I have a female veiled chameleon and she is about 10 months old. She has recently started clawing at the screen cage she stays in (48 inches high) almost like she's trying to get out. She'll claw at the top of the cage or the side of the cage. Occasionally when she's basking, she'll have her mouth opened while she's sitting there. Are these things normal? Also, should I be having her toenails trimmed? Her markings are changing and I'm assuming that's normal. She's got some aqua stripes and some yellow spots as she's getting closer to maturing. Normal? Thank you.
Behavior of veiled female - approx 10 months old
- Thread starter lcline99
- Start date
camimom
New Member
Females can lay eggs, bred or not.
SHe should have a lay bin that is at least 12 inches deep and the sand should be wet enough she can dig a tunnel, but not so wet as to cause it to collapse.
the restlessness will settle down, its normal as they reach sexual maturity.
how much do you feed her and how often?
what is her basking temp?
SHe should have a lay bin that is at least 12 inches deep and the sand should be wet enough she can dig a tunnel, but not so wet as to cause it to collapse.
the restlessness will settle down, its normal as they reach sexual maturity.
how much do you feed her and how often?
what is her basking temp?
Oh, wow, okay. My sand isn't quite 12 inches deep. What do you put yours in to have it that deep? How do I know how wet to get/keep the sand? Her basking temp is about 92 degrees. I feed her crickets, usually around 12 a day, but sometimes she eats less. I also offer her various greens. She used to eat them better than she does now. What is best to feed them? I just felt like I wanted to offer her some variety.
camimom
New Member
OK.
First for her lay bin. I use a bucket from home depot.
I use a combo of organic top soil and sand.
You just need to play with the mixture. add water until you can make a tunnel that keeps it shape.
As for feeding- you are over feeding her now.
By over feeding and keep temps high, you are asking for her to lay eggs, an a large clutch at that.
by reducing her food intake and temps, you can reduce her clutch size.
Get her temps down to no higher than 84.
As for feeding- You can feed her all kinds of approved bugs, but you should only be feeding her about 3-6 bugs every other day now.
This will reduce her clutch size, and help her live longer.
First for her lay bin. I use a bucket from home depot.
I use a combo of organic top soil and sand.
You just need to play with the mixture. add water until you can make a tunnel that keeps it shape.
As for feeding- you are over feeding her now.
By over feeding and keep temps high, you are asking for her to lay eggs, an a large clutch at that.
by reducing her food intake and temps, you can reduce her clutch size.
Get her temps down to no higher than 84.
As for feeding- You can feed her all kinds of approved bugs, but you should only be feeding her about 3-6 bugs every other day now.
This will reduce her clutch size, and help her live longer.
camimom
New Member
Once i knew my girl was making eggs, i gve her more calcium and 2 bugs more every feeding.
for a week after she laid, she got to eat as much as she wanted. then it was back to every other day and reduced diet.
i offer my girl greens, she just doesnt eat them..
you can continue to offer them with every feed if you choose to do so.
for a week after she laid, she got to eat as much as she wanted. then it was back to every other day and reduced diet.
i offer my girl greens, she just doesnt eat them..
you can continue to offer them with every feed if you choose to do so.
camimom
New Member
SHe may change colors, get a dark background with neon blue and and orange.
SHe may become restless, and she may start digging in her bin,
My female changed colors when she was gravid with fertile eggs, but not infertile.
this is why we suggest leaving the lay bins in their cages at all times, so if they need to lay they can.
If she lays infertile eggs, you can just wait till shes all done, and dig them up then throw them out.
Julija
New Member
Hello! 
Your chameleon girl is growing and maturing, and that's very cool, it means everything is going as it should.
First of all there is a great educational video about setting up a laying bin made by one of the forum members. You can find it here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/
As you were already told - females can and will lay eggs even though they have never been with a male, then the eggs are just gonna be infertile and you can simply discard them.
Making and laying eggs puts a big stress on females body, that is why it is advised to keep females on a stricter diet and at lower temperatures than males. By doing that you can reduce the clutch size, and, in some cases, keep her from forming and laying eggs at all, which will among other things quite likely prolong her lifetime.
It is extremely important to supplement the pregnant female with plenty of calcium. Calcium is required to form eggs, and since reproduction is always a priority, in case of lacking calcium, her body will pull it from her bones, which can lead to metabolic bone disease (known as MBD). Calcium is also essential for proper muscle functioning and other bodily functions, so supplementation is very important. You might want to buy some liquid calcium and either give her a drop directly or put a drop on one of her feeder once in a while. It is also advised to give her some liquid calcium once she is done laying eggs.
Females usually change coloration once they become gravid. I don't have any photos at hand, but I am sure if you make a search on the forums for a gravid female you will be able to find some examples. However! some females only do that if they have been mated and their eggs are fertile, but remain the same color if their eggs are infertile. In that case you might still guess that she is developing eggs from her becoming more plump and putting on weight even though you feed her the same amount of food.
Finally, it is very important to give her privacy, when she finally starts digging, otherwise she might become stressed and become egg-bound. Some choose to cover the cage with a cloth during the process.
Sorry, it turned out so long, but I hope this helps you to get a better idea of how to give her the best care in this important time. If you are in any doubt - just ask.
Best of luck to you and your cham,
Julija
Your chameleon girl is growing and maturing, and that's very cool, it means everything is going as it should.
First of all there is a great educational video about setting up a laying bin made by one of the forum members. You can find it here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/
As you were already told - females can and will lay eggs even though they have never been with a male, then the eggs are just gonna be infertile and you can simply discard them.
Making and laying eggs puts a big stress on females body, that is why it is advised to keep females on a stricter diet and at lower temperatures than males. By doing that you can reduce the clutch size, and, in some cases, keep her from forming and laying eggs at all, which will among other things quite likely prolong her lifetime.
It is extremely important to supplement the pregnant female with plenty of calcium. Calcium is required to form eggs, and since reproduction is always a priority, in case of lacking calcium, her body will pull it from her bones, which can lead to metabolic bone disease (known as MBD). Calcium is also essential for proper muscle functioning and other bodily functions, so supplementation is very important. You might want to buy some liquid calcium and either give her a drop directly or put a drop on one of her feeder once in a while. It is also advised to give her some liquid calcium once she is done laying eggs.
Females usually change coloration once they become gravid. I don't have any photos at hand, but I am sure if you make a search on the forums for a gravid female you will be able to find some examples. However! some females only do that if they have been mated and their eggs are fertile, but remain the same color if their eggs are infertile. In that case you might still guess that she is developing eggs from her becoming more plump and putting on weight even though you feed her the same amount of food.
Finally, it is very important to give her privacy, when she finally starts digging, otherwise she might become stressed and become egg-bound. Some choose to cover the cage with a cloth during the process.
Sorry, it turned out so long, but I hope this helps you to get a better idea of how to give her the best care in this important time. If you are in any doubt - just ask.
Best of luck to you and your cham,
Julija
