Female Veiled never receptive?

[dmrich]

My female has always been very aggressive towards the male (moves towards him gaping, hissing with black colouration), and never seems to be receptive?

To give some background I understand that she is just over a year old and I only got her about 2 months ago. She seems a very healthy weight and shows good colouration. However I do wonder whether she had enough room to bask properly with the previous owner as she seems to have what looks like scarring along the ridge of her spine? she also smelt strongly of tobacco smoke for a while after receiving her.

My male also is just over a year old, and i wonder if he is still a little on the small side (if he is still growing?) for her taste and that she is holding out for a larger male? He is about the same size as her, but she is much heavier?

Any expert opinions would be welcome and here are some pictures of her upon request of dodolah (not the best as she is currently shedding)?

 

[Eric Adrignola]

she has very bad burns on her spine and side. This is from the heat lamp being too hot and /or too close. You will ned to change that ASAP, and I sugest getting her to a vet for some antiseptic cream - silvadine cream is great on burns. You need to get a vet to give it to you.

 

[dmrich]

As I say Eric this is not caused by me - she had these when I got her, and she cannot burn herself on the lamp in my enclosure as it is covered. They are dry and there is not any blistering or broken skin so I am hoping with some tlc that she will lose them when she sheds fully again, but will enquire about the cream with a vet.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

I understand. They are clearly not fresh. The skin will start to fall off in the next several weeks/months. The silvadine will prevent infection as the raw skin/flesh is exposed. She should be fine as long as she's not burned again.

The burns were likely not caused by her contacting the bulb. They almost always burn themselves from the heat of it - being too close to a bulb that is too high. What wattage is it and how close to the cage? Here's a test. Put our hand IN the cage, as close as you can get to the bulb. See if you can keep it there. If it's starting to burn you after a minute or so, it's too hot. Take a temp reading. Highest temp inside the cage shouldn't be hot enough to burn. 105 would be the hottest I woudl think of. Preferebly in the 90's.

 

[dodolah]

As I say Eric this is not caused by me - she had these when I got her, and she cannot burn herself on the lamp in my enclosure as it is covered. They are dry and there is not any blistering or broken skin so I am hoping with some tlc that she will lose them when she sheds fully again, but will enquire about the cream with a vet.

Those weird lines and some actually on her lateral side are blisters from thermal burn just like Eric said.
So, Sylvadene / Flamazine (in Canada) is a good topical ointment for such wound.
Now, I understood about the weird lines and tobacco smell (I had an inkling but I chose not to say anything b4 you posted the pic to avoid making misleading assumption and unnecessary panic).

as far as being receptive, she will do it in due time.
There is nothing you can do except letting the nature run its course.
In the meantime, focus on the burn issue. It is still in the middle of healing process. When they completely heal, those weird colored area will slough off leaving your chameleon's back to be somewhat like this:
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-chapter-f-burn.html

Unfortunately, those skin will not grow back.

Good luck, and keep us updated

 

[dmrich]

Thanks guys - I suspected that she must have been kept in viv that was too small for her before and possibly could get away far enough from the heat source, and you guys have confirmed it.

In my setup for her (Exo Terra 100 flexarium) she now has a Exo Terra SunGlob 100w basking bulb that is covered and the vines below it slants so that she can adjust where she basks - so it not an issue now.

She seems perfectly healthy other than that and goes a really bright green colour when not stressed (I'll have to surprise her for a good shot of this though!). Am in UK not Canada but will enquire as to the availability of such creams here.

Finally do the males carry on growing up to 18 months? and may he be more desirable when he puts more bulk on?