Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anson, was it you that bought a female panther and she had some edema on her chest/neck? Did it go down? Did you ever find out what caused it?
I am worried about Orion, as usual. She started eating again after eight days of not (she was digging, then stopped, I thought she would lay but she hasn't). She was still only eating superworms though, and so I gave her a bit of a mix of sweetpotato baby food with pedialite and a few drops of liquid calcium and cricket guts. She ate lots, and I gave her some more the next day minus the calcium.
yesterday and today I noticed a bit of swelling on her chest. I can't show a pic b/c I don't have a webcam, but it looks similar to the pic Anson posted that is on pg 2 called "is this female nosey be normal?" *I think it was anson anyway*. It's the same, only a little bit smaller. It isn't hard. It feels kind of like an air or fat pocket. When she walks it isn't noticable, only when she is sitting. I can't decide if its just her normal shape, only more noticable b/c she has been getting skinny lately, or if it's abnormal.
Does anyone have any imput for me? I would really appreciate it. I know only a vet can "diagnose" a problem... but, well I tend to be paranoid. That, and I know little about edema. What are causes/solutions? The only thing I can think of is that I put too much calcium in the first food batch. She hasn't had any before that for about a week and a half, b/c she only just started to eat again this week. Also, I haven't dusted with mineralI since around the 20th of sept. I only do it about 2x/month. Is this something I should keep an eye on to see if it goes down/gets worse, or should I get it checked out asap?
Thanks for putting up with me guys! I promise, after she lays I'll stop being such a pain in the @ss... Well, at least about her. Then it will be "Is this egg the right shape?!?!?!" lol
~Lindsay

I was looking at her again, and I don't think it's anything to worry about.
I get freaked out over the LITTLEST things!

You're not paranoid, you're a typical cham owner!

It could be from too much supplements at once. I like to err on the side of too little with supplements because they can cause swelling. I only supplement adults once a week unless they are breedeing females. Try e-mailing the kammers they have a great care sheet about supplementing and feeding females. Did you breed Orion or is it an infertile clutch you are trying to see if she will lay. I have heard from several people about females developing neck edema because they were gravid. I am wondering if that is what is wrong with the female I got. Here is the photo of the edema again. She has not gotten better actually but is still eating and acting normally. The man I bought her from refunded my money and wanted her shipped back but I offered him $50.00 for her to keep from re shipping her in that condition. He accepted that and apologized. He was pretty reasonable about it and I know I should have just sent her back but I feel sorry for her so I kept her. He is not really a cham person and had bought her from someone. She came in to me with clipped nails (not something I do to my chams) so I know he did not have much cham experience. He had used Minerall too I don't like it at all and have had others tell me they don't use it because it can cause edema.

She was bred on Sept 17. It did look close to the picture you posted, but not quite as big. Now it seems to be gone, possibly still a little bit there. It was a day or two after I gave her some liquid calcium in a "bug juice" type of deal, and I think I put a little much in. I backed off of it for a few days. I got some silkworms, and she is actually EATING them (I got small ones this time, maybe she thinks they are superworms lol, that's all she's been eating) so I don't think I'll need any more of the juice. I'll keep an eye on her.
In gravid females, does it show up closer to when they are "due" or is it just more of a reaction to overall stress on the body?
Hopefully she will lay soon, the last month has be aweful for me! I can't help but worry about every little thing!