Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, we had to travel to AZ for a Conference and so we took Kismet to see Dr. Jarchow, who is supposed to be the best Cyclura vet in the country. I highly recommend him as a truly compassionate and knowledgeable vet.

At first he scared us because he said he felt that Kismet should have already had surgery, given her recent history. However, he did new bloodwork and it was textbook perfect! He said it does, indeed, look like she is healing on her own. His biggest concern right now is that he thinks she might double clutch and if she does so, she might be in trouble because her oviduct is not fully healed.

Kismet has all of the vets who have seen her baffled because her bloodwork is perfect and she's been so healthy -- there should have been no reason on earth why she laid uncalcified eggs.

The best news is that she ate a little on her own today so hopefully she is beginning to get her appetite back!

Here she is soaking in some nice Arizona sunshine at the hotel!

She makes large rocks look so comfortable! Check out those belly stripies!

I'm glad to hear she's pulling through.

And it makes me worried about Petranella because she is in the process of gearing up to lay in Aug and she is starting to act like a weirdo....all the perils of womanhood.

Thanks.

And yeah, it's making me realize having boys might not be such a bad thing.

I think the uncalcified eggs might be due to the nesting site. I had my female rhino lay 3 uncalcified eggs, nested 11 regular infertile eggs and then dumped an remaining egg a week later. I am leaving the nest box in the cage now, as I think taking it out after they lay and putting it back in just before might trigger a response that is not natural. Being they guard the nest site, at least leaving the nest box in there for 2-3 months should hopefully be enough for them to finish there cycle.

Bloodwork? Bloodwork taken during the nesting season should be way off when compared to the rest of the year and should appear out of range of normal values if my memory serves me right.

Well, she should be out of the breeding cycle by now and that is the hope with this bloodwork looking as perfect as it does.

Kismet has never used her nest box -- she has always ignored it and laid perfect eggs wherever she happened to be when she was ready. I don't know what was different this year.

Personally, I would take that to indicate the nest box provided is not suitable and she is holding them until she can't anymore. I would give it heavy thought to redo the nest box. It is not good or natural for her to dump the eggs, regardless if the fertile or not. I just can't see it not leading to future health issues. Just my opinion.

It is a good thought, actually. The first time she laid we didn't even know she was gravid as she was a year younger than we expected.

We are going to build entirely new outdoor enclosures and this time I'm going to put a nest box inside a dog house instead of the covered rubbermade container we tried these past few times.

She is such a good looking lizard...! I hope she pulls through. My condolences!

She ate again today and really seems to be doing much better!