TX Rango is a girl and is full of eggs!

[TX Rango]

Have had our girl Rango for about 2.5 months (veiled chamy) and she had a ferocious appetite up until the last 5 days. She has stopped eating as is digging at the bottom of her cage. I just took her to the vet, they did an x-ray and I saw the large clutch of eggs inside her. The vet told me to put her in a bucket of sandy dirt (about 12 inches) and leave her in with a lid with holes to breath. She was very active when I put her in and she didn't want to go in there. Should I just leave her alone and not let her out, even though she is scratching to get out, and just peek in tomorrow to make sure she is OK? We don't want anything to happen to her. The vet told me to bring her back in 2-3 days for surgery to remove the eggs if she doesn't lay them. She is such a cool and active girl and we want to do the right thing for her and not let her suffer or worse. Please advise.

Much thanks!!!

 

[camimom]

She may not need to lay them yet.

I woulnt take her in for surgery just yet.

Can you put the bucket in her cage?
if so I would do that.

 

[TX Rango]

Thanks, Camimom. I made the floor of her cage from about 5 inches the front to about 9 inches in the back with the sandy loam. I added moisture so it will clump very well. I put her vines and structure back in the cage minus a couple of objects to give her room to make some tunnels. I sprayed her really well a couple times today morning and evening and put a towel around her cage so she wouldn't see me or have any distractions in between. When I misted her, she ate a couple of leaves of spring greens (no spinach) and 2 crickets. She stopped heading to the bottom now that the dirt is in there but she is not acting frantic like she was before. I don't want to have surgery but I will if it is necessary. I will give her several more days and see what happens. I have enclosed a pic of her x-ray. I wonder how much longer I should wait. The vet told me to take her in for surgery Friday morning. The vet will also fix her while removing the eggs. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[StickyPad]

Wow, that x ray really makes the eggs stand out! Are they fertile? Because after research I have found out that infertile eggs are smaller and easier on the body than fertile ones...hope this helps!

Ps. I'm in the same situation, but I'm not taking my girl in for surgery yet. Good luck!

 

[Lathelia]

Hi,
I'm not an expert, but I would wait with the surgery. If she is active and is eating there is no reason why she wouldn't lay on her own IMO. If females can't lay on their own, vets usually give oxytocin shot, before deciding on surgery.

 

[StickyPad]

Hi,
I'm not an expert, but I would wait with the surgery. If she is active and is eating there is no reason why she wouldn't lay on her own IMO. If females can't lay on their own, vets usually give oxytocin shot, before deciding on surgery.

I agree with this....surgery can be very dangerous and could cause problems....this should be a last resort. Do what I'm doing - keep in contact with the vet and just check your chameleon when she is sleeping so not to interrupt her. They will usually do the deed when the time is right and they feel safe, and it is much, much better on their body if they do it themselves, naturally.

hope this helps! female chams can be very, VERY stressful sometimes! I wish mine would just lay!