Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i noticed one of my dwarfs, who just laid eggs 1 month ago, digging on the bottom of her cage today ... is she laying eggs again already? let me know what you think
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Jason, Ichiro, Mika & Toki
1.0 veiled chameleon
0.2 dwarf panther chameleons
jsinger_jimt@hotmail.com

its not uncommon for them to still have an egg or two that they did not lay the first time. try to feel the belly for something hard. its very possible that she jsut has a few left over. but make sure she lays them otherwise she can die.

Mostly, mine dig in the corners...are yours digging in the middle of the cage or in the corners? I knew one was really doing her thing when she started digging in the middle...sure enough, she laid 3 (or 4?) eggs and covered them back up. That is the one that is not doing well now.

I have another gravid female that has been digging lots...I'm hoping she's just looking for the right spot, then she'll get smart and put them somewhere in the middle and not right smack dab in the corner. I hate seeing them digging in the corners as it seems that the deeper they get, the more likley they are to get stuck vertical.

Kristen

if shes not doing well, maybe she has an egg or two in her. you should be able to feel the eggs by feeling the stomach. if theres one in there you may need to go to vet.

You know, I thought of that...but she looks SO thin...is there a way she could have more eggs and still look super thin? I'm so hesitant to handle her since she is doing so bad...don't want to stress her out any more than she already is. Today, she was a lighter brown for part of the day...then back to the drab dark brown.

She didn't get interrupted or anything...she laid them, then climbed out and covered them back up...hmmm...I'm really not thinking she's going to make it. She's gone several days without even opening her eyes. The FF even climb around on her. I blow them off when I can...if I try to touch them they just run around on her and don't jump off.

Thanks! Maybe I'll check to see if I feel anything.
Kristen

Hi Kristen,

Has she eaten at all? I wouldn't know how to begin to force-feed one of our little leafs, but as you know I just moved my guys into their new habitat (and then I went and rearranged the furniture - I know, I'm supposed to be studying!) Anyway, my two girls were on the driftwood so when I took it out they were just hanging out. Mama looked the thinnest since I got her and she had sort of been hiding since last night. I held up the cricket cup I use and let her see them - she ate 3 in a row!!! Later she drank - a lot! - from a schefflera leaf - actually climbed right up to it. I think she was more stressed then I realized and today was a very hot day here so the cage temps were high, too (no a/c yet). later, before lights out she ate a fruit fly and an escaped cricket! So four 1/4" crix (that's an inche worth of crix!) and at least one ff into her little inch long body!

So, you may want to get her onto your finger, a piece of wood, anything where you can control where she looks. dust some crix and ff and dump them in the cup. As for the ff climbing on her they do that to mine, too. I take a small, fine paintbrush and carefully brush them away - I hate to see them walking around on them! Well, hope this helps! back to the books

later

>>You know, I thought of that...but she looks SO thin...is there a way she could have more eggs and still look super thin? I'm so hesitant to handle her since she is doing so bad...don't want to stress her out any more than she already is. Today, she was a lighter brown for part of the day...then back to the drab dark brown.
>>
>>She didn't get interrupted or anything...she laid them, then climbed out and covered them back up...hmmm...I'm really not thinking she's going to make it. She's gone several days without even opening her eyes. The FF even climb around on her. I blow them off when I can...if I try to touch them they just run around on her and don't jump off.
>>
>>Thanks! Maybe I'll check to see if I feel anything.
>>Kristen

No, she hasn't eated...or moved much at all! I really think she is on her way out, but it's breaking my heart that I can't do anything for her. I actually did take her out yesterday (I think it was yesterday), held her on my finger to try to get her to wake up and open her eyes...she wouldn't open them...even when she was slowly walking onto my finger...with coersion of course.

That's what is frustrating me...it's not like she's watching food go bye and not eating...she wont' even open her eyes to SEE the food! ARGH!

Thanks for trying, Lele!
Kristen

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I wonder if there is something else going on re: her eyes. Are they sunken? I would almost assume so if she has not had food or drink for so many days. What does Rob advise? Did you email Bill Strand?

as for the typo - ha!ha! I wish these forums had spell checkers!!

lele

I can't help much here as I haven't kept any of the little leaf species. Chances are there is nothing wrong with eyes. She may have a retained egg, ruptured follicle, intestinal parasites causing organ damage, all kinds of possibilities. These guys are so tiny and fragile. Is she wc? Parasites are a good bet, and these on top of the stress of being gravid/laying, etc. could just be too much for her. You may also be seeing the accumulated stress from capture, shipping, and a new environment. I hope she makes it, but at some point trying to get a really sick cham to eat or drink can cause a lot more trauma. Maybe Bill has some ideas?

Yes, she is a wc...I believe she was treated for parasites, but I know that doesn't mean she doesn't still have them. I was afraid that trying to get her to eat or drink would cause her even more stress. I just wish I knew what was wrong with her. It's killing me to just see her look so lifeless even though she is still *alive*...if you can call it that.

Another thought...how do I know if it is parasites? I assume I would need to know if she does pass, because does that mean I would need to clean out and sterilize my whole enclosure and treat the two that are in with her???

Thanks!
Kristen