Sleeping veiled chameleon.

[Lizzified]

My veiled chameleon, Yubaba is about 8 months old and I've been feeding her gut loaded crickets and occasionally mealworms. I just recently introduced her to superworms in the last week and today I noticed her sleeping at the bottom of her cage. My first thought was dehydration so I took her into the bathroom and turned on the shower for steam and I soaked her in tepid water and gave her water with a dripper. I was suspicious of the super worms somehow being the cause but I wasn't sure how. I finally just put her back in her cage to let her relax and when I went to look at her I saw that there was some kind of either regurgitation or poop and it had (most likely) all of the worms chewed but not very digested in it. What exactly does this mean and how can I help her feel better? Is she in danger now?

 

[Lizzified]

She's still sleeping and she's less sluggish than before but she does seem to be showing a little improvement. I have only had her for 5 months and am fairly new at this so I'm really scared for her. I want to know what I did wrong so I don't put her through this again. I spray her with water a couple times daily and have realized when looking through the forums that I desperately need to get her a real dripper as well so I am getting one today.

 

[Lizzified]

Our friend who's a vet had told us to palpitate her belly too in case of her being egg bound and after that was when I noticed the regurgitation... It may have been from the palpitation or had happened previously... can't really tell which.

 

[bigcappa]

Please fill this out below, it will make is easier for us to help you out and give a greater result.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
* Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[bigcappa]

Also adding some pics would be helpful as well.

 

[kinyonga]

Does she have a place to dig in her cage. She could very well be needing to lay eggs and if so, hopefully she isn't eggbound.

 

[Lizzified]

Please fill this out below, it will make is easier for us to help you out and give a greater result.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Veiled female, 8 months, I've had her for 5
* Handling - about 2-3 times a week
* Feeding -8 crickets daily and recently introduced 2 superworms daily within the past week. Gutloading flukers cricket quencher and spinach
* Supplements -repcal calcium suppliment
* Watering - Mist 3x daily, used to see her drink the water but not much anymore, so I was worried about that
* Fecal Description - dark with white and yellow liquid



Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Glass and screen combo. 36 x 48 x24
* Lighting - Honestly I got all the lighting from someone who bred them unsure of brand name, I have both uvb and basking light. Set on a timer for 12h on 12 off.
* Temperature - I don't currently have a method to measure temp or humidity, how important is this and what is recommended?
* Humidity - see above
* Plants - Mostly plastic plants, but I have a pothos as well.
* Placement - In bedroom near doorway, fairly low traffic.
* Location - Phoenix, AZ


Current Problem - Sleeping, sunken shut eyes, listless, just started feeding her superworms and I believe she threw them all up today after her belly was palpated as recommended by our vet.

Thank you for the advice and help. I am very new at this but up until today she has been thriving and very healthy.

 

[Lizzified]

Does she have a place to dig in her cage. She could very well be needing to lay eggs and if so, hopefully she isn't eggbound.

yes she has a shoebox full of sand in preparation for her needing to lay eggs

 

[Lizzified]

heres a picture of the worm poo/puke and yubaba. She does open her eyes occasionally but she seems more tired than before.

 

[kinyonga]

All I can say is get her to the vet ASAP!

 

[Lily8o]

I just wanted to say that I love your chams name. Also My cham is acting like yours.(except the throwup) but best of luck. Hope you get your answer soon, be sure to ask around and google it. One last thing.. Even though I know nothing of chams, if your UVB light isn't working/ is old, I think it becomes hard for them to digest, but don't listen to me. ( I think you have to replace the bulb every 6 months to a year)

 

[kinyonga]

If the UVB light is old it will affect the D3 production but I don't think it affects digestion....appropriate heat is what is needed for digestion.

 

[Lizzified]

well i'll definitely replace the bulb then. Thank you, I didn't know that.

 

[Lizzified]

what my thoughts were is that for some reason she wasn't able to pass the worms right and so she threw them up and is now dehydrated from the process... is this plausible?

 

[Lizzified]

I don't know how soon I can get her to the vet at the moment. I'll try my best but in the meantime is there anything I can do to help her out??

 

[chamzilla91]

The uvb aids in the synthesizing of the d3 and in absorbing calcium. The temperatures are very important for your girl she should probably have a basking temperature of 82 give or take a degree. Do you have a compact (coil) uvb bulb? If so that could be the cause of her keeping her eyes closed. I would get the linear tube reptisun 5.0 uvb or the reptiglo 5.0 uvb. Alls you will need is probably a 40 or 60 watt household bulb for heat and measure the temp of the basking, middle of cage, and at the bottom. A shoe box might not be deep enough for a laying bin, for my female veiled I have a 10wx 13lx12h ( in inches). You can make a homemade dripper by taking a plastic container and poking a little needlehole in it then placing it on top of the cage. Cut down her food to 7 large crickets a day and only feed her every OTHER day as this will help reduce the size of infertile clutches. You should get a tempertature and a humidity guage. Sorry this is getting to be really long but those are just some basics. Pm me if you have anymore questions because I would be more than happy to help

 

[Lizzified]

The uvb aids in the synthesizing of the d3 and in absorbing calcium. The temperatures are very important for your girl she should probably have a basking temperature of 82 give or take a degree. Do you have a compact (coil) uvb bulb? If so that could be the cause of her keeping her eyes closed. I would get the linear tube reptisun 5.0 uvb or the reptiglo 5.0 uvb. Alls you will need is probably a 40 or 60 watt household bulb for heat and measure the temp of the basking, middle of cage, and at the bottom. A shoe box might not be deep enough for a laying bin, for my female veiled I have a 10wx 13lx12h ( in inches). You can make a homemade dripper by taking a plastic container and poking a little needlehole in it then placing it on top of the cage. Cut down her food to 7 large crickets a day and only feed her every OTHER day as this will help reduce the size of infertile clutches. You should get a tempertature and a humidity guage. Sorry this is getting to be really long but those are just some basics. Pm me if you have anymore questions because I would be more than happy to help

Thank you so much! This is incredibly helpful, I will start this as soon as possible. One question I do have is where is most cost effective for getting the temp and humidity gauge and the bulbs

 

[carol5208]

homedepot sells the gauges. It is a combo temp/humidity gauge and it sells for about $10. Use a regular housebulb for basking. Get a Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 tube bulb. Some pet stores sell them. If not you can order from LLL Reptile online. Could youpost a pic of her whole body?

 

[Lizzified]

homedepot sells the gauges. It is a combo temp/humidity gauge and it sells for about $10. Use a regular housebulb for basking. Get a Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 tube bulb. Some pet stores sell them. If not you can order from LLL Reptile online. Could youpost a pic of her whole body?

Alright, I'll be getting those asap, I appreciate all the help.
Here are two pics the second is how she was after she fell asleep again in her cage, she was barely holding on and it worried me. I've put her on a shirt on the bottom of her cage and she's staying there now.

 

[chamzilla91]

She looks good except for those eyes are sunken in which can signal dehydration or some other sickness. You should take her to a vet experienced with exotic reptiles to know what if anything is wrong with her, also have her fecal matter checked for parasites. Imo she looks kinda small or you just have larger hands because the female I have now is about that size maybe a little bigger and is 6 months. I hope you get her back on track and that she lives a long healthy life