Advice please

[Johnob]

Hi, my yemen chameleon is about 2 years old and last week laid eggs.She was off her food and water and lost weight.Two days after laying eggs she went for a walk around the cage as usual,took a drink and then a little while later sat down on the ground and went still.she changed colour to some shades of gray and her belly and sides went dark brown.I have never seen these colours on her before this,allthough her eyes went black during the couple of days while laying.
I left her for about 2 hours and when I checked she didnt look good,I thought she was dead.I took her out to check.she was stiff. Then she took a breath but still seemed stiff.I put her back and left her there.
I read about brumation and hoped that this was all it was.After 3 days she looks a lot worse,tounge is gone black and the eyes are sunk into her head.Her colour has changed back to a nice light green but she still has not moved.She feels cold and her belly is soft.
I think she is dead,but have no experiance with brumation so I dont know for sure..I guess the eyes and tounge are bad news ?
What do you guys think ?

 

[joefarah]

If she isn't already dead she will be soon. I'm really sorry. Hopefully the eggs will be good and she'll live on through the next generation.

Next time that happens get her to a vet at the FIRST sign of trouble...

PS - unfortunately what you are describing is not related to brumation, but rather the taxes of egg production/deposition on the female.

 

[lonomac]

That sounds really bad, the best thing to do is take her to a vet. But it sounds like there may be no hope for her

 

[Johnob]

She is dead,started to smell too... Was it the egg laying that killed her ? or I should ask, was it my lack of knowledge about what was happening that killed her ?
I dont know weather or now to get another.Im afraid that if I get another he/she will sufer from dehydration too....

 

[m1ndless]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Maybe try a male next time? We learn from our mistakes, and hopefully your next cham will be alright.

 

[Julirs]

Please fill this out and we will fill in any gaps in your husbandry...
Cage Info:
Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size?
Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?
Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[Johnob]

Cage Type - Glass cage with mesh roof, 440mm x 600mm.
Lighting - ExoTerra uv 5.0 with 60 watt. both lights on 8 to 12 hours a day.
Temperature - Never measured the temps
Humidity - Not very humid, misting ocaisionally.
Plants - fake plant
Location - in the kitchen,lots of traffic.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled female about 2 years old
Feeding - 6 to 8 crickets twice a week,gut loaded with fruit and veg, orange,apple,carrot,various greens dusted with calcium powder.Also placed in a bown in cage.
Supplements - calcium powder
Watering - bowl of water in cage,she would drink from the bowl everyday.
Fecal Description - black and white.soft.
History - always active,out of cage 3 times a week,lots of climbing on curtains,christmas tree,outdoor tree in sunlight.

 

[Julirs]

YOU NEVER MEASURED THE TEMPS???? In an all glass cage??? Did not know the humidity??? Used fake plants???

This is a disastrous recipe for dehydration. While I am not doubting that she drank from a bowl as I have heard of this, most do not drink from bowls. THey need to be misted several times a day.

 

[Johnob]

After reading a lot of info in the last few days I realise that we had no idea what the correct conditions were for this cham, we took it from a friend of my wifes who was moving to australia,we followed her instructions which were obviously not great.
I feel realy bad coz this could have been prevented.
My kids want me to replace her, My wife doesnt think its a good idea and I dont really know what to do.
Is there a list anywhere here with the correct specs and type of cage,temps,humidity ect ? how to maintain humidity and how to prevent dehydration ?

 

[Julirs]

Here is an excellent place to get all kinds of information...
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Please try not to beat yourself up about it. I lost a baby cham first time around due to terribly wrong keeping instructions. As long as you have plenty of time to dedicate to an animal that really does not like to be handled then I would suggest getting another one. If not consider another type of pet.

 

[chamlover]

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your little one. Everyone of us has made mistakes taking care of these guys. They can be alot of work and like someone else said, it;s not like you can put them on your lap and pet them either. They are beautiful creatures that need specific care. If you are willing to put the work in and try again, do your research and then by all means, try again. But a couple of suggestions that i would make is 1. Don't put it in a high traffic area like your kitchen. That can be extremely stressufl for them. 2. I woudn't have it roaming around the house and holding it all the time either. Again very stressful for the animal. They are the type of animals to be watched from afar and admired, not handled. I am sorry for your loss, but learn from your mistakes.