1st time veiled owner

[Missyxox]

Hi I'm new to this forum,

I got a veiled cham about 5 weeks ago from a pet shop they said they think she's about 4-5 months so now she'd be about 5-6 months shes pretty small tho, anyway since I've had her she has always drunk mainly out of a water dish, she's misted reg but prefers the water dish for some reason so I refresh it when she's misted. As it's on floor of viv she goes down to bottom regular into dish, but I'm worried I won't be able to tell when she's ready to lay eggs. She's not big bellied or has an egg shaped lump near back legs or off her food so assume she's not due to lay anytime soon, but wondered if anyone had advice on spotting signs she's my 1st chameleon so just nervous about her 1st lay don't want to not spot signs till is to late. She's a beautiful girl & just can't help but worry about her laying for 1st time any advice would be appricated
Thanks x

 

[xephyr17]

I'm pretty sure she's too young to lay, anyway.

You should really just remove the dish as it can generate bacteria and if she's small enough and it's big enough she could drown...

Normally it's a sign that they aren't getting misted enough (or don't have enough foliage) if they're drinking out of a dish rather than off of the leaves. So if you don't have enough leaves/vines and general foliage or if you're not misting enough, that's the problem with her getting water out of the dish. However, don't mist your chameleon directly if she isn't shedding because normally they don't like it (I know mine doesn't!).

As far as the possibility of babies is concerned, I'd suggest putting a post in the Chameleon Breeding section, or even the Health area of the Forums.

Could you also post some pictures of your little girl and her enclosure?

 

[Missyxox]

Thanks for reply is all sorted now, no she's not egg bound or ready to lay bless her, just me reading to much & panicking lol, she's fine spoke to a Cham rehabilitation home as they have a lot more experience than any one I know the dish is small & she's shed twice since I've had her growing nicely, they think it's just where she's so used to a dish from months in pet shop. She does drink off leaves but still likes to also drink from dish. But she's fine now I have changed where her viv is located much happier, thank anyway.

 

[camimom]

I would remove the dish shes drinking out of.

If she poops in it, bugs poop in it, etc. it can cause bacteria growth and she can get sick.

just mist heavily.

also its very common to not see chams drink, esp veileds.

at 4-6 months old, she technically could have eggs, but i highyl doubt it.

if you post a pic of her on your hand, we can try to guess age for you.

in regards to egg laying signs, you most likley wont see them unless she gets bred.

when my females laid, they didnt change colors when the eggs werent fertilized.

so when she gtes to be around a year old, its best to just keep a lay bin in her cage at all times, that way, you cant miss the signs if she does need to lay.