Ivy sick or gravid?

Trillian

New Member
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Female panther, she's about 18 months old, I've had her for just over a year.

• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

Very rarely, she hates it. Been trying to feel her belly recently, but only twice, she's very aggressive.

• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

Mainly dubia, she gets one medium one or a few small ones, or a few mealworms, horns, supers, silks, crickets, 5-6 days a week. Dubia fed dandelions, bell peppers, crested gecko diet, and other non-cruciferous (not broccoli or spinach etc) veg and fruit scraps.

• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

Repashy all-in-one dusted on all but horns and silks, once a month dusted with mineral etc supplement (can't remember brand).

• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

Mist King set for 5 mins at 9am, 12pm and 5pm, if she is perched under the nozzle and looks expectant, I put it on manually for as long as she stays under it, usually 10-20 mins, that's about 2-3 times a week.

• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

Poop and urates look decent, not orange, but sometimes a bit mucus-y.

• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Nothing striking in her history, never seen a male or laid eggs.

Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

Mesh with perspex door, 24x24x48.

• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

Household 75w bulb for basking, Reptisun 5.0 tube for UV, replaced about 2 months ago.

• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

Basking spot is 81-82F, cage bottom varies with weather, in the last week it has been around 65-70F, I think, with one hot day when the temp hit 86F for a few hours. Measured with a thermostat, basking spot measured with one of those laser temp guns.

• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

Humidity usually around 50-60, measured with digital hygrometers.

• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

One reasonable pothos, considering adding a schefflera.

• 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?

Cage is by a window, which is on the 2nd floor (1st floor to us Brits!). I open the window on sunny days and she usually comes over to bask in the direct sunlight. We're a quiet family, not really high traffic. Top of the cage is almost 7 ft from the floor, I think.

• Location - Where are you geographically located?

NY, NY.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

I've noticed her closing her eyes during the day recently, and she isn't as perky and active as usual. She was roaming and scratching at the bottom a few weeks ago, so I put in a lay bin. It's a big Rubbermaid box, about 12 inches tall and maybe 18 inches long? Filled with soil and play sand, dampened, and a vine hanging into it so she can get in and out, and a fake leafy vine on the top.

Does she look gravid or sick??
 

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Here's a pic of her setup, the lay bin is now at the bottom, far right. I draped a sheet around two sides from around eye-level to the floor, to give her privacy if she did want to lay.

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I have never had a female close their eyes just from being gravid. I would say she is sick and recommend a vet visit with a reptile vet that knows chameleons.
 
Thank you, Jann. I have a good reptile vet, I should be able to get an appointment for tomorrow. Nothing jumps out at you that I'm doing wrong? I was hoping someone would just tell me she's gravid and stubborn, figured the next step was garbage can banishment until she laid.
 
Thank you, Jann. I have a good reptile vet, I should be able to get an appointment for tomorrow. Nothing jumps out at you that I'm doing wrong? I was hoping someone would just tell me she's gravid and stubborn, figured the next step was garbage can banishment until she laid.

The only thing off is I don't see a laying bin in the cage???? You also feed her too much IMO. I sure hope she will be ok.
 
Really?? I was worried it wasn't enough!! The bugs I listed were 'or' rather than 'and', so she just has a few small things 5-6 times a week. I took that pic before I put the bin in there, here's how it is now.
 

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side note

I knew this was in NY. the window size. the walls and trim. i knew before scrolling up to location. not a bad thing. just a game i like to play when people post photos. I agree though, if preganant not necessarily going to close eyes. Some of mine that are gravid, may take quick naps or go to sleeping spot a little earlier than usual. Females over 6mos. should have laying bin at all times. a scale can take the guess work out of it.
 
LOL! I'm surprised you managed it, what with me being a Brit and living in the 'burbs!

She's been fine since, maybe she just got some irritant in her right eye?! Think it was only one eye, she was flushing it a bit more determinedly than the other one when the mister went off. Poor wee thing, she's a cowbag but does like to freak me out by spending slightly too long doing something awkward...
 
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