does my cham look pregnant? Why is she dark in color?

Hi Tommy! I’m new myself but I’ll share what I’ve learned.
Does she have an egg laying bin?
Do you have the correct lights, temps, foods, vitamin supplements, cage, cage placement etc?
I’m not sure if this happens every time but they get what is called gravid when they are about to lay eggs. It’s dark coloring and she may become restless and wonder around the bottom of the cage.
I know the pro’s on here appreciate it when you fill out this form with as much detail as you can.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

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Please Note:
1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful

This is a great place to start...
Cheers
 
Hey, she dosen't have an egg laying bin in their at the moment, do you have any you suggest?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - Weather or not shes pregnant[/QUOTE]
 
Hi. If you could answer the help questions, someone could review your husbandry. While having everything correct is important for the health and well-being of every chameleon, it is even more so with females. Whether or not your lady is gravid or not, she should have access to a lay bin in her enclosure at all times. Helps to take the guessing whether she‘s ready to lay or not out and prevents risks of her becoming egg-bound.
 
@tommylovescats please fill out the help form. I know you did it in a prior thread but if you have made any changes it is helpful. @MissSkittles has females and gen give you precise info for her needs.

@MissSkittles do you have pics of receptive and gravid you could post so the OP understands what the color changes look like and the order and approximate timing in which they present prior to egg laying?

As far as the darker color. She is basking and so they will darken up to absorb the heat. They will then lighten their colors when they are warm enough.
 
@Beman and @tommylovescats, I do have pics of my chams when receptive. They pretty much looked the same as when gravid, just their dots got darker.
Stella when I first got her...muddy colored because she was unhappy in a too small enclosure.
CD1C1DFA-22E5-4ADB-A5E5-BCCF3296F9F4.jpeg

Stella happy to be in her big enclosure
53C2045C-7CEB-4E87-A8D0-B256963E62A4.jpeg

Stella gravid (receptive was very similar) You can see a little egg lump.
22E1E650-9151-42BD-8E5A-93AB3632BAEA.jpeg

Grumpy ‘normal’
EA47129A-AFBB-4D04-9A5C-7BB5B5C05461.jpeg

Grumpy receptive
1DEC73BF-2C33-4F36-91F1-EA35B50361AF.jpeg

Grumpy gravid
A080B990-F52D-4D3C-8B74-B83E26F81D0D.jpeg
 
@Beman and @tommylovescats, I do have pics of my chams when receptive. They pretty much looked the same as when gravid, just their dots got darker.
Stella when I first got her...muddy colored because she was unhappy in a too small enclosure.
View attachment 265379
Stella happy to be in her big enclosure
View attachment 265380
Stella gravid (receptive was very similar) You can see a little egg lump.
View attachment 265381
Grumpy ‘normal’
View attachment 265382
Grumpy receptive
View attachment 265383
Grumpy gravid
View attachment 265384
Thank you! This is one area I try to stay out of since I really do not know lol. So they turn black when gravid and there is a male present?
 
I’ve seen the pics of the females that turn almost black when gravid, but mine stay green and just their patterns get darker. Not yet sure what they do when a male is present and hoping they never realize that Hammlet exists when he matures. :)
 
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