Do i turn lights off?

[busterboy]

Guys I am sorrry for putting this post here but I really need help and this foru had the most people...sooooo....

I have a female chameleon who was all day digging, literally all day digging. I left the house for about an hour to go find some vermiculite and came back to see her turned around in her laying bin. (laying eggs i believe) I usually turn the lights off at this time, should i leave them on for her or just turn them off or what? Im new to this. Im sorry. Also, what i had left the house to do, was try to go find some vermiculite for incubation. I couldnt find any at home depot or walmart. What should i do? Any HELP would be greatly appreciated. Right now shes in her hole probably laying her eggs. I dont want to spy on her to much. Also I am from school 7am-6pm tomorrow. So i will be out all day. Also i saw that she had sand all over her face. I want to take the best care of her and the eggs. I love her a lot. She drank a lot yesterday also before she started to dig.

 

[Elizadolots]

I've never dealt with a laying female, but I will tell you that you should keep her lights on her normal schedule. If that means turning them off while she's digging, then do it. She started digging at that time expecting the lights to go off, do not mess with her mind!!!!

Hopefully someone with more experience in the process will show up to give you more advice.

 

[twatts704]

Keep her on her normal schedule. If she is in her hole she will sleep there with no problems. She will have sand on her face too from digging its not a problem. If she was digging all day she should be fairly close to laying. With that said, give her her privacy and let her do her thing and she will be fine. If she is still digging before you leave tomorrow then just set up a dripper for her because she will be very thirsty after digging and offer her a lot of food afterwards. You can spray her down once she is done laying too. I sat there for a good 3 minutes spraying my female overhead with warm water after she was done. Do that 3-4 times a day with less intervals each misting for the first couple of days and feed her as much as she will eat for the first week and don't forget to dust. Sounds like everything is fine though and working out. Keep us posted and if you have anymore questions then PM me

 

[reptilover]

I agree with keeping the light schedual as normal. The sun isn't gonna wait for her either! I've heard of females sleeping in there holes over night in such case. Don't be alarmed. The good thing is shes digging!

I've never dealt with a laying female

Seriously?.. is this serious?

 

[reptilover]

Keep her on her normal schedule. If she is in her hole she will sleep there with no problems. She will have sand on her face too from digging its not a problem. If she was digging all day she should be fairly close to laying. With that said, give her her privacy and let her do her thing and she will be fine. If she is still digging before you leave tomorrow then just set up a dripper for her because she will be very thirsty after digging and offer her a lot of food afterwards. You can spray her down once she is done laying too. I sat there for a good 3 minutes spraying my female overhead with warm water after she was done. Do that 3-4 times a day with less intervals each misting for the first couple of days and feed her as much as she will eat for the first week and don't forget to dust. Sounds like everything is fine though and working out. Keep us posted and if you have anymore questions then PM me

Ya beat me to it! Ha

 

[sandrachameleon]

I've had females who started a dig just before lights out, then finished the next day. So ya, turn the lights out.

 

[busterboy]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I turned the lights out at night and she slept in there. Finsished up laying and covering up the eggs all day the next day. had a total of 31 pearly white eggs. She was young so i am impressed by the amount of eggs. I bought superhatch for the medium. Is this good? Also, what i did was poor water into the medium and mixed real good, then poured out all the excess water and put the eggs on top of the medium in a plastic container. I also put 4 holes in the container lids so some air can get in. Is this good? or do i have to do any corrections?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I grab a fistful of the damp (not wet) medium and squeeze. If a get much more than a few drops of water, its too wet. I use vermiculite.
I half burry the eggs in the medium.
I poke just two holes in the lid of the plastic container, but Im sure 4 is fine. Just monitor the dampness of the medium and add a few drops of water if it dries out.

Jannb has a blog entry you may find useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

 

[Dr O]

in terms of buying vermiculite, the Depot by me didn't carry it for a year, but now they sell enormous bags for dirt cheap in the garden section. it used to be ziplock type bags, but now it's the size of a huge bag of dog food.

either way, you can ALWAYS find it at a garden center/nursery. and they often have several sizes and grades available.

 

[Dr O]

I grab a fistful of the damp (not wet) medium and squeeze. If a get much more than a few drops of water, its too wet. I use vermiculite.
I half burry the eggs in the medium.
I poke just two holes in the lid of the plastic container, but Im sure 4 is fine. Just monitor the dampness of the medium and add a few drops of water if it dries out.

Jannb has a blog entry you may find useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

perfect advice, particularly the half-buried part. you have got 9-12 months to go, and if those eggs roll later, you will kill the embryo.