Is he bored or ill?

[Gertieinoz]

image.jpg

• Gertieinoz
• May 19, 2020

I’ve had Hector about 6 months. He’s always been a pretty ravenous hunter. Lately he’s barely eating. He is particular and won’t eat anything dusted in a supplement. He waits until they get “showered” by the misting system. I gut load all feeders, but I worry he’s not getting enough calcium. I have two UVB lamps at the top of the enclosure. Do chams take a break from eating? He is still drinking, but mostly he’s just hanging out in his tree. Suggestions? I haven’t found an exotic vet near me that I trust. (There’s only one)

 

[SourGrape4u]

Found Waldo! Dang he was hidden. Can you post pictures of him though? Also what feeders are you using?

 

[janjan20]

To add to the comment above, may wanna make sure your temps are ok. You might benefit from a full husbandry check see if it's related. Here is the help form: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/.

 

[Gertieinoz]

I feed him crickets, super worms, and occasionally a few meal worms and horn worms. I gutload all feeders 24 hours before feeding. He also eats the schefferella and pothos plants. I have a mister on a timer that keeps the humidity at around 60-70%. The temps range from 90F at the top to 68F at the bottom. The lighting pictured is a basking heat bulb and 2 different kinds of UVB. His lights are also on a timer, they turn on at 630am and off at 730pm. Now that it’s light outside later, his cage is illuminated until nightfall.

 

[janjan20]

Oh boy your male is a very plump female. She is going to need a lay bun in there ASAP. I’ll attach more info.

 

[janjan20]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/egg-laying-and-the-laying-bin.345/

 

[janjan20]

Good post on female care. https://www.chameleonforums.com/posts/1237499/

 

[janjan20]

Definitely have some work to do on the husbandry aspect. Just a few things off the bat since it’s a female the basking temp can be lowered to the low 80’s. I would try to get it to 83-85 max. What type of uvb? You should only use one type, the recommended is T5 6%. Cut back feeding to every other day or every two days. 2-3 large feeders. Dusting with plain calcium is important for females to help with egg development. So try your best to get that calcium on. But at this point if she’s not eating she is probably close to laying. Has she been near the bottom recently?

 

[Gertieinoz]

Really?!? Oh my.
She was on the bottom pacing a couple of days ago. Still thinking it was a he I thought he was looking for food. I’m trying to get the videos to work, but it says unavailable. Going to try on my laptop instead of the phone. Is the liquid calcium that you mist the feeders with as effective? Poor girl. No wonder she looks miserable.

 

[SourGrape4u]

If that isnt a girl then that is one constipated male! I agree with jan though, but to confirm if you want post pics of the back of the back feet.

 

[Thehippie]

If that isnt a girl then that is one constipated male! I agree with jan though, but to confirm if you want post pics of the back of the back feet.

well, a lot of us have confirmed that tarsal spurs can be a little unreliable when sexing a veiled chameleon. some females have actually developed tarsal spurs on their back feet. if you want to take into account tarsal spurs, then look also at the base of the tail for a hemipenal bulge and if theyre 5-6 months or older, look at their pattern and casque growth. under the proper care, a males casque is often larger than a females casque and a male by 6 months should have their bars coming into pattern. a female turns a receptive age by 6 months and within 6-12 months can start to show their first receptive colors of blue and yellow dots. their casques are shorter and they do not have hemipenal bulges. all these factors added up can determine male or female. tarsal spurs while accurate some of the time are not always right!!

 

[Gertieinoz]

She/he is not thrilled with me poking about in the cage. She's never been handled and does not like to be approached with a hand. I'm going to go with the female verdict and get a lay bin in there ASAP. Thanks for the information. Now to do some reading up on female care.

 

[Gertieinoz]

Thanks for the help! What a rookie mistake on my part. The lay bin will be in there before nightfall. I'll be reading up on the female husbandry so maybe she won't have to suffer again.

 

[Thehippie]

Thanks for the help! What a rookie mistake on my part. The lay bin will be in there before nightfall. I'll be reading up on the female husbandry so maybe she won't have to suffer again.

its basically the same except for the whole females lay eggs part, no need to panic too much!!!

 

[janjan20]

Please keep us updated! I hope all goes well. If you have any questions we are here for ya!