Egg digging

[NewOwner]

Just wondering about how to dig for the eggs in a chameleons bucket when they are fertile, I DO NOT HAVE A GRAVID CHAMELEON , just wondering, for if i ever do decide to breed, what are some tips to digging the eggs up, so you dont turn the eggs and break the embryo..?

Last time i used my hands and kept diggin, but once i got to them i moved them. These were not fertile eggs,

Thanks everyone in advance

-Levi

 

[sandrachameleon]

I dig with my fingers. I go slowly. When I get to eggs, I go even more slowly Im sure I've not managed to keep all the eggs in the same position when moving from laying box to my hatching containers. Hasnt seemed to make much difference. Just do the best you can.

 

[NewOwner]

I dig with my fingers. I go slowly. When I get to eggs, I go even more slowly Im sure I've not managed to keep all the eggs in the same position when moving from laying box to my hatching containers. Hasnt seemed to make much difference. Just do the best you can.

Thanks! It must take a while when my girl dug down 18 inches almost!!

Whats the average / estimated time for you to dig up eggs in your opinion?

 

[kinyonga]

I use a plastic spoon and scoop the sand off a little at a time and then lift each egg out with the spoon. Its flexible enough that it doesn't damage the eggs as you scrape gently over them and its thin enough to get in between the eggs to pick them up.

 

[summoner12]

I try to keep an eye on the female to see how far she has dug. I don't let her see me. Once I see where she is laying I make a mark to let me know how far down she went... i scoop out dirt till about the area I think the eggs are in and then with small scoops sorta like Linda and sandra said, i remove sand and dirt slowly.

You need to be gentle.

 

[sandrachameleon]

It may be worth noting that I typically have long fingernails, so my fingers have built-in shovels
My girls always go all the way to the bottom, and almost always to the back corner, so I always have 17" or so to dig and it takes awhile - maybe half an hour? Ive never timed it, since it doesnt matter to me how long it takes as irregardless it must be done.

 

[NewOwner]

It may be worth noting that I typically have long fingernails, so my fingers have built-in shovels
My girls always go all the way to the bottom, and almost always to the back corner, so I always have 17" or so to dig and it takes awhile - maybe half an hour? Ive never timed it, since it doesnt matter to me how long it takes as irregardless it must be done.

Hahaha..

I should grow my nails out..? kiddin.

Thanks for the advice, and i found that my cham likes to dig straight to the bottom, towards the roots of the plant i potted in the playsand and coconut husk.

Thanks everyone.

 

[boothy]

i use a see through bin for my lay bins so i know where the eggs are , and then i dig around them and take pretty much 3/4 of the dirt or sand out with my hands and then i start to brush away the sand or dirt with a paint brush i just use a 2 1/2 inch brush and it works fine and i just slowly start to brush the sand off and dont worry if you roll an egg or two the embryo doesnt attach to the top of the egg until 24hrs have passed and then your ready for the incubator