My chameleon is not eating and is closing her eyes?!

[Thefloridachameleon]

Hello,
My female veild chameleon (her name is Rosie) is not eating and she is noticibly fat. She lays on the ground and closes her eyes but when she gets up she struggles with it and when she gets on a branch she hangs from it with her feet. She is a lightish green and sometimes she turns a darker green. I am very worried for her. Please help!

 

[teejayteej]

How old is she?? and can you post pictures that can help the others see what you are talking about??
She may be ready to lay eggs?? but not sure on that one I just put a bin in my girls cage yesterday to make sure it is there when she needs it. They lay eggs if they have been bred or not. Not went though this yet so maybe someone else can chime in and explain better.

 

[Thefloridachameleon]

How old is she?? and can you post pictures that can help the others see what you are talking about??
She may be ready to lay eggs?? but not sure on that one I just put a bin in my girls cage yesterday to make sure it is there when she needs it. They lay eggs if they have been bred or not. Not went though this yet so maybe someone else can chime in and explain better.

She is about 9-10 months old I think. She haven't been digging yet though, so I don't know if she's ready to lay eggs or not. I've had a female veiled before she she acted a little differently.
I will take a picture in the morning, because she's asleep right now and I don't want to wake her. She is currently sleeping on the ground, if it helps.

 

[teejayteej]

she is about the right age to need to .... do you have a laying bin ready for her? If so I would add it to the cage ASAP so that if that is the problem she will have it. It is not good that she is sleeping on the ground, at least I don't think that it is?? I am not as experienced as some of the others but I am on hear reading and learning every night from all the post that everyone does and I have never heard it was a good thing for them to be in the bottom of there enclosure. you may want to go on ans fill out the ask for help form and see if that will get some of the others to speak up to help you.

 

[carol5208]

You said she is not digging yet? Do you have a place for her to dig? If not, how could she dig? Not eating and looking fat, going to the bottom of the cage...sounds like she is with eggs. I would get her a laying bin right away so she does not become eggbound.

 

[Thefloridachameleon]

Yes I put a laying bin in the cage, but she seems to be getting worse. She always closes her eyes until I walk by, and she barely moves. I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen.

 

[Dez]

Sounds like she is very weak which is not good.

She may be too weak to dig and lay (if that is the problem) There maybe something going on internally like the eggs are twisted or even ruptured leaking yoke into her body.

I recommend a vet visit

It may not be an egg issue and be some other alment. Some sickness can make a chameleon appear bloated and puffy. Can you feel any eggs in her if you rub her tummy?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I strongly recommend a vet visit.

is she drinking well? eating?
can you please provide answers to all of the question in the how to ask for help sticky? https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[ataraxia]

I recommend a vet visit

I strongly recommend a vet visit.

I agree with both statements.

Please fill out the form in the above post so we can better assess where the problem may lay.

 

[Thefloridachameleon]

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

•Rosie is a girl veiled chameleon. She's about 10-11 months. She has been in my care since she was very little and never had any problems until now.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
•I never handle her, except once when she was small.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amouYour
•I feed her crickets and occasionally mealworms. I feed her about 7-10 a day. I use cricket food and water for the crickets.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
•the calcium is repti calcium. I use it every other day.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
•i use the dripping system, and mist them three times a day. I see her drink usually, but now since she is not doing well, I haven't seen her.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
•it's mostly yellow, some white and brown.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
•she's always been healthy, until now. I have got allmy other chameleons from he same place and they've all been healthy.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
•it's screen. I'm not sure of the dimension, I think it's medium sized.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
•it's called repti light. I've always used it. I turn it on in the morning and off at about 8:30 at night.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)?
•85 at bottom and 90 at basking.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If nt
• no I am not.

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?
•inside my house. It's near a fan, but I never really use it.
Location - Where are you geographically located?
•Florida, if you haven't found out yet.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
•she's not eating and is closing her eyes. I felt, and she dosent have egg yet


-Also, I visited the vet a week ago and Rosie seemed fine after that until yesterday.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

To me it sounds like she is with eggs and may be too weak at this point to dig. A vet visit is pretty much your only option because she is getting worse. Did you go to a vet who specializes in chameleons? herps? or just a general vet?

 

[carol5208]

Did your vet xray her for eggs? How did the vet determine she did not have eggs and was fine? Your first post was from almost a month ago(10/9). So how was she acting the two weeks or so plus before you got her to the vet last week? So you are saying that she stopped closing her eyes and laying on the bottom until yesterday?