Sick Veiled Cham- I need advice

[jordanlife]

I live in Estonia. Not many experts here. My cham she laid some eggs early this year. After that she seemed ok but then has been getting worse. She was at the bottom of the terrarium not moving and cant climb. she seems like she can no longer climb very well. Her eyes are small. She is still shedding her skin, still has an appetite from time to time. i recently purchased a new 15 watt heating light and a UVB florescent. I also bought calcium without D3 and put them into water and bathed her. I think the previous heating lam was too hot after reading and listening to this forum. Now after making these changes today, she is more active. seems to have some color back. I also got electrolytes which i am trying to also administer to her...but i dont want to try and force it down her.
i also went to a local vet and had her body x rayed and ultrasound. I have the files but i dont know who could read them. There is no reptile specialist here. Any help at all...i would be very grateful.
I posted 2 photos...before and after today. But i dont think she is perfect yet and any help to achieve my baby getting better is greatly appreciated. thank you.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled Cham, Female, and age 4-5 years i think. How long has it been in your care? Only 3 years
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? bathing and cleaning. very social
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? crickets
• What amount? 1-3 a day
• What is the schedule? morning and late afternoon
• How are you gut-loading your feeders? carrots, lettuces and veggies
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Misting 3-4 times a day
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No test for parasites. Yellow gooey poop.
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. She laid eggs in Feb. this year. Since then she has been weak.

 

[Carlton]

Your cham cannot absorb calcium or electrolytes through her skin. You have to either give them to her by mouth and use the calcium by dusting your insects with it.

 

[cyberlocc]

I second what Carlton said. But to be the Debbie downer, I dont think females live as long as males. someone correct me if I am wrong but 5 years for a female is a very long time?

She could just be suffering from old age, and getting to the end of her days.

I am pretty sure the average life span for female veileds is 4 years.

 

[jordanlife]

Thank you both for this valuable info. I didn't know the lie span for females was so short. I gave her calcium by the mouth and she seemed to perk up a bit and became more active. I am so thankful for info here.
Also i looked and the average lifespan says up to 7 years for females...just to be correct in case anyone else reads this.
thanks.

 

[cyberlocc]

Thank you both for this valuable info. I didn't know the lie span for females was so short. I gave her calcium by the mouth and she seemed to perk up a bit and became more active. I am so thankful for info here.
Also i looked and the average lifespan says up to 7 years for females...just to be correct in case anyone else reads this.
thanks.

Umm where did you find that? The average lifespan for a male veilied is 7 years females is 3-4 years.

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Veiled-Chameleon/ (this site says 4-6, most what I have seen is 3-4, though it largely depends on how many clutches they have had.

They can also defiantly live longer. That is just an average not a rule at all.

 

[Andee]

It depends on how often she is laying and how big her clutches are. Usually the average life span for a female is around 5-6 years. 6 years is relatively old though and they start going down hill pretty bad around that time. She may have the starts of MBD or her bones may be getting weak. Have you not been supplementing this entire time? If you haven't she's likely getting very weak bones especially with the recent lay because the eggs would leech a lot of calcium from the bones.

Supplementing schedule should be:
Calcium without d3 every feeding
Calcium with d3 2x a month
Vitamins 2x a month

I would try and take her outside on a warm day for some natural sunshine and hold her the entire time. Maybe bring a book and just sit with her in the sunlight for a good half hour to hour. It will help tremendously.

 

[jordanlife]

Umm where did you find that? The average lifespan for a male veilied is 7 years females is 3-4 years.

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Veiled-Chameleon/ (this site says 4-6, most what I have seen is 3-4, though it largely depends on how many clutches they have had.

They can also defiantly live longer. That is just an average not a rule at all.

Yes i see its 4-6 years now after much research. thank you. I think m y girl is old. ;o(

 

[jordanlife]

It depends on how often she is laying and how big her clutches are. Usually the average life span for a female is around 5-6 years. 6 years is relatively old though and they start going down hill pretty bad around that time. She may have the starts of MBD or her bones may be getting weak. Have you not been supplementing this entire time? If you haven't she's likely getting very weak bones especially with the recent lay because the eggs would leech a lot of calcium from the bones.

Supplementing schedule should be:
Calcium without d3 every feeding
Calcium with d3 2x a month
Vitamins 2x a month

I would try and take her outside on a warm day for some natural sunshine and hold her the entire time. Maybe bring a book and just sit with her in the sunlight for a good half hour to hour. It will help tremendously.

Its not warm enough yet, but i do try and move her to sunlight every chance i get now. Since i can see she is old, i want her old years to be as healthy and easy as possible. you have been so helpful I so appreciate it. ;o)

 

[jordanlife]

So I spoke to specialists in reptiles in New York. They tell me from her x rays that she doesnt have another batch of eggs. She started to get back color but her movement is very limited. She even ends up on her side in moments. She is opening her mouth every 5 min or so and it has a bit of mucas. She is not opening her eyes at all. She ate one cricket yesterday and nothing today. I gave her hyrdraton in her mouth and 0.2 ml of calcium yesterday and today. i am just heart broken and dont know what else to do. The vet says from her scans that she seems constipated. I was instructed to give her a soak in a bath 2 times a day and to rub her stomach. Does anyone have any other suggestions ? Thanks. I have the xrays here in case they are useful for people.