Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Luna spent a total of 20 hours in her tub - from digging to covering. Including the few she dropped early I counted about 37 or so. This is close to her two previous clutches of 42 both times.

In the past she has been famished and would eat immediately - and a lot! Yesterday I just focused on keeping her hydrated (shower) and got some repta-aid and calcium into her. Today I offered her dusted crickets (which after several hours she ate two and only b/c she hit them both at the same time), an adult silk moth, superworm and waxworm. She accepted none. She did not get her required NCg either - we had a bit iof a fight over it and then I gave up as it ran down her chin and just couldn't bear stressing her out any more than she has been

Right now, which is her bedtime, she usually readily goes to her spot before lights out. Instead, she is hanging sideways on a branch under her basking spot with her head down. It is just really out of character for her. I turned out her lights to prod her to bed but she is just "hanging" out in the dim light.

I thought I had read that a sign of dystocia was them hanging from just front (or hind?) legs. Of course I can not find where I read it - and she does have all four feet on the branch.

So, my question is: if the cham has dug, laid, covered is there any chance she still has any remaining eggs or would she not have left her hole? Btw, she lost 20g. She usually loses 30 but she was a bit underweight to begin with. Of course my other concern is the MBD.

thanks for any experience/knowledge.

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

You could rule out any retained eggs with a quick x-ray.

Thanks. that's what I am leaning toward if there is no improvement in a few days. I just didn't know if they would go thru the entire process if there were still some in there. I will monitor her closely - poor girl, she has been thru so much already so I hope it is just her being exhausted and not feeling well.

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

Im prolly not going to be a big help on this one, but I do recall reading on here about females who can retain eggs then lay them later. Keep a laying tub in there and hopefully, if she has any left she will know what to do! Also, you said she laid less eggs than last time, and it could be just that theres nothing wrong. Just lost less weight due to less eggs? Does she look like she is still carrying anything?

Hoping for the best for you guys! Happy New Years!

Erin
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1:0 Veiled (Gene)
1:0 Sambava Panther (Knoxville)
1:1 Albino Clawed Frogs (Phedre and Jos)
?? Fire belly toad (Harold)
Various cats and dogs

Hi Erin - Happy New Year

yes, I knew that too but thought it was like spiders in that they retain sperm, and therefore can fertilize eggs later (black widow spiders can retain sperm for YEARS!. I spider silk researcher that I know said he got in a BW female and three years later she developed an egg sac - she had not mated in his care - cool, huh?)

Anyway...I am not sure if unmated chams would do this. Yeah, I am not worried about the fewer eggs I am going more by the lack of interest in food and how awful she looks. I found an undigested cricket in her poop this morning. I will put a tub back in there though she has made no motion so far.

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)