Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female veiled chameleon, I purchased her in January 04. She was approx 4-5 months old then, so that would make her 9-10 months old now, I guess. She looks very healthy, good colors, no bumps or bulges on her body, healthy limbs - etc. Early last week she refused both crickets and superworms when I offered them. I usually hold them for her in a jar, and she munches them up, but no..she isn't interested. I always leave some in her cage in a bowl in the bottom, and also some in a smaller container hanging off one of her branches. Also she wants to come out of her cage! Every time I open the door, she rushes over for me to pick her up - and before she didn't want much to do with me at all, and I didn't force the issue. I also noticed she is busy going all over her cage. Could she be gravid?? Or just a pickly eater? I ordered some goliath horn worms, which she loves, but they haven't arrived yet and I'm having a time trying to catch wild bugs - any ideas would be appreciated - thanks!

XX

Restlessness and no appetite are both symptoms of gravidity. She is restless because she is looking for a site to dig and lay her eggs, she isn't eating because the eggs are taking up so much room that they are pushing on her stomach.

If you gently push on here abdomen, you should be able to feel the eggs. Veilds usually lay about 40 eggs, but I have had clutches from 32 up to 89. (and all 89 hatched!)

Get her into a bucket or trash can with about 10 inches of damp potting soil. (firmly pack the potting soil in the container, so she can tunnel without the tunnel collapsing on her). A trash can works better because she won't try/be able to reach for the top rim. Do this as soon as possible, because waiting too long can cause egg retention and egg binding, this can kill her!.

As long as she has good calcium levels in her blood, there should be no problem. (Low cal. levels prevent muscle contractions, and that often causes egg binding problems in veilds.)

Good luck,
Rodney