i sure hope i'm doing this right. i have honestly never been on a blog or forum before. i have a question i was hoping someone had some experience with. i have a female veiled chameleon i have had for around 5 yrs now. (i figured she is female b/c does not have those spurs on her feet, is very agressive, is fairly small and doesn't change that many different colors). she has been pretty healthy over the 5 yrs i have had her w/ the exception of a few scares. she eats 2 crickets every day. i dust the crickets occationally w/ calcium and the other dust 1/2 and 1/2. she has always had a huge moist sand bucket in her cage but has never layed eggs. i have worried abt her becoming egg bound but now i'm wondering what the heck is wrong w/ her as she really is fine and has never ever layed a single egg. anyone have any knowledge on this? thank you
5+ yr old female veiled chameleon that has never layed egges
- Thread starter Leesa
- Start date
Jasonmichaelborg
Member
What are her basking temps and can you post a picture of her?
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
First, you are doing nothing wrong, she's OK, and frankly, I'd be thanking the chamkeeper gods that she hasn't put you through all the infertile egglaying worries! Some females who have never been overfed, oversupplemented, or their growth rate pushed when a juvenile just don't produce infertile clutches. I've heard somewhere speculation that a female who never even sees a mature male cham may not get that hormonal switch to start producing eggs triggered. Don't know if that is true or not. She might be from a particular genetic strain that happens to be less productive. She might have some sort of congenital trait that is blocking her egg cycling. She might be more sensitive to UV exposure, a certain temp cycle, or lack of it. Maybe she's just too stubborn and mean to be a good mom
. There may not be a clear reason and I'm no expert!Bottom line, she's been fine for 5 years under your care so you are doing something right! Enjoy your little surly girl.
reptilover
New Member
Gorgeous lady u have there! And 85 basking temp is fine for a female. The lower heat and smaller diet u feed her is most likely why she's never produced eggs. from wat ive researched that's exactly wat u want to do witg a female.. i wasn't sure wat u ment when u described ur dustings? wat are u using? I cant argur to much it shes over 5
that's very good indicator shes been well cared for.
reptilover
New Member
Oooo that is not Wats usually recommended but again I can not argue with something that's worked.. nor do i have the background on the matter to tell u anythings wrong.
Now Im in no way saying change ur ways but usual recommended schedual is dust every feeding with plain calcium NO d3 and D3 twice a month and a multivit containing beta carotene 2 times a month.. that's just a base recommendation most give around here.
AngieL
Avid Member
Wow!
That's a stunning girl you've got there! She looks healthy and happy and if you have managed to keep her going for 5 years and no eggs then you're doing a great job!
Your supplement schedule differs from the recommended one by this site but don't change a thing, you're doing great and her bones look great.
Gold star for you
That's a stunning girl you've got there! She looks healthy and happy and if you have managed to keep her going for 5 years and no eggs then you're doing a great job!
Your supplement schedule differs from the recommended one by this site but don't change a thing, you're doing great and her bones look great.
Gold star for you
okiroo
Avid Member
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
She's a gorgeous little lady. Consider yourself lucky that you haven't had to worry with egg laying and egg laying problems. 5 1/2 years is a nice long life for a female. One of our member has had females live to 6 and maybe 7. I say enjoy every single moment that you have with her. Thank you for sharing her pictures and story with us.
thank you all
sad to hear she doesn't have all that much time left though. but proud to have kept my first rescue lizard so long. i feed the crickets mostly kale and some carrots and other fruit. maybe that makes up for some of the supplements.
thanks again for all your advice and knowledge,
lisa simons
sad to hear she doesn't have all that much time left though. but proud to have kept my first rescue lizard so long. i feed the crickets mostly kale and some carrots and other fruit. maybe that makes up for some of the supplements.
thanks again for all your advice and knowledge,
lisa simons
one more thing
i only tried handling her first 2 years off and on rarely. since then i knew she doesn't like it, doesn't even like my hand in her cage, although she will eat crickets off my hand. perhaps just leaving her alone and enjoying her from a distance has helped extend her life. i always wash my hands really well too before feeding her. but i think you all are right, i just need to thank God for making her a strange non egg producing female reptile.
i only tried handling her first 2 years off and on rarely. since then i knew she doesn't like it, doesn't even like my hand in her cage, although she will eat crickets off my hand. perhaps just leaving her alone and enjoying her from a distance has helped extend her life. i always wash my hands really well too before feeding her. but i think you all are right, i just need to thank God for making her a strange non egg producing female reptile.
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