Our "Hyde" needs help.

[lfalsett59]

Hi everyone, brand new at owning a chameleon. BTW my name is Lou.
My family and i purchased a baby veil back in April. She was maybe 1-1/2" long. She has been doing fantastic!. About two weeks ago she started showing the symptoms of being Egg laiden. "I think". It even looked liked there might have been two bumps just above her hind quarters. At any rate timing was kind of bad because we had a short vaca planned. We went away, left about 20 crickets and off we went.

Came back to find most of crickets just dead....hmmmmmm. Not like Hyde, she normally is a slob. Sorry Hyde but your are a little piggy. She is seven months old. And Huge. At least I think so. Her body length is a solid 8-9", and a healthy build.

I have not tried to go in and just pick her up, she gets extremely upset. Unfortunately I did not teach her to be used to being held.

Immediately when I got back from vaca. placed a 16" diameter x 16" deep pot with top soil, moistened, and prayed for the best, nothing.

She'll eat super worms if i just about put it under her nose. Still not touching crickets as far as i know. She doesn't looked dehydrated, but how do I know. Any help , suggestions, would be grateful.

Probably will bring to vet on Monday.

Thank everyone
Lou

 

[mcleodschams]

she is old enough for eggs so you are probably right about that i would cover her cage give her lots of quite alone time and she will do her business sometimes i start a test hole for my females they catch on a little easier to whats going on. the vet wont hurt but it depends how far along she is i would give her the chance to dig first as the transit time to the v et can be very stressful on them and if she is ready to pop you dont want her to be too stressed out can you post a couple pics of her and her enclosure that will help us help you better

 

[carol5208]

if she is dehydrated her eyes and casque will be sunken in. Also if she poops, the urate will not be white but orange in color. She probably is not pooping though if she is not really eating. how do you provide water?

 

[lfalsett59]

Poor Pics but best I can do on short notice.

She is being very, very shy. Tough to get shots of her. Trying to up load environment shot. GOT IT !

I know Long way to go to improve environment.

I am a woodworker, so if someone has suggestions to build a nicer environment please let me know.

I Have a drip Bottle that drips over the plant. I've yet to see her drink from that. Also I mist environment 2-3 daily. I spray her sometimes, but she gets real pissy. Should I continue to spray her no matter what?

 

[Lancecham]

Without seeing a pic it is hard to say if she has eggs. But veileds can carry so many eggs, they look like they are about to explode even a couple weeks before laying. If she has eggs, she will use your laying bin when she is ready.

 

[Zubi]

First off, she does look very chunky i'm sure she wants to lay. Second her cage needs alot more foliage in the middle so she can feel secure enough to lay. There isnt enough cover, so she wont do it because she thinks if you see her lay you will taker her eggs. Its natural instinct. I would add a pothos or schefflara plant in there to give her more cover

 

[mcleodschams]

She does look a bit dehydrated and the enclusure could use more foliage and again like I said before privacy is the key to egg laying they need total seclusion

 

[lfalsett59]

Hydrating her

How do I go about hydrating her better?
Also, that liquid Calcium, How do I go about giving it to her if she doesn't like me coming near her.

One more thing, like I said, she is not into being held or me approaching real close, she hisses, mouth agape. Do I force the issue to get her used to being held.

 

[Zubi]

I would not try to stress her out any more than she already is right now. Some chams just hate being held, and you have to respect that. You could mist her cage alot more, run the dripper for longer to get her to drink. But I would add some more plants in that cage pronto. Also if she has more plants in the cage that have water droplets on them, she will probably drink alot more.

 

[lfalsett59]

More recent pictures

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