Egg bound chameleon?

[Luke7721]

Hello, I've been noticing signs of my chameleon carrying eggs such as going to the bottom of the cage, not eating as much, and her colors. I've set up 3 different laying bins for her and she hasn't used one of them. I put substrate in one, sand in one, and mixed both in the other. My question is how long does it take for my chameleon to become egg bound and how can I fix this problem?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

It happens rather quickly, if they are ready to lay and do not. If she is at the floor of the cage, showing gravid coloration, and refusing food, I'd get her to a vet after day 2 or 3 of not laying and sooner, if she shows signs of distress, such as gaping of the mouth, seeming to pant, or appearing to strain, or in any way looking uncomfortable or in distress. Try using a bin outside the cage, such as garbage can and start a hole for her, place her in there, keep her there, with minimal light, but just enough for her to see and place a branch in there for her to get off the substrate, if she wishes.

 

[Luke7721]

Literally right after I posted this I looked in her cage and she was in the bin. When she saw me looking in she decided to get out. Is this a good sign? It's been about a week since she's been showing these signs

 

[Luke7721]

i meant to say it's been a week since she's showing signs of carrying eggs

 

[Luke7721]

It happens rather quickly, if they are ready to lay and do not. If she is at the floor of the cage, showing gravid coloration, and refusing food, I'd get her to a vet after day 2 or 3 of not laying and sooner, if she shows signs of distress, such as gaping of the mouth, seeming to pant, or appearing to strain, or in any way looking uncomfortable or in distress. Try using a bin outside the cage, such as garbage can and start a hole for her, place her in there, keep her there, with minimal light, but just enough for her to see and place a branch in there for her to get off the substrate, if she wishes.

^^^^

 

[KapitalJ]

From what I have read, if they are disrupted once they have begun to dig / lay, they will abandon ship! Best to cover the cage up and let her be for a couple of days.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

If she is attempting to use the bins, cover the cage, check her once a day, late in the morning, and do nothing else to disrupt her. A week of showing signs of carrying is different than a week of her needing to lay and not, so it's hard to quantify or judge, not being there to observe the chameleon and know what you mean. If she is digging in the bins, don't remove her to a bin outside the cage, as I suggested before. Just give her peace and quiet, a small amount of light ( think bright moonlit night ) at night ( they often lay at night or early morning ) and check on her once, late in the morning, until she lays. If she shows signs of distress, hasn't laid, and is still at the cage bottom, refusing food, and not showing signs of digging, in 3 days or so, I'd get her to a vet. Make sure she stays hydrated, but that her nest boxes aren't disturbed by the watering.

 

[Luke7721]

Thank you guys for helping me out, I really appreciate it! I just put a huge white sheet around her cage. I'll keep you posted if you would like.

 

[jannb]

She might not be ready. Just give her plenty of privacy and hopefully she will get to work on digging soon.