Just adopted Pascal.

lpaskel

New Member
Hey guys so I'm a new chameleon owner but have worked with reptiles and other animals for many years. I know that they are extremely high maintenance and willing to do what I need to take care of my new dude. But I am a science teacher and I had a student give me this chameleon. She bought it as a birthday present in May from Petsmart and is now essentially bored with it. Problem is that it doesn't come without some issues.

She told me He stopped eating a while ago and they aren't sure why. They were force feeding him wax worms and mealies..as well as a big horned worm here and there. I brought him home 2 nights ago and today he puked up over 6 worms and the big horned worm.all calcium loaded. His colorations are a bit odd to me as well in that in the morning he is always on the bottom of the terrarium (all mesh) and one side is dark and the other side of him is very light. He's very slow and I often have to help him climb. I've been misting him and he's drinking , but the former owners never soaked him. We keep the heat on him as directed. However he's so bulky and just doesn't look ok to me. (see photos) I know he has to be stressed. Please help me help this guy. (Be nice- again I know they are alot of work!!!)
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Thats a she...
She has eggs, ALOT of them.
I would not feed "worms" to an unhealthy cham, they are hard to digest. Id stick to crickets or dubia if she will eat them.

Ill Let the female owners take over from here on how to care for a gravid girl.
Are you sure??? How can you tell. Belly does feel hard. Oh boy.
 
That girl is very sick. Many issues. Needs vet asap. I’m so sorry they waited so long to give her to you. 😭 best luck and my fingers crossed she recovers.
I’m pretty sure they’ll ask you to fill out this form best you can. You can copy and paste it with your answers.
Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
  • 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?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  • 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?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Hi and welcome. Yes, get a laybin in asap. Preferably one that is at least 12” long and wide and filled to about 6” deep with play sand moistened enough to hold a tunnel without collapsing. Once you’ve put that in, then you need to find a good exotics vet who is experienced with chameleons. I’m afraid there is a high likelihood that she is eggbound and is in need of emergency care to help her pass those eggs.
 
I’m going to venture a guess that your poor little lady hasn’t received ideal husbandry and this is going to make it more difficult for her to pass these eggs and likely impossible without a vet. :( If you need help finding a good vet, let us know where you are…one of the forum members is awesome at helping find vets. Right now, getting those eggs passed is the highest priority and not knowing how long she’s been in distress makes it an emergency. Once she’s gotten all of those eggs out, we can help you get her husbandry in check.
 
IMHO, this is not something to wait on...she needs a vet right away...like yesterday or she won't likely make it sadly.
The two main causes of death in female veiled chameleons are dystocia (egg binding) and follicular stasis (follicles won't ovulate basically). Both are pretty avoidable in almost all cases, by proper husbandry, diet and temperatures.

Too bad you weren't given her a few months earlier.
 
I’m going to venture a guess that your poor little lady hasn’t received ideal husbandry and this is going to make it more difficult for her to pass these eggs and likely impossible without a vet. :( If you need help finding a good vet, let us know where you are…one of the forum members is awesome at helping find vets. Right now, getting those eggs passed is the highest priority and not knowing how long she’s been in distress makes it an emergency. Once she’s gotten all of those eggs out, we can help you get her husbandry in check.
I'm in PA. Harrisburg area
 
IMHO, this is not something to wait on...she needs a vet right away...like yesterday or she won't likely make it sadly.
The two main causes of death in female veiled chameleons are dystocia (egg binding) and follicular stasis (follicles won't ovulate basically). Both are pretty avoidable in almost all cases, by proper husbandry, diet and temperatures.

Too bad you weren't given her a few months earlier.
I was just told she only started acting like this 3 weeks ago. Prior to that she was climbing and everything. They did not know she was female.
 
I was just told she only started acting like this 3 weeks ago. Prior to that she was climbing and everything. They did not know she was female.
You can sex them the day they are born by looking at the heels...boys have tarsal Spurs and females don't. As they grow the females have much lower casques and a different shape to the tail near the vent.
 
Judging by he size of her abdomen, she still would have been in trouble with egglaying even if she could have done it then. Did she have any pots with soil in them in her cage?
 
Judging by he size of her abdomen, she still would have been in trouble with egglaying even if she could have done it then. Did she have any pots with soil in them in her cage?
No. Unfortunately it was a young girl who bought it and was told it was a boy. Not sure I'm going to be able to get to a vet. But I'm going to get a bin this evening and at least get that in there. It only started going down to lay on the bottom in the last few weeks they said. I don't know what to do at this point.
 
You can sex them the day they are born by looking at the heels...boys have tarsal Spurs and females don't. As they grow the females have much lower casques and a different shape to the tail near the vent.
Bought from a pet store. They didn't know either. I believe they assumed male
 
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