Mopey dark chameleon - is she ok???

[Georgi115]

Hi all,

My panther chameleon is been quite mopey the last few days and hasn't eaten in around 4/5 days. She is still drinking but she is permanently dark colours (like the photo). When she sleeps she goes her lovely pinky/brown colour. When she is awake she seems to be very mopey.

Normally once she wakes up and has warmed up I open her cage and she goes for.a roam around my plants in my living room, even runs around the carpet but she hasn't been really wanting to do this for a few days. Today she slowly made her way over to the closest plant but she hid away from the sunshine.

In her cage she is hiding away from the light too - can anyone advise?

cha

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Can't tell from the one pic, but could she be gravid? Has she ever laid a clutch before?
Does she have a lay-bin in her enclosure? If not, she may be looking for a place.

 

[Georgi115]

We have recently put a lay bin in her cage maybe a week or so ago.... Literally when this behaviour started actually! Will she be ok? I feel so sorry for her!

I thought she had dug a hole in the lay bin but it also could of been where the water drops off one of her vines in the same position so I wasn't sure if she had done the business or not

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Does the lay bin have privacy? Some chams are shy that way.

 

[Georgi115]

I would say about 90% private, the very front section is a little bare but it's also hidden by a wall too... Lots and lots of foliage for her to hide in. Usually she isn't interested in the leaves, she just likes to climb but this week she has been the exact opposite.

When I have done a Google image search of gravid, her markings are exactly the same which is making me feel a little better! Hopefully she will do her business soon?!

 

[Georgi115]

Hi all, she is still not eating and keeps climbing out her cage to sleep on the floor in the middle of the room so my partner has taken her to the vets - let's pray she is ok!

 

[Sonny13]

Hi all, she is still not eating and keeps climbing out her cage to sleep on the floor in the middle of the room so my partner has taken her to the vets - let's pray she is ok!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Hi all, she is still not eating and keeps climbing out her cage to sleep on the floor in the middle of the room so my partner has taken her to the vets - let's pray she is ok!

That sounds prudent.

 

[Georgi115]

Ok vet had a feel of her and thinks there is a lump of some sort but isn't sure if it's eggs.... She has been given liquid food because she hasn't been eating (emeraid?) And we have her booked in for ultra sounds, x-rays and blood tests on Tuesday first thing. Since she has come back from the vets her eyes have gone very sunken - will she make it until Tuesday?! What can I do to help her?!

 

[Sonny13]

Lets hope so
Unfortunately I can’t give you any advice

 

[kinyonga]

I would give her as much privacy as possible....make sure the lay bin in her cage is set up properly...don't bother her or handle her or let her see you watching her and pray that you didn't put the lay bin in too late.

 

[Georgi115]

When her light came on this morning she was in her lay bin, now she has climbed out and is between the lay bin and the side of her cage on the bottom. Because her eyes are sunken do you think it would be worth popping her in a shower with a plant? Or will that stress her out further?

 

[Sonny13]

That would definitely stress her. Is it possible to give her maximum privacy? So she continues with maybe egg laying process. Hanging a towel or blanket in front of the cage. Maybe, while it´s not recommend fogging during daytime, put on a fogger every hour for 15 minutes, if you have one. This could help with the hydration. However its just me trying to think logical and no specialist in this matter. However don´t put her in the shower.

 

[Georgi115]

Yeah I have popped a blanket on the front of her cage - the other side's are covered by walls so that's fine - I don't have a fogger however when we give her the liquid food I will spray the cage (it's a few times a day), then put her back and put the blanket back up. I'm just worried she is so exhausted/dehydrated that she will be too tired to dig her tunnel etc.

 

[Sonny13]

Like I said I´m no expert in this and would really love to help you. I think at the moment the stress from handling her is worst, leaving her doing her thing. The sunken eyes could also be more stress related then dehydration, when was the last time she poop? And how was urate (yellow, orange)? I think you need to take in consideration what´s more fatal at the moment? Getting egg bound or exhaustion / dehydration (triage)?

 

[Georgi115]

Because the vet has given us the liquid food I am going to go ahead with that still purely to boost her. It is powder mixed with water so I am hoping that might help hydrate her. I do think it's dehydration rather than stress (or at least a mix of the two) as I haven't noticed her drinking yesterday where usually she drinks all day long and runs towards the leaves to drink. But I won't leave her cage open for her to roam around, I will keep her in her cage with the blanket over for privacy.

Just need to keep her going until Tuesday where the vet can do the tests and we can figure it all out

Really appreciate your advice

 

[Sonny13]

Lets hope the best for her and you

It was no advice, just me thinking out loud with hopefully common sense

The best thing you´ve already done, going to a vet. Most come here for advice hoping they can skip a visit to the vet.

 

[Georgi115]

I see - I always think I am over the top with how much I rely on the vets haha I just wish I had insured her before this happened!

She is our first chameleon and she is the first reptile that has had any problems (our leopard gecko just cracks on with his life) so I just want her to be happy

 

[Sonny13]

Then you´re at the right place here, we all want what´s best for our animals. Chameleons are bit more sensitive then other reptiles, therefore a good husbandry is key as a starting point.

Maybe if you want more help, do a husbandry review. Sometime it brings things to light, which you haven´t thought about before. Like to make sure your chameleon doesn´t get dehydrated the next time.

It helped me a lot and here´s centuries of experience available.

Just start a new thread and fill out the form (copy/paste from here https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ )

 

[kinyonga]

What substrate do you have in the lay bin?
How big/deep is the bin/substrate?