Novice Owner-Veiled & Possible Egg laying Situation

[Majanegra]

Hi There,
just looking for a bit of advice, Im brand new to this pet and this forum so please bear with my inexperience. I recently (2 months ago) rescued a female veiled that was found walking the streets of my town. I built her an enclosure at 2'x2'x4' achieved a basking temp of around 90-95 and about 65-70% humidity. Have a reptisun 5 bulb going for uv absorption and a good amount of cham-friendly foliage. Up till now she has been doing well, eating well, drinking well (as far as I could tell). I went away for a week (a trusted friend housesat and took care of her). When I came back I found her hanging on a vine at the bottom of the cage. Her eyes seem a bit sunken in also. Last night thinking maybe she needed to lay eggs. I put a blanket over the cage for a bit more privacy she moved onto her sand box which is small-10" inches long by 5 inches wide by 6 inches deep. She has been laying there since last night with very little movement. I have heard so many different dimensions of ideal egg laying areas that I am now paranoid this is not big enough even though she is already posted up there. I am just wondering if I should risk moving her to a large tub of sand (which I have already purchased, cleaned and filled with moist sand. or if it is better to just let her go for it. I almost never handle her because she gets so stressed out and hisses at me. I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can for her. Sorry for the long post and probably millionth time you all have been asked these sorts of questions. Thank you!

 

[camimom]

What is your supplementing schedule like?

 

[Majanegra]

At first I dusted her crickets everytime, giving her two-3 crickets daily. I noticed a few weeks back she was blowing salts through her nasal cavaties and I read that it could be from over-supplementing so I cut back.I still feed her everyday just only dust the crickets 1-2 a week

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I keep veileds and have a couple of blogs I'll link you below. First you have been keeping her WAY TO HOT and the laying bin is no where big enough. My first blog is for general care and the second is about egg laying and the laying bin. You have a good chameleon vet in the LA area Dr. Tom Greek. I'd get her there ASAP and then correct her general care if it;'s not too late.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

Chameleon vets in the LA area
Tom Greek, DVM
Greek & Associates Veterinary Hospital, 23687 Via Del Rio, Yorba Linda - (714) 463-1190 or (866) 940-7028
www.tomgreek.com

Dr. Stein

VCA McClave Animal Hospital , here is the link of the veterinarians at the hospital, Dr. Stein is the last one at the bottom list, scroll down.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/mcclave/...rinarians.html

Phone: 1-818-881-5102
Fax: 1-818-881-2831
6950 Reseda Boulevard
Reseda, CA 91335
__________________

 

[Majanegra]

90-95 is way too hot? There is plenty of cooler spots in the cage but she climbs for the top spot which is about 8 inches away from the basking lights? So should I move her into the larger plastic bin even though she has recognized the small sand bin in her cage? I just dont want to stress her out now by handling her or taking her on a carride if its not necessary...thanks for your reply

 

[jannb]

90-95 is way too hot? There is plenty of cooler spots in the cage but she climbs for the top spot which is about 8 inches away from the basking lights? So should I move her into the larger plastic bin even though she has recognized the small sand bin in her cage? I just dont want to stress her out now by handling her or taking her on a carride if its not necessary...thanks for your reply

If you'll check the blogs they will explain everything. 80 to 81 should be your basking temp for a female.

 

[Majanegra]

also she may be in the middle of laying eggs now because I noticed she is sor of sitting upright and has sand kicked over her hindquarters area.

 

[camimom]

At first I dusted her crickets everytime, giving her two-3 crickets daily. I noticed a few weeks back she was blowing salts through her nasal cavaties and I read that it could be from over-supplementing so I cut back.I still feed her everyday just only dust the crickets 1-2 a week

With what? there are three supplements you should be using.
Calcium without phosophorus and d3 every feeding.
multivitamins a couple times a month.
cal with d3 a couple times a month.

Females need extra calcium to create the shells on thier eggs. if she is truely gravid, she can become eggbound if she cant form the eggs properly. A vet visit may be in order.

 

[jannb]

also she may be in the middle of laying eggs now because I noticed she is sor of sitting upright and has sand kicked over her hindquarters area.

Sounds like she could be trying to dig a hole but she might be too weak. I'd did a hole for her. My veiled will dig a 10 inch deep hole to lay her eggs but will often use a hole that I dig for her.

 

[Majanegra]

thanks about the temp, I will lower the temp considerably, what about the humidity? is 65-70% okay?

 

[Majanegra]

Im using reptivite with d3

 

[camimom]

Im using reptivite with d3

is that all? you could be giving too much d3. and like i said, females need more calcium to build the shells on the eggs. if they dont have extra supplements, the body takes it from their bones. she could be weak cuz she isnt gettng enough calcium. start using plain calcium at every feeding.

 

[Majanegra]

I don't mean to sound contrary, but what is the deal with all of the vet suggestions, until yesterday she was climbing around her cage fine, eating fine, drinking fine, suddenly because its egg laying time I should take her to a vet? I would think that would disturb and stress her during this time more than anything. I don't mean to sound ungratefull because I apprecieate this forum, there is tons of contridictory info out there and this is a great source of information so thank you all for the advice. I think I will move her to a bigger sandbox dig her a hole and then go from there...

 

[Majanegra]

I will start giving her plain calcium as well then...what about calcium worms, I feed her those as well.

 

[suzi]

Yes, the butter worms for calcium are a great source of calcium, I also like to have liquid calcium on hand that you can buy at cvs or drugstore, and put a small drop on a feeder for a gravid female. I think all the talk about a vet visit is to help you possibly not lose a chameleon due to being egg bound, I lost one in April because she couldn't pass one of her eggs unfortunately egg laying really takes it's toll on females and they can die very easily and rapidly. If she is egg bound the vet can give her a shot of oxy-toxin to assist with the egg laying. Good luck with your female, I hope all goes well

 

[camimom]

Yes, the super worms for calcium are a great source of calcium, I also like to have liquid calcium on hand that you can buy at cvs or drugstore, and put a small drop on a feeder for a gravid female. I think all the talk about a vet visit is to help you possibly not lose a chameleon due to being egg bound, I lost one in April because she couldn't pass one of her eggs unfortunately egg laying really takes it's toll on females and they can die very easily and rapidly. If she is egg bound the vet can give her a shot of oxy-toxin to assist with the egg laying. Good luck with your female, I hope all goes well

what Suzi said is why everyone says vet visits. also, when a cham goes down hill suddenly liekthat, esp females, the vet is the only thing that is a better method to help.

 

[Majanegra]

I get it and I thank everyone for the advice, I just didnt know that a chameleon needing to lay eggs is considered-going downhill. Just in case gonna take her in to the vet. got an appt in an hour with an exotics dr.

thanks again!

 

[FredChameleon]

http://webhome.idirect.com/~chameleon/owners/index.html

 

[madi]

65/70 is what i have

 

[Majanegra]

Thank god you all pushed for the vet, she was not eggbound, she was septic, probably from some infection she got while living on the street, got a shot of antibiotics and with a little luck and some care she will back to normal in a few days. Thank you all again...