Help! We're confused!!

[karma chameleon]

Great news everyone.... SHE JUST POOPED!!

Thanks to you all for your suggestions, I think we gave all of them a go so can't say for sure what did it.

We dabbed some olive oil on a cricket and a wax worm and fed her, hoping to get things moving. The this morning I attempted to give her a warm bath - she wasn't too keen at first, but then she kinda just sat there - and a gentle massage around her lower abdomen. Then she looked like she wanted to come out for a walk, which I thought would do her good (as a bit of exercise always helps with icky bowels) so we got her out and let her roam in the garden for a little bit, then brought her back inside. She was sitting on my leg and comtemplating whether to climb down it or climb back up my arm when I noticed she started getting dark and slightly puffy. I thought I should put her back in the tank asap but then saw she had one leg cocked up like a dog! And then it started coming out!!

It was HUGE and STINKY!! and unfortunately as I was still holding her it went all over my hand. Very slimy, and equal parts white, then orange and then the big brown poo. All up, about 10cm of gunk ended up coming out.

Hope to hear you all say "great, that sounds normal!"...... let's hope she poops a bit more regularly from now on!

She immediately ate another cricket when I put her back so she seems pretty pleased with herself!!

Thanks so much to everyone that has offered suggestions. This forum has been amazing, it's so good to know there are so many knowledgable people out there willing to offer advice and support.

Cheers,
Angie

 

[BocaJan]

You did good work caring for your friends Chams Angie. The only thing you can do for a cham addiction is to get one. Ummmmmm That's a good place to start.

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Hi Angie,

Well that is an extremely large poop and the orange part sounds a bit odd. It sounds like she had some kind of blockage going on. Perhaps some of the POOP experts will have some good advice.

Chameleons generally need a tall enclosure for climbing with at least a 60W or higher bulb for warmth. They can thermoregulate by climbing up to the heat source to warm up or down farther in the enclosure to cool off. Unfortunatly aquariums don't offer the necessary climbing space or much of a variation in temperature. I think as a general rule 2 sides should at least be screen as well as the top.

Now that you've had this chameleon experience I'm sure that you'll be getting your own very soon!!

Dyesub Dave.

 

[karma chameleon]

Thanks Dave!

Calling all POOP experts, can you take a look at this and tell me if it is normal (normal that is for a cham that didn't eat for 7 days straight, then laid 88 eggs, then hasn't pooped in about 5 days even though she has eaten 10-12 large crickets every day)

She started pooping in my hand but I managed to grab a paper towel from the kitchen before it went everywhere!

I'm thinking the blockage may have been from her ingesting sand when she was digging. When we had her x-rayed (before she laid) you could see a little bit of sand in her digestive system, but the vet said it was only a small amount and she would be able to pass it normally. That was BEFORE she dug for about 17 hours straight when she finally laid so chances are, she probably ingested a little bit more sand. The sand is a reddish colour by the way so could this be what has caused the orangey bit in the poop? If so, then now that this sand has been passed through, we should expect it to go back to normal right?

If anyone else thinks this looks like something more, please let me know!!

Many thanks,
Angie

FYI - there is another photo of her on my shoulder shortly after the pooping and she looks much happier don't you think?

 

[summoner12]

LLL Reptile will ship to the UK

24"x24"x48" Screen cage

24"x24"x36" screen cage

 

[summoner12]

her deposit seems to point to dehydration... but if your misting her well and she drinks lots of water next urate should be more white. A lot of moisture is lost when laying eggs.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

her deposit seems to point to dehydration... but if your misting her well and she drinks lots of water next urate should be more white. A lot of moisture is lost when laying eggs.

A good portion of the urates is very white.
I do not think the animal is suffering from dehydration.
The yellow parts are because she hasn't gone for a few days and some of that matter has been in there for awhile. nothing to worry about. Looks good to me.

-Brad

 

[summoner12]

Dehydration: excessive loss of water from the body or from an organ or body part from illness or water deprivation

Was she drinking while laying? Did she lose water from the proccess during her laying?