Ready to lay eggs? something else?

[Sairah24]

Ok i realize now that i am a really bad chameleon mama from looking on this site. my ex boyfriend got me her as a present not realizing they are really high maintenance and expensive to take care of. i am a college student with a low budget and try to do the best for her. originally i had her in 10 gal fish tank we already had with same plants but only a heat lamp. she then got metabolic bone disease breaking 3 limbs 3 months in because i was uneducated on how to take care of her. i did some research and bought the 12x12x18 tank, added the uvb lamp, and increased her calcium intake with dusting of her crickets every feeding and took her to the vet who told me i did everything i could do to help her. she has now recovered. she got a bit of an attitude after this i assumed because of her maturing. she became board with her crickets about 2 months ago and i researched and saw you could feed super worms and have since them fed her them. she has really increased in size since then as well. about 3 days ago she started acting weird...she has been scratching the mesh top of her tank and walls and during the day when i come home she has been on the floor of her tank. she also has not been eating when i try to feed her so i put a container with the worms in it at the bottom of the corner of her tank wondering if i was scaring her but still no luck. ive done some research and wonder if she is ready to lay eggs. i realize its a little earlier than usually but still a possibility. help!!!!



Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - about 8 Months Old, veiled, female
Handling - only handle about 2 times a month to clean cage
Feeding - used to feed crickets But switched to super worms when she seemed board with them. i feed her 5 large crickets or 8 large worms in the morning and evening. they are both are bought at petco as is.
Supplements - i usually have the employee dust about 5 crickets each time i go to get new ones but i have the RepCal Brand Calcium.
Watering - Have been hand misting her tank every time i see it below 60% humidity during the day. and she wont drink water off leaves or walls of cage so every other day i give her 3mls of water by dripping it slowly.
Fecal Description - usually Looks fine. Is regularly pooping and urate has always been white, nothing looks odd or different. Has not been tested.


Cage Info:
Cage Type - zoo med naturalistic terrarium 12x12x18
Lighting - 40W Heating Bulb and exo terra 26W 100 UVB
Temperature - have thermometer on back wall, its on average around 80-90 degrees. At night temps are usually 75-80.
Humidity - Have a hygrometer on the back wall aswell. Humidity is usually between 50-80%.
Plants - plastic suction cup hanging plant and plastic leaves. used to have BENJAMINA FICUS in there but i realized she was eating the leaves. and 4 sticks that came with the cage in different positions to climb.
Placement - Cage is located in the corner of my bedroom with a window 2 feet from the side of it. Low traffic area. There is a ceiling fan but i leave it off now that its becoming winter. The cage is on a stand and at least 3.5ft up in the air.
Location -New Mexico

 

[kinyonga]

Please post a recent photo of her.
I would put an opaque container of washed playsand at least 12 " deep x 8" x 12"in the cage so she has a place to dig in case she is producing eggs. If she does start to dig, make sure she doesn't see you watching her while she is digging. It will likely make her abandon the hole and if it happens often enough it can lead to eggbinding.
Also...wouldn't recommend superworms as a steady diet.

 

[sgiac801]

Females can be difficult for first timers...

Seems a little early for her to be laying eggs but it's possible. How long has it been since the vet told you she has recovered from MBD? My #1 concern is her cage, she needs something larger with mesh sides for ventilation. She seems to have a healthy appetite. My male veiled will occasionally spend some time on the floor if he's hunting, and he often climbs on the sides and top of his cage so I think those are normal. Does she look like she might be carrying eggs? Spend some quality time with her each day and learn her body language. It will help you take the best care of her in the long term. If you are unable to do this because of school or financial reasons I suggest considering giving her to a new home.