Rocking and not mobile - what is wrong with her?!
- Thread starter coachmoni
- Start date
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hello and welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that you girl is having problems. Please fill out the ask for help form and post a few pictures so the we can better help you to help your chameleon.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
My blog for general care.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
Since you have a female my blog for egg laying and the laying bin. By 5 months old she should have a laying bin.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
My blog for general care.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
Since you have a female my blog for egg laying and the laying bin. By 5 months old she should have a laying bin.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hello,
I have a 5-6 month old veiled cham. and lately she has been rocking herself forward and back. Then I noticed that she has really become stationary. She won't chase her food or get water. I'm really getting concerned about her and appreciate any insight.
jannb is right...we need more information.
FYI, when a cham rocks back and forth on its perch it may be trying to mimic a dry leaf or twig. It's something they do to trick a potential predator or to threaten an intruder. They get so preoccupied they don't eat or drink because they don't want to give their position away by moving. Sounds like your cham can see something in the room she is worried about and you are seeing her stress. Has anything changed around her cage? A shiny surface? Mirror? Can she see other chams or animals? Also, gravid female chams often get very stressy. If she's been overfed there is a chance she is developing a clutch of infertile eggs.
Sorry I didn't post this about our "Pascal". I hope someone can help...
Your Chameleon - Veiled cham, female, 5-6 months old, had her for 4 months
Handling - We handle her a few times a week at the least
Feeding - She will only eat live crickets (very picky eater) and eats 4-5 at a time every day. The crickets eat some orange cube thing that I can't think of the name of right now.
Supplements - Once a week we dust her crickets with Tetramin Calcium
Watering - We mist the cage 3-4 times a day with a squirt bottle and she usually comes to the cage wall and I spray water into her mouth, or she drinks from a bowl
Fecal Description - Everything is normal for her
History - none
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen all the way around, about 36" high and 18" across (guessing)
Lighting - ReptiSun 5.0 for 10 hours
Temperature - around 75
Humidity - 65-75
Plants - No live plants
Placement - service window between kitchen and "great room"
Location - Campo, CA
Jannb - I did put an egg laying bin with sand in her cage a few days ago but so far, nothing. I'm getting concerned that if she doesn't lay, she can get sick or die.
Carlton - There hasn't been any changes in her enviro. as far as I can tell. We have other animals (dog and cat) but they have been acting the same at least when we're home they do...
Your Chameleon - Veiled cham, female, 5-6 months old, had her for 4 months
Handling - We handle her a few times a week at the least
Feeding - She will only eat live crickets (very picky eater) and eats 4-5 at a time every day. The crickets eat some orange cube thing that I can't think of the name of right now.
Supplements - Once a week we dust her crickets with Tetramin Calcium
Watering - We mist the cage 3-4 times a day with a squirt bottle and she usually comes to the cage wall and I spray water into her mouth, or she drinks from a bowl
Fecal Description - Everything is normal for her
History - none
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen all the way around, about 36" high and 18" across (guessing)
Lighting - ReptiSun 5.0 for 10 hours
Temperature - around 75
Humidity - 65-75
Plants - No live plants
Placement - service window between kitchen and "great room"
Location - Campo, CA
Jannb - I did put an egg laying bin with sand in her cage a few days ago but so far, nothing. I'm getting concerned that if she doesn't lay, she can get sick or die.
Carlton - There hasn't been any changes in her enviro. as far as I can tell. We have other animals (dog and cat) but they have been acting the same at least when we're home they do...
Last edited:
Can you post a photo please?
IMHO you need to use a better gutload....greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, etc.) may be used.
If she does start digging, don't let her see you watching her while she's digging.
IMHO you need to use a better gutload....greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, etc.) may be used.
If she does start digging, don't let her see you watching her while she's digging.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Sounds like her diet could use some help - A diet of only crickets, especially when poorly fed and inadequately supplemented, can lead to deficiencies and health trouble.
Here is some info regarding gutloading and supplementing you may find helpful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
and a list of feeders to try, in addition to crickets: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
How long has she been in one place? or does she "freeze" and "rock" when you are around but seem to be moving around the cage when you are not there? It sounds like she may be quite exposed by the description of the cage location, the lack of plants. Carlton's suggestion about stress could be the issue
water bowls are not generally going to work well - I recommend a dripper in addition to the misting
Here is some info regarding gutloading and supplementing you may find helpful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
and a list of feeders to try, in addition to crickets: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
How long has she been in one place? or does she "freeze" and "rock" when you are around but seem to be moving around the cage when you are not there? It sounds like she may be quite exposed by the description of the cage location, the lack of plants. Carlton's suggestion about stress could be the issue
water bowls are not generally going to work well - I recommend a dripper in addition to the misting
Elizadolots
New Member
Is there something she can see that's frightening her or pissing her off? Have you put a poster up or bought a puppy or made any change to the room? (not the cage, I think you would have told us that)
I ask because the one time I saw that behavior was when one of my little chameleons managed to slither through the half inch gap at the bottom of the solid cage divider and go visiting the other little chameleon (another species). The little girl who got the visit did not appreciate it at all! She was clinging to her perch, displaying bright diamond patterns and rocking back and forth. (needless to say, the interloper was removed and the small gap blocked)
I ask because the one time I saw that behavior was when one of my little chameleons managed to slither through the half inch gap at the bottom of the solid cage divider and go visiting the other little chameleon (another species). The little girl who got the visit did not appreciate it at all! She was clinging to her perch, displaying bright diamond patterns and rocking back and forth. (needless to say, the interloper was removed and the small gap blocked)
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