Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Guys,

I guess i've asked about a billion questions lately about the care of my lizards, basically because of the confusion surrounding the behaviour of my female collared.

First it was clear she was pregnant, then her color faded and she did not increase in size at all, so we thought she may be re-absorbing. Then she was digging and then not digging, then eating and not eating. Then she ate a rather large piece of gravel which I'm pretty sure she threw back up, but no change in behaviour or activity really, except up until a few days ago she was sleeping earlier each night. The last few days she has been up when I go to bed, even though the light is very dim she's still sat under it with her eyes open. Her gravid colours are showing although very very pale too.

What's bothering me is yesterday eveining and first thing this morning she was sat very still doing her sunbathing thing (eyes closed etc), then would suddenly jump up and scat around the cage like I swear I have never seen her do before. It was like she really was scared or incredibly excited about something, very alert and incredibly fast, like a kitten when it scrabbles about playing at full speed with its claws out.. She kept doing this for maybe 5 seconds then would stop dead, and take really deep breaths, looking at her belly and suddenly going nuts again. I have also seen her twice kick her belly with her back leg, whilst looking at her belly.

I recently changed them onto sand so what's the risk of her eating it and causing internal problems?

I am not too concerned it could be a result of the gravel she swallowed as I'm pretty sure she threw it up again, and she's been eating fine since. Is this a sign her eggs are on their way out or should I be taking her to the vet? Knowing she's gravid I dont really want to put her in a box and drag her to the vet if all she needs is a cold dark corner to lay in, that might really upset her. I dont even know and cant find anything to say she'll have contractions the same way a person would.

Is there a breeder out there that has seen labour activity in collared's?

Or someone who has seen something similar in a non-gravid lizard?

I've read everywhere and found nothing to explain. I know I'm impatient and should just sit and watch, but its interesting and I want to learn.

I weighed them both yesterday, both 30g each. Guess thats good news.

seen any of my gravid or non gravid girls do what you are explaining. Is something spooking her? Have you checked for possible chiggers or mites that may be biting her or making her itch? ( I Know the male would probably be actign weird too)

I don't know why she would be running around like that. If she is experiencing some sort of pain (eggbound) she would be gettign very sick, don't eat, usually would become very lethargic/weak...

I would have to say if you are noticing or thinking she is in any discomfort maybe you should have her looked at by a vet. It is very hard over the net to get a good idea of whats wrong , without seeing her or observing her, and sometimes it's even difficult when its our own, and we can see them.

Keep an eye on her and if she continues this or it gets worse, call your vet. Let us know how she does.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Can I ask a daft question? What are chiggers?

The shop I bought them from has a policy that all livestock is wormed and treated for mites whilst in quarantine, and I've not spotted anything on them that would indicate external parasites. I have also been unable to locate a reptile vet that specialises in anything but snakes or tortoises.

She's eating and her weight is still 30g (28g 2 weeks ago), she drinks off a pippette every morning, but she was definitely not acting normal that day. I wondered if maybe she was constipated. I read pregnancy can do that. She is not acting strangely any more though so I guess panic over.

I know you said some of yours went to 32 days when egg bearing, as I can still see her gravid colors but only faintly, I wonder if she is still going to lay her eggs, she eats less and dozes more, stays up late but seems fighting fit all at the same time. I just worked out today I actually got her on the 7th July, and I could see her eggs at that point. That was 17 days ago, so if she had been a week pregnant at that stage she would be due right about now. But I dont know how soon the eggs can show and how long gestation can go on for during the slow season as Vonnie commented on earlier in the week......

Thanks for your advice Eve, keep it coming .... I might ring the vet tomorrow see if he can worm them just to be double sure they're ok.

on hte skin, you cna't miss them if htey have them, under arm pits, inbetween leg folds, on neck , face... but they are reddish after they suck the collareds blood.

Also if she was never on sand before maybe it was feeling weird to her, until she was used to it. My squirrel acts like that when I fill his sand box up with clean sand. He rolls in it and loves it, but then acts like things are crawling on him and runs around for a while, until it falls off him
Kinda funny to watch.

Give your girl time then if you think shes due around now, I thought you meant she was overdue. Do NOT have her wormed while gravid. If I had her wormed it would be after the seasons over to be safe.

If she is not losing weight, and eating , and basking, I would not be too worried.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Thanks again Eve....

Thing is I dont know when she is due, I thought I'd had her 3.5 weeks but its actually 2.5 so I'm feeling a little better about that (You might remember I had a pair of males and had to take one back after 5 days).

If she was a week pregnant when I got her she would now be 25 days but then again when I bought her she might have been 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc, as I said I dont know how soon they can show bulges, especially as she does not have a great deal of meat on her legs either.

All I know is when I got her she was very clearly showing 5 big egg bumps and she had a slightly thin tail/backbone was visible. Not anymore though, she's filled out quite a bit in the last 17 days. She also has very pale gravid colours too, may help if I take a more up to date photo?

I'll not have her wormed as you said, though it might still be worth a visit to the vet for a checkover.

The penny just dropped that YOU HAVE A PET SQUIRREL?????

OMG I know its not a lizard but could you post a picture? I absolutely adore them