Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is a pic of Luna taken today. She is constantly hugging her branches (big and little branches) and as she moves along she stays close to the branch. The last two nights she has slept hanging upside down and this morning her right two legs were released - she looked like a hammock(LOL!) I have no idea if this is related in any way (though I know Zoe sleeps in some weird positions!). I also don;t know if this hugging is part of being gravid?

I don't know where I heard/read about it (I am alsmot thinking a conversation with Dr. Sue Donoghue when my brevi's were ill) but I keep thinking that hugging is a sign of a nutrient deficiency or overload. Any thoughts??

(If you go to my name in the photo gallery there are two others)

thanks!

lele

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Try giving her more cover or privacy.
Drape a cloth across the top of her cage in the front for a day or two. If she can see your cats at all she may be stressed.
Sometimes they can show ultra bright colors when stressed.
I was stressing out one of my females by looking at her too much when she was gravid. I left her alone a bit more and she improved.
Sometimes my adults drape across a branch like they are lounging around and get in some pretty weird positions.
Her limbs look pretty good and her casque is straight. I would be careful not to overdo the D3 and maybe try the MV light and extra gutload first. Try gutloading her food with some powdered milk.

Thanks, Sonia. When you first sent her to me she would do this once in awhile, but now it is all the time. The last couple days I have been hanging a towel over her door so only the upper panel is visible (she can still see out but not the cats).

I think I will stop dusting all together for awhile. I figure I gutload her food well enough that she really shouldn't need it - I am afraid of over-supplementing! I am not going to give her the N-Cg for now either since she really isn't showing "classic" MBD signs. I ordered the MV bulb and it should be here on Friday and will take your advice about length of time it's on.

She has a lot of cover and many "layers" that she can travel in to though usually remains in the top portion - always has.

I'll try not to look at her. LOL! She did eat a cricket and a mealworm (happened to get the worm with the crix) but only if I put it in a shallow cup and hold it up for her.

I'll try to stop obsessing for a bit and if things don't improve we will see the vet. Fortunately, he has really good hours and is usually available.

lele & Luna
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Just as a note, my female is also hugging her branches and actually looks like she's tipping over a lot of the time. I initally wrote this off as stress but now I'm thinking more about it.

Is this a sign that she is gravid? I'm pretty sure she is but I'm not 100%. (she was with my male when she was receptive but I'm not sure they mated---I think so...).

By the way, if she is gravid, how long until she starts digging? She has been this way for about a month now.
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1.0 Ambanja 11 mos. - LESTER
0.1 Nosy Be 8 mos. - KUBO
1.0 Thayeri Kingsnake Milksnake Phase 4 mos. - UNCLE WIGGLEY
0.1 Thayeri Kingsnake Leonis Phase 4 mos. - BOO BOO BUNNY

Lele,
I can't explain why she's "hugging the branches" but I wouldn't automatically think it was MBD if I were you. There's a million things that can go wrong with a chameleon and alot of people are quick to point the finger at MBD. If I remember right you were also concerned about her tounge, which I think also was pointed out as possible MBD, but there's also a million things that can make a tounge not function properly since it's such a complex process, I also wouldn't point at MBD for that. I think she looks great and healthy and I know you take good care of her. Just don't be quite so concerned about the small stuff. It comes and goes.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

yes, Tyler, I am sure some would agree with you, but I don't know if you were around when I lost my trio of brevi's last summer within a matter of days - with no idea why. So yes, I may be a bit more concerned but I feel with due cause.

As for MBD I am not basing it on single symptoms but a combination. I have also not determined (and would not pretend to) that it is in fact MBD. My vet will have to if/when the time comes to bring her in. I am asking these questions to learn, rule out some things and seek opinions. I am someone who needs a lot of info to cull thru in order to respond (it must be the researcher in me). Sure, I obsess as much as the next, but I don't panic w/o due cause - last summer I had cause and we were still unable to determine the reason or to save any of them.
As for it being small stuff this has been going on for weeks and it is a build up of symptoms - that is why I am somewhat concerned.

Please don't misunderstand me, I appreciate your opinion just as much as others and certainly consider it valid! Thanks

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I would be worried to if I was lele.It took me a long time to save up for my veiled.If i lost him i would be super sad