Anja is laying eggs, and I'm kind of panicking?!?!?

[dolezalbob]

So I was going through my morning care routine for all of our chams today and had a particularly hard time finding our female Anja in her cage. At first I figured she was just rummaging around in the back, she has lots of foliage, and I just couldn't find her. I went back after everyone else got fed to look again and still couldn't find her. That's when I realized that the sand bin we keep in her enclosure had a hole dug along the side and I could see the tip of her tail sticking out.

She's never interacted with our boys but is well aware they are here. She actually tried to make a beeline for our big guy Titus the last time she was out; but nevertheless, we've had her for about 9 months and beyond being super grumpy, she's never had any health issues.

I've seen the video on the forum for egg laying, which is why we keep the bin in with her, but never actually experienced egg laying before. I know it's a ton of stress on her if that's what she's up to and I'm kind of panicking a little bit. I did take a sheet and cover the cage up for privacy but is there anything else I can or should do for her? Temperature or humidity adjustments or possibly temporary light adjustments? Or should I just leave the sheet up and check on her later today/tomorrow?

 

[ridgebax1]

I don't have a female but they can and will lay eggs even without mating. Sort of like chickens! So it sounds like you have given her everything she needs. From what I have read the process can take anywhere from several hours to a few days. The most important thing is to not disturb her at all. If she is interrupted it can cause her to stop the process and that could lead to egg binding which I am sure you know can be life-threatening for her. So the advice I have seen given is to do just what you did and cover or block off her cage and DON'T peek no matter how much you want too!(I think this would be really hard to do). I think it might be ok to peek once the lights go out though and I have read about females just sleeping in their little holes and finish laying the next day. Once she is done she will need lots of food and water. At that point I think it is safe to dig up the eggs and discard them as they would not be fertile. Good luck and hopefully a more seasoned keeper with actual experience can help with more information.

 

[dolezalbob]

It is unbelievably hard to not check on her, especially during our first egg laying experience!!!!! I'm pretty sure I have all my bases covered but we want her to be happy and healthy, even if she hates us, but are aware that she can get bound hence the panic. But for now I'll just leave her be and hope she can take care of business

 

[laurie]

If you are able to take a peak every now and then, it will make you feel better. just to know she is ok. When she is actually laying she will be head out not tail out. You don't want her in tail out for too long.

 

[jannb]

How exciting and very scary egg laying can be to us keepers. Complete privacy is the best thing you can do right now. I know it's nerve racking because I've been through it before. If you haven't seen my blog for egg laying and the laying bin I'm attaching it below. The very best you you and Anjali.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

 

[dolezalbob]

Thank you ridgebax1, laurie, and jannb!! For the record, I built her enclosure so I could make it as large as possible so it is about 4' tall and on top of a table and adjusted so there's just enough room between the top and the ceiling to accommodate the lights for temperatures. I'm also pretty tall and can look down into the cage from the top. I haven't pulled the sheet away, but can see everything looking down. She's back up to her usual basking spot. She's A LOT thinner and pretty black (from her usual pink and orange); however, she didn't cover up her hole! Since she's so much thinner I think she laid her eggs, but I'm not sure what to think about the hole being open?

 

[laurie]

If she looks a lot thinner and is dirty, she may have laid them. But we already knew she would be dirty from digging. I you are really, really sure she is lots thinner, then you can take the eggs out. But if you have any doubts that she may have more eggs just give her time. I would offer her a nice drink, and a silkie or horn work if you have them. She is most likely thirsty and hungry. Just give her something with a good drop of calcium on it.

 

[laurie]

Any news today? Has she finished laying?

 

[dolezalbob]

As of now I'm not entirely sure. She was back down in her hole this morning so as soon as I peeked in I put her sheet back up and decided to wait until tomorrow morning to go back and check. Lot's of personal space