Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For the past few days my female veiled chameleon has been an abnormally dark color. She has been pacing back and forth on the floor of the cage and through her potted pothos. Her apetite is still large but she doesn't seem able to, or maybe just willing to, catch insects that are more than a few inches away from her head. She also seems to be almost bloated, kind of swollen in her abdomen. Her eyes are bright and alert, her grip is strong and overall looks in good health except for the dark color and swollen abdomen.

I've looked in all of my chameleon books but can't find anything. Could she be impacted or clogged with some of the soil from the potted pothos? I've been feeding her a larger than normal amount of super worms lately, could this be the problem? How about eggs, could she be looking for a place to lay infertile eggs, if so what do I do? Is she just having an unusual few days? Thanks for your time and help,
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.0.2 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.0 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

It is probably one of the two things you mentioned, infertile eggs are ready to be laid, or impaction of something in the intestines.
To check what it is:
#1 feel around her abdomen for lupms (eggs), if you do feel some bumpiness to her, then she has some infertile eggs in her. The dark colouring im not so sure about...
#2 stop feeding her so many superworms for the time being, and just stop feeding her as much altogether until you know what the problem is, because if it is impaction then feeding her will just make it worse. If it's impaction, then there won't be any dropping on the floor of the cage or on the leaves. If she is still taking a crap every day, then it isn't impaction.

My advice would be to go to a vet, whatever the case, or at least give one a call to ask for information. They might reccommend a fecal test (if you can find any feces).

In case she is going to be laying eggs soon, provide an egg-laying chamber for when the time comes. The pacing around the bottom suggests that she has eggs to lay. If you know for sure that she has some eggs in her and she doesn't after a month and a half or so, then it's a VERY good idea to take her to the vet as she might be a victim of egg-binding, and the eggs will need to be removed somehow.

Try those two little tests, and if you think it is impaction, take her to the vet!!!

Ok U have a Gravid female that is looking for a place to lay her eggs there is a link below to a page with soem more info but u need to get a egglaying container and let her dig very fast. U can get a deep container like a "clean" or "new" garbage bucket fill it ith soil it sould be wet enouf so when u squeeze it no water comes out but it sticks togeather. U can also mix in some sand. but u need to get something that she can lay in fast. She has stoped eating which is normal when females go to lay there eggs there just too full to put anything inside them. Make sure she is well hydrated after and up the suplements for a few days after.

hope that helps.
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/faq/index.php?show=4.Breeding.html

Thanks for your help. After reading more online I think that she must be full of eggs. I felt her today and it's feels firm and very full. There have been fresh droppings every day and they look normal so hopefully she isn't impacted. I will add a large container with soil in it tomarrow but one quick question before I do...

My veiled chameleon only has 3 legs, she is missing one front one. She had it removed before I bought her because she had a severe fungal infection. Will she have trouble digging since she only has one front arm? Should I asist her some how? What happens if she can't dig, will she just lay them on top of the soil or will she retain them and require surgery? Thanks for your time again,
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.0.2 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.0 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

Wow thats too bad yes she may have some problems digging try to start a hole for her see if she will just go lay in there. If she is ok with u being there it will be easier but if not your might have to trick her in some way to help. Help might be needed to cover the hole as well if she cant do it on her own. Um then i guess the only thing i can think of is to let her think she is doing it.

That missing arm is a very very hard handycap for a female cham.

I hope everything works out ok.

Hi - I just now read your thread. She will surely have trouble digging and the risk of the soil collapsing on her is of concern as well. I am waiting for Luna (my veiled) to lay and it has been suggested to mix some builders sand (home depot) with the soil to give it more structure. The article that was posted is a good one so be sure to read it. They typically dig at night (in the wild they have more protection then) so try and check in on her to make sure she is not burried under the soil. If she doesn't lay and has problems digging she could become eggbound (dystocia) here's an article.

Please let us know how you make out - I commend you for taking a "differently-abled" cham

lele & Luna
dystocia

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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