New Gravid Female

I just picked up 2 gravid female ambilobes and i was looking for some suggestions on what type of substrate to put ion the egg laying bucket.
I have been told to use eco-earth is this ok?
They are both looking around on the bottom and are going to lay soon!
I picked up a hova bator at a local pet store, some deli cups and hatch rite as well.
Is 1 Hova Bator going to do the Job?
The dealer said they will lay 20-30 eggs each

Who did you get the chameleons from?
Are they wild caught?

-Brad

I use a mixture of the coconut fiber and play sand-it holds a good tunnel when moistened, and is easier to dig then just sand and much lighter.

I got them from Precision Labs, they are CB.
Play sand and coco fiber moistened? Just home depot play sand? what would be the wetness level to the touch?

First off - Hello Tom from Delray Beach! I am Boca Jan - from Boca Raton. LOL

I use sandbox sand. It is clean and when damp holds the tunnel they will dig perfectly; and it is inexpensive. Have they given up food yet? Wandering around the bottom and giving up food for a day or two are signs that they are ready to lay.

Cover your container - I use a rubber bathroom sized trash can filled with damp sand to about 3" from the top. The sand should be damp enough to squeeze into a lump when you pick up a handful. My ladies have never had a problem with this size. Put a towel or something over the cage so they feel very safe and let them do their thing.

For incubation I use a clear shoebox with 2 holes punched in the top on either end. I put about 3" of vermiculite (purchased at Home D or lowes) and moisten it. When you pick up a handful of this the very most you can squeeze out would be a drop. I never made mine wet enough to get that drop out.

Make a little indentation with your finger and lay the egg in the indention, trying not to turn the egg from it's laying orientation. When done, label the box with date and which female laid the eggs and stow them away. Mine stay in a little used closet at 75 degrees which is my house temperature.

Please read the Kitty blog below. It is a pretty inclusive article on keeping chameleons. Kitty is a male veiled, but the care of an ambilobe is about the same. I have an ambilobe and it gets the same care as my veileds. Good luck neighbor!

Yep-Home Depot play sand. Mix maybe 3/4 coco fiber and 1/4 sand-just moist enough so that if you dug a tunnel to the bottom it would not collapse.

Hmmmmmmm Precision Labs, where have I heard that name before? ACK

If you could take pictures of your ladies and post it would be really great.

they are denying food and looking around the bottom. I will take some pics today.
I just found some pay sand in my shed, score!
You think the shoe box method is better than setting up this hova bator? If so i will return it.

Here in FL I incubate at room temperature-in plastic shoes containers-my house is almost a steady 72-75 degrees year round.

my home is also similar temps, although i have been opening the windows at night lately and its getting cold. is that a concern?

The weather will get warmer soon. If you like your bedroom colder at night keep the eggs in a closet somewhere else. I agree with Julirs. My thermostat is on 75 all the time. Sometimes the ambient air temp is less when it is cold outside, but the thermometer in my closet is always between 74 - 75. Use an interior closet, not one against an outside wall. Whatever you do I wouldn't swap them from the hova bator (sounds kinky) to a closet. Once you have found a home for them keep them there.

You don't want it to get too cold-probably would be OK if you locate them in the middle of your house in a drawer or closet.

Try for the WHITE SAND NOT ORANGE THIS HAS LIME IN IT!

iF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN INCUBATOR WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PUT THINGS IN A CLOSET ??????? i N AN INCUBATOR THE HUMIDITY CAN BE CONTROLED BETTER AND TEMP CAN BE CONSTANT OR AJUSTED I COULD SEE PUTIN EGGS IN A CLOSET IF THATS ALL YOU HAVE BUT IF YOU HAVE THE INCUBATOR WHY WOULDN'T YOU USE IT

Point taken. I just have never seen a need here in Fl. As long as the incubator is working well, I guess there is no problem. I can see why in Delaware you would want one.

i agree, i am going to set up the hova bator in the closet, best of both worlds!

Could someone please tell me i got to know why would you not use an incubator that can give you exact temps why would you want to crawl around your house lookin for drawers and closets with the right temps i just dont understand you guys and your closets and drawers is it because one of these gurus on here said it was o'natural

FLTom said:

i agree, i am going to set up the hova bator in the closet, best of both worlds!

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smart thinking these guys usually offer sound advice don't know whats goin on in fl this morn

ciafardo pleas calm down, i think that people like Jan have had continued success with this method, they would in turn suggest it to others

sorry guys i woke up on the wrong side of the bed