Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok the subject pretty much covered it, anyone know why a female veiled would have swollen ankles? Too much calcium?
Thakns
Jason

Hey,

Read up on metabolic bone disease in chameleons. Check adcham.com, chameleonnews.com, ect. This is most likely what she has. Increase her uvb exposure. I have heard from so many different sources that it is reversible, and that it isn't reversable, and I am not sure what the most resent studies show. But I personally believe that it can't be reversed, but can be stopped, but that is only an opinion. Read up on it though.

Ank-Inc.
Adam.

Thanks, I will have to get my bulbs tested... they are about 4 months old (the bulbs) and they are on usually about 12-16 hrs a day but ill check into that
Thakns!
Jason

4 Months seems a little early for the UV to cut out no?

Have you got automatic timers on your lights? I couldn't live without them. No matter how late I sleep in, my babies always wake up. I notice they each have a routine.

They even go to their sleeping spot ten minutes before the first of two sets of lights go out. How do they know it so accurately? Its insane to see, you look at the clock and see that its 7:20, and they are walking over to their "bed branch" and then at 7:30 the first light goes out. Always amazes me.
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
1.2 Maroantsetra Panther Chameleons
2.0 Long Tailed Grass Lizards
0.0.1 Giant Mellers Chameleon
0.0.2 Kenyan Pigmy Chameleons
500 Escaped Crickets

Another major thing to consider is gout. A pic of just how swollen they are would help, as many chams get thick ankles as they age. Gout is a symptom of metabolic and nutritional problems and is treatable. I think a good herp vet can check for uric acid levels with a blood test. I am not expert and it's complicated, but it is not MBD. I've heard that some females tend to show edema and even gout when they are close to laying a clutch and for a while after laying when the body is under a lot of stress. Then it clears up again. Edema tends to show more around the base of the neck. The swollen area feels more like a bag of fluid whereas gout feels more solid I think. There are some articles on gout, edema, and other nutritional problems on these sites that might help you. Sorry I can't be more specific, but this is a complicated topic and I don't have much experience with it. Just don't rule it out and assume it is MBD.

http://www.adcham.com
http://www.herpnutrition.com
http://www.chameleonjournals.com
http://www.chameleonnews.com