away. If she does a phantom laying (digs a hole, backs into it, acts like shes laying eggs, filks the hole in and pats it down but didnt lay any eggs) get her to the vets right away.

 

[magicalkh]

Thank you for your wise words. I hope I don't lose her.

 

[magicalkh]

I took Luna to the Vet today. He said she is very healthy but he wanted to do surgery on her. I calmly told him that I really would like to try the Oxytocin, so he gave her two injections, Oxytocin and calcium. Now we wait.....

 

[kinyonga]

I hope it works but I have my doubts.
The problem in these situations is to know when shes eggbound and do the surgery before she's too weak to survive.

 

[magicalkh]

Yes, I agree with you, and as much as I care about Luna, money is very tight. I was shocked at the price. And what happens when she gets more eggs down the road? I don't think she could survive having surgery every time she carries eggs. I pray for the best.

 

[kinyonga]

The surgery would stop her from producing eggs ever again.

 

[magicalkh]

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks for all the info.