Veiled Chameleon: Laying Eggs & Possible MBD

[Tiny0]

Hello. This Veiled Chameleon my family and I have had for about a year now. We thought it was a boy until recently, when it started laying eggs. So far, within these past 3 or 4 days, she's layed about 4. Before then, she was very, very ill. In fact, she still is. She wasn't on her vines anymore, she won't fight you when you pick her up now. She doesn't even eat her crickets or worms, which she used to swallow within seconds before. She has a nice sized cage, I think. Anyway. Until recently she started not eating, or moving too much and that may be because of the new light we bought her, could of been too bright. We've replaced it with the old one. We regularly give her baths to hydrate her and give her water with a syringe. Also, try to force feed her. She went from having all the symptoms of dehydration to something else I don't know. She just lies there on the dirt, slumped down, with her tounge out. We've tried so many things but we are running out of ideas especially with her eggs. Her back legs seem to just drag when she walks, she is much weaker, and struggles very much to get around. I don't know what to do for her, we can't go to the vet because we have no money and my parents are out of state for half a year. I'm all my aibilings have to get her better. We care about her and will try anything and everything we can. I appreciate anyone taking time to read this. Thank you.

 

[kinyonga]

First of all I would get rid of that substrate and set up a proper laying container for her. The laying container should be at least 12 inches deep by 12 inches by 8 inches and filled with washed playsand that is moist enough to hold a tunnel.

If she has MBD then you need to correct it by giving her some liquid calcium Sandoz or gluconate until the bones are strong enough to stop it. In addition she should have proper supplements and proper UVB lighting as well as appropriate basking temperatures. The insects should be well fed and gutloaded.

For supplements its recommended to give her phos. free calcium at most feedings and phos. free calcium/D3 twice a month (lightly dusted on the insects before feeding them to her) and a vitamin powder twice a month that has a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A.

Appropriate temperatures for the basking area would be in the low to mid 80'sF and the most often recommended UVB light is the Repti-sun 5.0 long linear tube light.

For gutloading/feeding the crickets, superworms, locusts, roaches I recommend a wide assortment of greens such as dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, etc and veggies such as carrots, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, squash, zucchini, etc.

She should not be dropping eggs. She should be digging a hole and laying them in it and then burying them...all at once...not one at a time here and there. Since her health is poor she may not be able to dig the hole...so dig one for her.

You need to get on this right away because she is in trouble.
Good luck with her.

 

[fluxlizard]

Agree with Kinyonga.

Also make sure nesting substrate will hold it's structure if you dig a tunnel with your hand- if it is too dry and collapses, she can't use it. They want to tunnel down.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

She is most likely egg bound and has been showing signs for a while ie lack of appetite, dragging limbs, lethargic. At this point it has gone on for a long time and this can be very deadly for chams. I would get to a vet and get a shot to induce laying.

As previously stated, remove the substrate and get a lay bin until you can get her in.

 

[Tiny0]

I appreciate all the help. We are working on getting her the perfect laying environment and all her vitamins she requires. Although, surpisingly, she laid 22 eggs! She is very weak now, even worse than before. I would think that is somewhat normal right? We are looking into vet options to check her health though. Anyway, thank you all for the help. Very, very appreciated.

 

[kinyonga]

You are so lucky she laid the eggs in that condition. You need to get her health moving in the right direction quickly or you will lose her. if she has MBD she needs that liquid calcium asap!!!!!