Gravid female- how long to lay?

[glitterdusted]

Hello, all. My name is Wren, and my fiance and I own a female veiled called Princess Buttercup. Last week we noticed a behavior change (decreased appetite, color change, etc), took her to the vet, and found she is just chock full of eggs.

We've got her with a laying bin, which she is utterly ignoring. The substrate is moist play sand. She's eating and drinking if we hand feed her, and spending a lot of time at the bottom of her cage next to her bin. We're trying to leave her be and let her do her thing.

But.... it's been about a week. How long should we wait for her to lay, and when should we make the judgment call to get her back to the vet for oxytocin? Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated. We're paranoid new parents.

 

[glitterdusted]

Some additional info now that I've found and read over more posts:

We got an x-ray done on Wednesday (6/17) and her eggs were not neatly lined up.

She's in her normal cage with a laying bin added, and a sheet covering it, since her cage is in our living room behind my desk.

She's been showing gravid colors for at least two weeks.

She is not normally shy. We hand feed her and handle her when we take her out to get natural sunlight.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. They sometimes stop eating right be for they lay. Please post a photo of her. Were the eggs round or oval shape? Can you post the x-ray? That would be very helpful. They normally look oval right before they lay. How deep is the laying bin? It needs to be at least 10 inches deep and 12 is even better. Once she shows interest in the laying bin she will need complete privacy to lay. If she can see you or you distract her she might stop digging and become egg bound. At the first sign of weakness get her back to the vet. If you wait to long the oxytocin want work. How experienced with chameleons is your vet? I have some links with some info about egg laying, the laying bin, female care and general care that I will attach below for you and the very best of luck with your girl.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[glitterdusted]

Here are photos of the princess at her vet trip. I will get the x-ray from the vet tomorrow.

The laying bin is 10 inches deep. We could also make a trashcan-style setup and put her in that. She was in that the past two days but didn't seem to be interested in digging so we moved her back home to wait it out.

Our vet is an exotics vet and has helped us with our snakes, geckos, and frogs before. She and her staff are very knowledgeable and knew our girl was gravid just by looking at her.

Thanks so much for the reply.

 

[jannb]

She is beautiful. A little princess for sure. I'll make sure one of the vet here on the forums take a look at the x-rays if you post them. There is an excellent vet in the LA area that has worked with chameleons for many years. I got to meet him and listen to one of his talks when we were out west in 2009. His name is Dr. Greek. I'll get you his info just I case you need it. If she needs surgery, you are going to need someone really experienced. Believe me I know because I have been through the surgeries.

Tom Greek, DVM
Greek & Associates Veterinary Hospital, 23687 Via Del Rio, Yorba Linda - (714) 463-1190 or (866) 940-7028
www.tomgreek.com

 

[glitterdusted]

Here is the radiograph from our vet visit on 6/17.

Thanks for the links and the vet info! I'd found some of those from browsing and the content has been incredibly helpful. I'll be sure and check the new ones out. This has been a week of learning, for sure.

 

[jannb]

She is full of eggs. Hopefully she will be able to lay them. They are round so that might mean she's not quite ready yet. I have ask a vet that is a member here to check out this thread and the x-ray and I also ask Lynda (kinyonga) to look too. She has been raising veileds for more that 25 year and really knows allot about them.

 

[kinyonga]

The "eggs" look quite round so I would think she's not quite ready to lay them yet. I'm no vet so its just my best "guess".

 

[glitterdusted]

Thank you both for the replies. She's still eating and full of energy, so I guess it's the waiting game now.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Nice x-ray! Yes they do look like they're still in the follicular stage so have a little time yet before ready to lay. But definitely have the laying bin already in her cage.

 

[glitterdusted]

That x-ray really is well-done. I have no idea how they kept her so still.

We've got the laying bin all ready to go in her cage, so I think we're set until she's ready. Thanks so much for the help!

 

[JoXie411]

I know this is old but this thread had helpful knowledge