I have a gravid female panther. She's pink and black right now. She mated about two weeks ago. My dilemma is her cage has a potted scheffelera with no room to dig in. I could take that plant out and just put potted soil in a pot 12 by 12. Does it have to have a plant in there? I have a huge 5 gallon container that would be good but I've been advised to have a pot in the cage. What is the best method for me?
Gravid Female Need Advice Quick!
- Thread starter DSTADTL1
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BocaJan
New Member
What size is your cage? 12x12 is pretty large if you don't have room. I use a small plastic garbage can like you would put in a bathroom. My chams lay in it perfectly. You can't remove the plant if it is the only one in her cage. You would be better to wait for the signs of her laying and remove her to a big trash container, one she can't climb out of, and let her lay in there, then put her back in her cage.
Chameleons Northwest
Avid Member
If you do decide to use the trash can method (which is how we do most of our ladies- we wait until either 30 days has past and/or we see the signs of impending egg laying (mostly restlessness))- here is a previous thread. Scroll down til you see the post from Will Hayward, with photos and details about the trash can method.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veiled-chameleon-laying-eggs-6272/
We have tried placing egg laying bins in with our girls, but they fill up with water from the auto mister. Although, before we installed the automisting, our first female cham did do her egg laying in a large bin in her screen cage. Her cage was 24x24x48, so it was pretty huge, with plenty of room. We placed a plastic plant over the front of the egg laying bin so she would have privacy. When she was done egg laying that time, we redecorated her cage, raising her plant and climbing vines to make more use of the cage's height. She was a big veiled female, and she loved it.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veiled-chameleon-laying-eggs-6272/
We have tried placing egg laying bins in with our girls, but they fill up with water from the auto mister. Although, before we installed the automisting, our first female cham did do her egg laying in a large bin in her screen cage. Her cage was 24x24x48, so it was pretty huge, with plenty of room. We placed a plastic plant over the front of the egg laying bin so she would have privacy. When she was done egg laying that time, we redecorated her cage, raising her plant and climbing vines to make more use of the cage's height. She was a big veiled female, and she loved it.
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Some females can lay the eggs quite a bit before the average 30 days....by not having a place for her to dig in the cage you may miss the sometimes subtle signs of it. I always put a container (filled with moist playsand) that when empty is big enough for her to fit into with a couple of inches to spare on all sides including above and below her in the cage. Once she starts digging in this container, she can be moved to a trash can to lay the eggs.
ciafardo 4
New Member
i watch mine till they stop eating then i place them in a large trash can with 14 inches of sand in it also a few branches a basking light i have been doing this method about a year and a half ive had panthers use this as well as veileds and it has worked great i have two cans setup in the event that two gotta dig at once
Chameleons Northwest
Avid Member
I second that. We have one girl that lays her eggs after about 15 days.
