New to Chameleons, Female has eggs

[Kameo13]

I have seen females so full of eggs (like 70+) that can cause quite a bit of abdominal distention. The best way to know would be to do an x-ray. But she needs an appropriate size egg laying bin with good substrate ASAP! And a UVB light must be added. Increase her calcium as well because if she doesn't have enough calcium either through lack of dietary supplementation and/or lack of UVB she is at increased risk of egg binding.

Ok Thank you, I got a new UBV bulb and if I can get her to eat anymore I will be powdering the food with calcium!

 

[Kameo13]

Poor little thing, she does have a number of issues going on. Hopefully she will accept the bin and start laying eggs asap.

I'm reluctant to stress a female at this delicate time, but have you considered a vet visit? She may need some help along with the laying process (especially since her previous care was less than stellar) and there is a drug they can administer to induce contractions if necessary - but I worry most about that pronounced bulge at her hip and somewhat about the overall "puffiness" of her arms and legs. She could be fighting adema or a secondary infection, too.

I have definitely considered a vet visit, I called them yesterday and vet advised to keep an eye on her for now, and if she didn't eat to take her in tomorrow, but she did just eat a worm so far, I will try again in a bit to see if she wants anymore. If everyone thinks I should take her to the vet I definitely will, or should I wait and see how it goes over the next few days? I'd really hate to take her there for them to tell me she is A-OK but would rather be safe than sorry as well.

Welcome to the forums. You have received some excellent advise above. She is a beautiful girl and I hope she will lay with no problems. The thing that has me worried is I'm afraid there might be something else wrong with her besides just eggs. If she were mine and she wasn't in the process of laying in the morning, I'd have her at the vets for an x-ray.

Here's a good video by one of our senior members on how to set up a laying bin.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video.77225/

Info about egg laying and the laying bin. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/entry/egg-laying-and-the-laying-bin.345/

Info about feeding females less to keep them from producing eggs or at least help them to have a smaller clutch. http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html

General care for veiled chameleons. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-with-young-veiled-or-panther-chameleons.325/

Thank you for all these links I'm checking them out right now, the general consensus is that something else is going on with her so I will see how she is doing in the morning and based on that I will take her to the vet.

I would like to thank everyone sooo much for all your help, really would not have had a clue on how to help her at all if it weren't for you. The main reason I got her was because the person I bought her from said he had a house fire and it was an emergency so he had to get rid of her and I wanted to help, I didn't have a lot of time to research them and wanted to help.

 

[jajeanpierre]

If she were mine, I would have her to a reptile vet Monday morning. She has what looks like some edema (fluid retention) and the swelling in her belly does not look normal. If she is digging around Monday, don't stress her by taking her to the vet. If she is not going to the ground, I would try to have her looked at and I think an x-ray is in order.

It is normal for them to stop eating or to eat very little in the last few days before they lay. Offer her small feeders. Some of mine have been very restless for a few days before they get to laying.

 

[Kameo13]

If she were mine, I would have her to a reptile vet Monday morning. She has what looks like some edema (fluid retention) and the swelling in her belly does not look normal. If she is digging around Monday, don't stress her by taking her to the vet. If she is not going to the ground, I would try to have her looked at and I think an x-ray is in order.

It is normal for them to stop eating or to eat very little in the last few days before they lay. Offer her small feeders. Some of mine have been very restless for a few days before they get to laying.

OK awesome I will keep an eye on her!

She seems a lot better today I think it was because she was shedding. She ate 3 worms finally today and was moving around a bit more too. She seemed waaay more normal today than the last few days so I'm really happy about that. she doesn't seem egg bound from what research I have done, she isn't lethargic, eyes are normal, not breathing through her mouth and eating again, must have been due to her shedding I'm sure of it now. I may hold off on the vet for now as she seems to be doing well.

She has a good laying bin in there and hasn't been rummaging around on the bottom of her tank at all. When I called the vet they recommended holding off and giving her a few days so think I'll do that and if her condition worsens I will rush her to the vet.

I will keep everyone posted? hoping I wake up tomorrow to a bunch of egggghs

 

[jajeanpierre]

OK awesome I will keep an eye on her!

She seems a lot better today I think it was because she was shedding. She ate 3 worms finally today and was moving around a bit more too. She seemed waaay more normal today than the last few days so I'm really happy about that. she doesn't seem egg bound from what research I have done, she isn't lethargic, eyes are normal, not breathing through her mouth and eating again, must have been due to her shedding I'm sure of it now. I may hold off on the vet for now as she seems to be doing well.

She has a good laying bin in there and hasn't been rummaging around on the bottom of her tank at all. When I called the vet they recommended holding off and giving her a few days so think I'll do that and if her condition worsens I will rush her to the vet.

I will keep everyone posted? hoping I wake up tomorrow to a bunch of egggghs

I have never found shedding had any impact on them. The only time shedding seems to affect their behavior is when they have pieces of shed on their eye turrets or the palms of their feet. Before a shed, fluid fills the space between the old skin and the new skin separating the two layers. Then the fluid dries and you see a typical shed. By the time the chameleon has skin falling off its body, the old skin is completely separated and dried out so I can't see how it affects them behavior wise except around their eyes and feet. I would expect the shedding process to affect the behavior of a snake who also sheds their eye caps. A snake's vision would be impaired as the shed separates from the eye but before it is shed. Chameleons don't shed their eyes like snakes. I've just never seen any behavior changes, even breeding behavior.

 

[Kingkush]

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=YE&name=Yemen reference for yemen temp ranges imho prefers ambient range 75° to 95°F i thnk right now sunrise is 6:30 sundown 5:50 in yemen. . Seems only dec and jan get the lower 60's temps dunno where 40 as your low came from def too low.. In any event she needs an x ray to examine that lump or fluid and get her on antibiotics she definetly has edema its easily seen in the throat chest region.hope she makes it poor girl

 

[JGuinan007]

I wouldn't go with yemen as a whole go with Sanna as that city is nearest to where wild veileds come from

 

[kinyonga]

Please listen to ferrit...she's a vet and has a lot of experience with chameleons.
I just hope she's not already eggbound