Feeding my gravid female...

[Ashley]

I just bred my female panther the other day and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a feeding schedule for her. We were feeding her about 4 med-larger per day and doing vitamin and calcium powder 1-2x per week. I know that the amount of eggs she will lay is contingent upon her food regimen from the last few weeks or so until she lays the eggs, but I would just like to be 100% positive that she will be ok... I don't want her to lay the max. amount of eggs, how can I ensure that the doesn't happen as far as the amount of food and supplementation.

 

[ChameleonsTree]

I would be dustimng her food with calcium everyday...making eggs takes a lot out of them

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

Not only dusting with calcium everyday, but you should also try to get a few other feeders while she's gravid like, waxworms, phoenix worms and butterworms. Will definately help with egg development and also keeping her healthy and strong. It's not absolutely necessary, but I find it helps.

 

[pohchunyee]

A variety of feeder insect do helps...during eggs developement, chameleon need calcium for the eggs shell, fats, amino acids, vitamins and nutrient (mineral) for the embryo to develope. So, feed her some worms/cricket/other insect (roaches) all have to be gut loaded.

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."I know that the amount of eggs she will lay is contingent upon her food regimen from the last few weeks or so until she lays the eggs"...not exactly...the size of the clutch should have already been determined at the time of mating by the feeding schedule you provided for her previous to the mating...so assuming that she is now gravid, now is not the time to keep her on a "diet"...feed her with a variety of well-fed/gutloaded insects and make sure she gets calcium. Feed her well but not to an extreme so that she can produce good healthy eggs.

BTW, you will likely find that as she approaches the egglaying date, she will be quite thirsty...so make sure she gets enough water.

After she has laid the eggs, water her well and continue to feed her well for a couple of days so that she can recover from her egglaying and then start to cut her back so that she is not starving but not overfed. This should keep her next clutch within good limits.

Do you have a suitable egglaying site in her cage so she can show you when she is ready to lay?

When she is digging, do not let her see you watching her or she may abandon the hole. If she abandons it often enough it can lead to eggbinding.

She may dig more than one hole or dig the same hole for more than one day before laying the eggs.

Good luck!

 

[Ashley]

Wow, thanks everyone! This is great. I am so glad I found this site. I do have a pot with soil for her to lay, should I way for a week or two before I put it in. We bred her early in the week and she has just changed colors today. I can't imagine it would bother her to put it in sooner rather than later.
I can definitely find new bugs for her. We have a show coming up next weekend.
What about the reptivite...should I be giving that to her once a week as usual or up the amount on that as well?

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

Wow, thanks everyone! This is great. I am so glad I found this site. I do have a pot with soil for her to lay, should I way for a week or two before I put it in. We bred her early in the week and she has just changed colors today. I can't imagine it would bother her to put it in sooner rather than later.
I can definitely find new bugs for her. We have a show coming up next weekend.
What about the reptivite...should I be giving that to her once a week as usual or up the amount on that as well?

If she changed to gravid on November 29th, be expecting around December 29th, give or take
I use a half peatmoss/ half play sand mixture inside my laying pot with great results.