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After seeing pix of Chancey (Kim's rescue) it got me wondering about Luna's mouth. It has been open a little bit for many months (used to sort of leak when it was closed and she was drinking). It wasn't always open and it was only open a small amount (I have other pix if need be).

After she laid a few weeks ago I noticed her mouth seemed a little abraded from all her digging and I kept an eye on it but it seemed fine, no need for salve. The only thing is that now it is open more and almost all the time. She can close it but rarely does, however it is closed when she sleeps (I just peeked). She eats, chews, drinks fine but thought I'd post a pic to see what folks think.

As for setup nothing has changed. She is back on a normal feeding schedule since laying and I dust only once a week, if that.

Sorry so long ;-/

lele
Here she is:

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I can't tell how bad is it because the pic is blurry but it seems like the mucosal lining of the mouth and/or the gums are swollen. I have seen this condition as an infection and also as a non-pathogenic problem.
If you notice any crusts, blisters, secretions, etc. from the chameleons' mouth, it might need medical attention. However, if there is nothing wrong and it has not gotten worse, then I would suggest observation for any changes.

Regards,
Ivan

The only other thing I would wonder about is whether she has a slight "soft jaw" after putting so much into her eggs. She may have had a slight deformity from early calcium deficiency and egg production might have made it more intense. She looks fine otherwise. I bet with the increased calcium in her diet for a while it will reduce again. It might just be a lingering sign of gravid stress that will resolve itself. Not sure, but an idea.

I will try to get a better pic. I do notice when she chews that her right side (the one that used to leak) seems more pliable and not as straight. Should I supplement her with the liq. cal. at all to replenish? I am only dusting with cal/d3 once a week now, but she is eating butterworms.

Speaking of butterworms - I find them to be about the easiest, longest lasting feeder. If she eats mainly these (staple) will she get too much calcium or is it metabolised differently when it comes from a live feeder as opposed to oyster shell powdered? (I use Rep-Cal).

Thanks

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I am not an expert on this topic. Off the top of my head I'd suspect the calcium from a feeder insect is more "available" than calcium from dust but I just don't know. I doubt you could overdose her from feeders. The other thing complicating it is the amount of D3 in the dust versus metabolized D3 in the feeder.

I'll have to investigate this. I would be perfectly happy giving her lots of butterworms and less dust. If you learn anything new let me know

One plus is that now that the weather is warming up (well, sort of - it's been a very cool spring) she will be outdoors more. Today she was out for about 4 hours. Maybe I should get a plain calcium w/o the D3?

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta