Is my chameleon sick or something? (not eating)

E

EmmaandZip

New Member
Hey everyone!

I have a female veiled chameleon and I've had her for about 6 months making her about a year old. I went on a trip in November and came back and gave her up to 40 crickets which she ate incredibly fast. We then bought more since we didn't expect her to eat that many but since november she's probably only eaten 5 crickets. I'm extremely worried. She still drinks and lays in the sun. She also digs a LOT and then sleeps on the ground sometimes. She has a UV and heat lamp, plants, branches, everything she needs. before she stopped eating I fed her crickets with the special calcium powder. I don't know if something is wrong. can anyone help?

Thanks
 
CAn you provide a picture of her.
It is possible she needs to lay eggs. Do you have a laying container in the cage?
 
EmmaandZip said:
Hey everyone!

I have a female veiled chameleon and I've had her for about 6 months making her about a year old. I went on a trip in November and came back and gave her up to 40 crickets which she ate incredibly fast. We then bought more since we didn't expect her to eat that many but since november she's probably only eaten 5 crickets. I'm extremely worried. She still drinks and lays in the sun. She also digs a LOT and then sleeps on the ground sometimes. She has a UV and heat lamp, plants, branches, everything she needs. before she stopped eating I fed her crickets with the special calcium powder. I don't know if something is wrong. can anyone help?

Thanks
Click to expand...

loss of appetite and digging sounds like she could have eggs. Are you aware a female can lay infertile eggs? they don't have to mate. you say she is digging....digging where and in what? Is it her laying bin?
 
Hi EmmmaandZip, welcome to the board.

I agree, it sounds like she has eggs.

Here's a link to JannB's blogpost on egg laying and laying bins.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

I strongly recommend you read over this and get on it now. It can be dangerous for them to have eggs without a proper place to lay.

A proper place to lay will have:

play sand or sand/soil mix at least 12 inches deep and big enough for her to walk around a bit. The sand should be moist enough to hold a tunnel you poke with your finger.

Easy access if it's in the cage with her (trail a vine down to it).

The illusion of privacy. Wrap that part of the cage up, leaving only a peep hole so you can spy on her.
 
I put a plant in with a pot but Im afraid we're too late. ): I don't know what to do. She started sticking her tongue out and I researched it and Im figuring it's infected. I dont know how to give her calcium since she wont eat. I put more crickets in with dust but nothing. She hardly moves. Sleeps most of the day, is very thin and when she does move she doesn't look peaceful. She doesn't climb either. Someone suggested putting her in a bag and into the fridge for an hour so she goes to sleep and then move to freezer over night as a peaceful death. And we can't afford a vet.
 
Wow. I'm sorry to hear that. I wish the best. I would consider just letting it die on its own. I wish the best of luck
 
Don't do that. That's crazy.
I'm sorry she's not doing well.
Have you gave her a shower for hydration, or using a water dropper, dropping water straight into her mouth? and tried hand feeding dusted crickets into her mouth?
 
EmmaandZip said:
I put a plant in with a pot but Im afraid we're too late. ): I don't know what to do. She started sticking her tongue out and I researched it and Im figuring it's infected. I dont know how to give her calcium since she wont eat. I put more crickets in with dust but nothing. She hardly moves. Sleeps most of the day, is very thin and when she does move she doesn't look peaceful. She doesn't climb either. Someone suggested putting her in a bag and into the fridge for an hour so she goes to sleep and then move to freezer over night as a peaceful death. And we can't afford a vet.
Click to expand...

It sounds like she's egg bound and with her current state it doesn't sound good. Gradually she's suffocating by not being able to lay those eggs. Not to sound preachy here but a vet fund is always helpful to have put aside when owning any pet.
 
BeBoSON said:
Don't do that. That's crazy.
I'm sorry she's not doing well.
Have you gave her a shower for hydration, or using a water dropper, dropping water straight into her mouth? and tried hand feeding dusted crickets into her mouth?
Click to expand...

I haven't . I caught her with her mouth open and spray her mouth. I'm just very worried and have not a clue what to do. If something is wrong with her tongue, can she still eat?
 
yankfanthom said:
It sounds like she's egg bound and with her current state it doesn't sound good. Gradually she's suffocating by not being able to lay those eggs. Not to sound preachy here but a vet fund is always helpful to have put aside when owning any pet.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know. I own a lot of other animals but this is my first chameleon. No one told us she would need somewhere to lay eggs so I feel terrible. What do you suggest I do? We're leaving on a trip tomorrow and this is why someone suggested freezing
 
Ok you need to fill a flowerpot with some plain soil/sand moist enough to make a tunnel that doesn't collapse. Put it in her enclosure and maybe even place her in it. If she has any energy left in her she may start to dig and dump the clutch. It does sound a little late but it's still worth a try.
 
I'm confused ... how does she get food and water while you are away? How long were you gone in November and did she have food and water?

If you are going on trips can some of that money go to a vet?

It does sound like egg-binding issues - but I'm also concerned that it sounds like you put 40 crickets in the cage at one time? And if she doesn't have access to food and water when you are gone I'm wondering if there are dehydration and starvation issues as well.
 
I was going to say the same thing....

thephotoprincess said:
I'm confused ... how does she get food and water while you are away? How long were you gone in November and did she have food and water?

If you are going on trips can some of that money go to a vet?

It does sound like egg-binding issues - but I'm also concerned that it sounds like you put 40 crickets in the cage at one time? And if she doesn't have access to food and water when you are gone I'm wondering if there are dehydration and starvation issues as well.
Click to expand...
 
Dont want to sound rude or mean but having a cham isnt like having some other type of pet. You should of done more research on it before getting one.When i go somewhere even over a short time like a weekend i have someone come check and do a couple things for my cham while im gone.
 
You said..."Someone suggested putting her in a bag and into the fridge for an hour so she goes to sleep and then move to freezer over night as a peaceful death".... this is an unacceptable way to kill a chameleon. Its very painful.

You said..."She started sticking her tongue out"...just the tip of it?

You said..."Sleeps most of the day, is very thin"...if she's very thin, then she likely isn't gravid. She shouldn't sleep most of the day.

You said..."She also digs a LOT"...is it possible she laid the eggs somewhere? Was she fat before?

You said..."I caught her with her mouth open and spray her mouth"..I hope you haven't caused her to aspirate water by doing this.

If she is having tongue problems, she can still eat if the tongue is in her mouth (not hanging out between her teeth)...but you still need to deal with the tongue issue.

Sounds to me like you just don't care about her if you can afford to go on a trip but you can't take her to the vets. Perhaps you should give her to a rescue group right now?

What supplements are you using specifically and how often for each?
What are you gutloading/feeding the insects with?
Is there any plastic or glass between the UVB and the chameleon?
What UVB light do you use specifically?
 
Putting an animal in the freezer to die is illegal, before it dies ice crystals form in the brain and causes severe pain. I agree with above post.
 
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