Chameleon dystocia (Egg Retention)

Unfortunately, dystocia can be very common in most of the oviparous (egg laying) species. It occurs when a chameleon reaches the end of gestation period and is then unable to pass the eggs, this can quickly lead to a serious problem and immediate intervention is necessary to ensure the survival of the female. There are various factors that can cause egg retention including excess handling and stress, poor nutritional status and malformed or fused eggs that are too misshapen to pass through the cloaca.

One of the most common causes of a chameleon retaining eggs is an unsuitable or absent laying box for them to deposit the eggs in. As soon as any female reaches maturity it is a good idea to have a lay box in with her at all times. This also applies to unmated females as most species of chameleon will still lay infertile clutches even without the presence of a male.See Breeding). When a female is near the end of her gestation period (3 to 5 weeks depending on food intake and temperature) eating will cease and you will notice an increased restlessness in her behaviour. At this point, all being well, she will dig a hole approx 8 – 12 inches deep and deposit her eggs in the bottom of the hole and then carefully cover them back up. Sometimes before digging the final hole she may dig a number of test holes. This may go on for a day or two but could be a sign of her not being content with the laying medium ( too wet, too dry, too cold or too hot).

At this stage, if you notice any severe discomfort or signs of dehydration in the animal, you need to get her to a vet as soon as possible. If sunken eyes become apparent in a heavily gravid female it is paramount that she has all eggs removed as soon as possible, or she is likely to deteriorate and die within a 24 hour period. When a reptile veterinarian is presented with an egg-bound female it is likely they will administer calcium injections and oxytocin to induce egg laying. Oxytocin is amazingly effective and you will usually have signs of egg laying within the hour. This being said they are limited to 3 doses over a 24 hour period and if the animal has not produced any eggs by the second injection, it is unlikely that she will pass the clutch successfully and surgically removing the eggs may be the only option.

The best possible way to avoid dystocia in females is to up calcium levels prior to and during the gestation period and also provide a quality, nutritionally balanced diet. A appropriately sized laying bin with moist topsoil and play sand mix will also aid her in giving her an ideal place to deposit her eggs. Minimal stress is also important when laying has started. Try to leave the animal in peace once digging has started and cover the front of the enclosure with a towel or sheet to prevent her from being disturbed.

Once a chameleon has encountered egg laying problems, then you should strongly consider not breeding her again as re-occurring egg laying problems in individuals are common.Even if the chameleon has retained fertile eggs through a mating, it is uncommon for them to double clutch after encountering such problems.