Confused...help

[joeandsoph]

Hi guys,

I'm confused and need a bit of help. I can't get pictures of Tilly at the moment but will try.

We're pretty sure Tilly is due to lay eggs, only by the colour of her and her size (she's gotten fat and is not overfed). She has the laying bin in her tank it's been in there for a week and she's not laying?

She is still eating and acting normal (although activity has increased). She is nearly 1 years old and not laid a clutch before.

My fear is she is not going to lay eggs, but I don't know why or what else to do. Could it be that she isn't ready to lay eggs, but if so how do you explain the fatness and colour? We've even tried introducing her to the bucket by putting her in it but she did nothing.

I'm so afraid she will become eggbound and we're trying to prevent that.

 

[sandrachameleon]

She's possible just not yet ready to lay eggs. What makes you think she is "due to lay" right now, beyond getting fatter? Often they will become more active, and then eat less, and then lay.

 

[summoner12]

Try putting her in a bin she can dig in.. something full scale... 12" deep and about 12" round or... ya get the idea... like a 5 gallon bucket. Put it somewhere quiet and with no foot traffic. Give her a basking spot... not HOT cause she can't get away from it if she is too warm. Just something warm. Be sure to put up a side cover if she can see out of the bin and see people or other animals.

Putting a fake tree or even a real one for her to 'hide' under is a good idea. Chams like to lay near trees because they know the roots provide protection from other animals digging up the eggs.

 

[jannb]

Normally, they will stop eating before laying.

 

[joeandsoph]

Sandra...
I think the reason we are guessing she is ready as she has gone orange and stripy and with blue dots all over her, a very dramatic change in colours complared to her normal colours. Also she's fat...which is odd because she definately isn't overfed, sometime you can see little bulges above her legs but sometimes they disapear.

Summer...
We did actually put her in the bin and cover it over and gave her some heat and left her a little while, but she showed no interested and just stood up on the side ready to get out. Being as she showed no interested we took her out and just left it in the tank for her to use when she's ready. But it's been in there a week and nothing.

I don't want to stress her out with a visit to the vet incase there is nothing wrong and all is normal.

 

[summoner12]

Could you fill out the 'how to ask for help' questionnaire in the sticky thread in the Health Forum? and maybe include a picture of the set up? it would help us determine if there are any other issues that might need to be addressed.

 

[joeandsoph]

Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Female, nearly 1 year old. Had her since 12 weeks old
Handling - Probably one a week maybe less
Feeding - Feeding ncrickets and locusts, the occasional wax worm, and occasional morio worm, around 4 / 5 crickets every 2 days plus greens.We gutload the crickets with greens and carrot and apply calcium.
Supplements - Brand of calcium is Nutrobol. Feeders get dusted everytime they are fed apart from some weekends.
Watering - Gardening sprayer around 4 times a day. She doesn't drink when we're around.
Fecal Description - Urates very white and faeces solid but not too solid (if that makes sense)
History - No previous info

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Mesh flexarium, approx 3 1/4 high by 2 1/4 widt by 1 1/2 ft deep.
Lighting - 2 exo terra UV tubes and 1 exo terra UVB Halogen bulb (sun glod) 1 x exo terra basking light
Temperature - basking around 92, floor around 73, in between around 82.Unsure at night but she has a night glow light.
Humidity - 60% humidity? Maintained by regular misting. We measure by using a digital temperature and humidity thermometer.
Plants - Fake and like plants, 1 dracaena, 1 yucca, re planted in organic compost
Placement - Cage in a room with no traffic ir fans etc. Relativly quiet.
The top of the cage is about 2 ft from the ceiling/
Location - England UK

We are currently looking into a new tank

Thanks!!

 

[Miss Lily]

Here's an extract of my diary log that I kept for Lily. It may be of some help/reassurance to you!

9th Nov 08 - Restless / Receptive?
11th Nov - Bright colours restless - she was restless for about a week.
27th Nov - 8 days no food. Looking brown/dark, fat, lumpy and poorly, eyes a bit sunken. Hiding in plant.
1st Dec - Ate after 10 days. I now realise she had been receptive and the day that she looked poorly and lumpy was 3.5 weeks before she laid. Started eating 1 or 2 food items per day again.
15th Dec - Drank loads.
16th Dec - Can see and feel eggy lumps above back legs!
Didn't eat from 15th Dec to 22nd (8 days again).
Restless from 17th Dec onwards.
20th Dec - started to dig in different spots.
23rd Dec - Digging from early morning. Bum down in hole p.m. 22:30 all finished and back up in branches. Drank loads and ate 3 waxworms.

 

[joeandsoph]

Grr I dunno what to do she's still the same. She seems perfectley happy and looks very healthy but who knows what's going on on the inside. Little madam.

 

[joeandsoph]

Btw Tiff...Has Amy started laying yet. Or showing any signs, I know they are the same age.

 

[Miss Lily]

Amy is a little over 10 months now. I see no signs of any eggs yet, but she does look rather plump. I don't see any egg shaped lumps yet either. As I was told when Lily was working on her first clutch - 'She know's what to do and she'll just get on with it, when she's ready!' They do know what to do when the time comes, and Tilly will probably not eat for anything up to a week before laying.

You are doing all you can, including providing a laying bin. Tilly will do the rest when she's ready!

 

[joeandsoph]

She's stilll eating like a pig lol.

 

[Miss Lily]

How much is she eating? Lily was a greedy little madam too, and I (stupidly) let her eat all she wanted. Perhaps if I had fed her less she would still be here now. Amy is fed 2 locusts a day or 2 crix and a silkworm or superworm. She would eat all say long if I let her, lol! I learnt the hard way about overfeeding with Lily and I am keen to not have a repeat performance with Amy.

However, if Tilly is still eating then she probably is just fat! Although she could be working on a clutch. They do normally stop eating or eat a lot less when they are near to laying.

 

[Julirs]

She's stilll eating like a pig lol.

At 10 months I would certainly be controlling her diet and temps. 6 large crickets every other day is plenty. My one female Veiled begs like a monster everytime I go near her cage-so I know how tempting it is to give them more. Just tell her it is for her own good and she can eat tomorrow!