Female vailed chameleon lathargic and laying at bottom of enclosure

[bobokity]

Good Morning All,
I've had Izzy for about 2 months. I have some experience with chameleons but this is my first female. She has good color, her eyes are bright and she focuses on me when I approach. I put in the egg laying bucket but for 24 hours she has done nothing but lay there. I have covered her enclosure completely. I am misting her several times a day. No food as I read she won't eat during this time. She is clumsy when she tries to climb anywhere. She is letting me hold her, but I haven't touched her now for 24 hours. I am trying not to disturb her. She is about 5 inches long (not including her tail). She's always been pretty good, learned to drink from a flowing fountain. I am concerned and I don't know what to do.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species VEILED, sex FEMALE, and age of your chameleon APPROX 8 MO. How long has it been in your care? 2 MONTH
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? RARELY
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? CRICKETS/MEAL WORMS What amount?MEAL WORMS IN A BOWL - ABOUT 5 EVERY 3 DAYS, CRICKETS ABOUT 3 EVERY OTHER DAY What is the schedule? SHE'S NOT A BIG EATER How are you gut-loading your feeders? REPTI CAL/GUT LOAD
• 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? SHE HAS AS RUNNING FOUNTAIN, I SPRAY 3 + TIMES A DAY
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? DARK, SHAPED
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. GOT HER FROM PETCO

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? SCREENED CAGE 18 X 36 X 18
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? UV LIGHT WITH UV HEATER LAMP, 10 HRS ON A DAY HEATER STAYS ON
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 70/75
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 60%
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? FAKE MADE FOR REPTILES
• 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? CAN BE DRAFTY ONLY ON WARM DAYS
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[BabyChamCham]

It kinda looks like she has MBD. But I'm not sure. I suggest you keep an eye on her and try to get her to a vet

 

[bobokity]

bone disease? this is sad if it's true. I've only had her two months, this couldn't be because of anything I did or did not do. My guess is she was that way from Petco. I am very upset.

 

[Peachypink]

Never mind....

 

[Lathis]

She does look like she has MBD. It would not be surprising or uncommon for her to come to you from a pet store with the problem. I don't have any experience with females, so take my advice with that caveat in mind. Are you sure she is ready to lay? Have you tried starting a tunnel for her? Some keepers have reported success with digging a little first. I would hate to disturb a female ready to lay eggs, but I do think she needs a vet visit to make sure she is recovering from the MBD and possibly give her a calcium injection as a booster. Producing eggs is very hard on the female body.

 

[bobokity]

wow, this could be costly I live on an island and vets out here are mega expensive for any animal.

 

[Lathis]

wow, this could be costly I live on an island and vets out here are mega expensive for any animal.

Has she's been getting calcium with her feeders every day since you've had her? You might consider getting some liquid calcium gluconate or calcium glubionate and giving her some booster doses orally if she makes it through this. Be careful with the dose and make sure you order the kind intended to be ingested (not injected). That might be the best you can do. Look for it at a bird supply store or website. Natural sun with the calcium boosters will go a long way to helping her recover from a tough clutch.

 

[bobokity]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WILL GIVE IT A SHOT. LOL I live just north of Seattle, you know, no sun county. LOL

 

[bobokity]

this is what she looked like 2 weeks ago.

 

[LindsayG]

Hi and welcome! I'm up in Everett and the weather has been pretty nice lately. Outside time would do her some good. She does look like she needs to be seen by a vet. What island are you on?
When you say,

UV LIGHT WITH UV HEATER LAMP, 10 HRS ON A DAY HEATER STAYS ON

Do you have a uvb bulb? And what kind of heater lamp do you have? It doesn't get nearly cold enough around here for her to bee needing extra heat at night. She will need a uvb light and a regular house light bulb for basking. Both should be on for 12 hours a day with no heat or light at night. AN automatic timer works wonders, especially for people like me who aren't quite up yet when the sun is lol. Read up on the care sheets for female veileds here on the forum. They will tell you mostly everything you need to know.

 

[Dumzy]

Hi and welcome! I'm up in Everett and the weather has been pretty nice lately. Outside time would do her some good. She does look like she needs to be seen by a vet. What island are you on?
When you say,

Do you have a uvb bulb? And what kind of heater lamp do you have? It doesn't get nearly cold enough around here for her to bee needing extra heat at night. She will need a uvb light and a regular house light bulb for basking. Both should be on for 12 hours a day with no heat or light at night. AN automatic timer works wonders, especially for people like me who aren't quite up yet when the sun is lol. Read up on the care sheets for female veileds here on the forum. They will tell you mostly everything you need to know.

I think by UV bulb they ment UVB bulb, and by the way, its nice in seattle? Cause the weather down in Portland sucks.

 

[LindsayG]

I think by UV bulb they ment UVB bulb, and by the way, its nice in seattle? Cause the weather down in Portland sucks.

There are bulbs that have just uva and no uvb thats why I was asking. And yes, it's been nice up here. It's been low 70s this past week.

 

[Dumzy]

There are bulbs that have just uva and no uvb thats why I was asking. And yes, it's been nice up here. It's been low 70s this past week.

Ah. Ok, ya its been in the 70s here aswell, but cloudy all the time, where dafuq is summer?

 

[LindsayG]

Ah. Ok, ya its been in the 70s here aswell, but cloudy all the time, where dafuq is summer?

Ya tell me about it. I'm missing last summer so badly! I was at the lake every single weekend last year. This year I haven't even gone once

 

[Dumzy]

Ya tell me about it. I'm missing last summer so badly! I was at the lake every single weekend last year. This year I haven't even gone once

I know... This years summer is sucking so far.

 

[Dumzy]

Amazing how fast this forum can go from a chameleon having MBD to talking about summer weather.

 

[LindsayG]

Kinda like the thread about a cham with no eyes that is now about deer jerky lol

 

[BabyChamCham]

Off task...