Is my cham pregnant?

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon: Veiled Female, about 10 and a half months old
Handling: Once every day or so
Feeding: I am feeding her medium superworms and crickets.
Watering: I water her cage once an hour and make it steamy water to bring up the humidity. I have never seen her drink (or eat) she gets
paranoid when I'm around.
Fecal Description: Normal.
History: Used to be in a very small cramped cage. (felt pretty bad for her)

Cage info:
Cage type: I'm not sure what brand but its a screen cage and the largest size. It is tilted on its side because she's a small lizard (still pretty tall) because my last lizard died from falling and contracting a disease I'm pretty paranoid but will turn it back the correct way when she gets bigger.
Lighting: I'm using Zoomed (I think) Using a double light. One for light and one for heat. I keep the heat one on all day. Turn the light one off at night.
Temperature: Usually around 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity: I try to keep it has humid as I can but it changes throughout the day. I have a thermometer for heat and humidity.
Plants: I am not using living plants. but have lots of vines for her to climb on and am working on getting live ones soon.
Placement: Cage is located in my room (in the basement) It's on top of a dresser I got especially for this purpose and is not very close to the ground.
Location: I am located in Utah.

Concern: She has been spending a lot more time at the bottom of her cage than usual. I've heard that's a sign that a chameleon could be pregnant but she doesn't have the colors that a gravid female would have and shes only 10 months so I'm just confused and worried. What should I do?

 

[Syreptyon]

Couple things. First, 10 months old is not at all early to be laying eggs. She's definitely old enough. Likewise, she isn't going to get much bigger at this point, so you really need to put the enclosure the right way up ASAP. Chameleons need vertical space more than anything to thrive and, as long as she's healthy, there is no reason not to (and every reason to). I understand your paranoia, but you're not doing her any favors by restricting her space. Plus, if it's on its side, I imagine the bulb are really close to her and the UVB probably isn't being evenly distributed.

Also, please stop using heat for her at night! Chameleons need temperature drops overnight to remain healthy, and unless the room she's in gets below 55 degrees, she will be way better off without supplemental heat at night.

You also don't mention the supplements you use for her? It should be included in that list, but for some reason isn't there. This is very important information to know.

Pictures of her would definitely help. Do you have a laybin in there for her? She will need it, now or later, so best to have one ready.

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

Couple things. First, 10 months old is not at all early to be laying eggs. She's definitely old enough. Likewise, she isn't going to get much bigger at this point, so you really need to put the enclosure the right way up ASAP. Chameleons need vertical space more than anything to thrive and, as long as she's healthy, there is no reason not to (and every reason to). I understand your paranoia, but you're not doing her any favors by restricting her space. Plus, if it's on its side, I imagine the bulb are really close to her and the UVB probably isn't being evenly distributed.

Also, please stop using heat for her at night! Chameleons need temperature drops overnight to remain healthy, and unless the room she's in gets below 55 degrees, she will be way better off without supplemental heat at night.

You also don't mention the supplements you use for her? It should be included in that list, but for some reason isn't there. This is very important information to know.

Pictures of her would definitely help. Do you have a laybin in there for her? She will need it, now or later, so best to have one ready.

Okay. The reason I have the heat on at night is that she is located in my basement which gets REALLY cold at night even in the summer. I will turn the cage very soon. Like I said, she does have a lot of climbing space and even though it is on its side, she's got quite a bit of hight. But I will definitely be turning it right side up soon. I've been planning on doing it once she hits a year but I could do it sooner. I'm using calcium supplements as well as vitamin A supplements because she had some mouth problems and the vet told me to start putting her on them. Should I set up a laying bin, if so how big and where?

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

anyone?

 

[KalaiDaCham]

Pictures may help...?

 

[Graves923]

We need recent photos of both the animal and the enclosure... There are quite a few things that are concerning about your husbandry.

For supplements, we need to know the brands and how often you are using them. Vit A can be dangerous and is easily overdosed...

How long are you misting each time you spray the cage? Every hour seems like overkill and the enclosure should be able to dry out between mistings.

 

[Graves923]

Also, How cold does your basement get at night? If its below 55*F, use a ceramic heat emitter. A heat light, no matter what color the light, will keep the chameleon from getting proper sleep. They need near total darkness at night.

 

[chameleonneeds]

Agree with everyone above - pictures! Or we don't be able to give you a solid answer.

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

Agree with everyone above - pictures! Or we don't be able to give you a solid answer.

I'll do that right now!

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

I just barely took these

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

She wasn’t very excited to be out

 

[Longhorn1234]

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

That's a good post that talks about egg laying. Also, you didn't answer what temperature your basement gets at night. Someone above already recommended a solution if it gets below 55°F, otherwise you don't need additional heat at night

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

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

That's a good post that talks about egg laying. Also, you didn't answer what temperature your basement gets at night. Someone above already recommended a solution if it gets below 55°F, otherwise you don't need additional heat at night

It gets pretty cold. Also since it is on its side, there's a basking spot where she can go when she's cold and she can just spend it elsewhere in the night. I'll read the post thank you for sending it to me!

 

[Longhorn1234]

Just remember that chameleons need complete darkness at night to be able to properly rest. I don't know what really cold means since that is subjective to each individual. But again, no heat lamp at night. If temperatures at night get below 55°F then use a ceramic heat emitter. If temperatures do not get below 55°F at night then you do not need an additional source of heat. Chameleons need total darkness and a drop in temperature at night.

It's a great post by one of the experts in this forum, so hopefully it will be of help

 

[ObnoxiousFruit12]

Just remember that chameleons need complete darkness at night to be able to properly rest. I don't know what really cold means since that is subjective to each individual. But again, no heat lamp at night. If temperatures at night get below 55°F then use a ceramic heat emitter. If temperatures do not get below 55°F at night then you do not need an additional source of heat. Chameleons need total darkness and a drop in temperature at night.

It's a great post by one of the experts in this forum, so hopefully it will be of help

alright, I'll turn it off tonight and see how low it gets. Thanks for your help. Based off of the pictures what do you think?

 

[Syreptyon]

Without more specifics, it sounds like your supplements might be off. What's your exact schedule with them? It's not only important to know which ones you use, but also how often. Both over- and under-supplementation can lead to health problems.

Here's what you should be doing for them: (1) dust insects with a phosphorous-free powder without vitamin D3 at every feeding, (2) dust insects with a phosphorous-free calcium powder with vitamin D3 twice a month, and (3) dust insects with a multivitamin twice a month. You didn't specify whether you use one or two types of calcium powders, so I want to be sure that you know it is very important that you use both of them (at the appropriate times) in case you're only using the one right now

 

[chameleonneeds]

It could be various factors as everyone above have pointed out. Lights being on st night is no good. She could be hanging around the floor to escape the light. Imagine you had no darkness your entire life? It could also be lethargy from vitamin deficiencies as Syrepton mentioned.

I'm also concerned about what type of uvb light you're using. Try post pictures of the enclosure too.

Bottom line from my side.. I don't think egg laying is your issue here. She looks immature to me. She lacks mature colouration which develops before laying the first clutch. But you should always have a laying bin in the cage just incase.

 

[Graves923]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

Judging by the vague answers you are giving us I posted a link for you. It contains nearly everything you need to know about chameleon care... Please read the articles... I suggest starting with the caresheet for veileds and then looking at the Lighting and Enclosure articles.