help plz

[laura2020]

hi guys need some advice

my friend has a gravid female panther he believes?

she is showing black bands across her body and her belly seems to have dropped quite low in between her hind legs, he has been keeping her hydrated and she has now dropped off eating her food i have been to see her and had a feel of her belly but to my thinking or feeling i can feel a like little marble as such but only seems to be one? she has been spending alot of time wanding round the viv so im told and stopping on the bottom the last couple of hours, he has a large lay box in for her with damp sand but she just doesnt seem to be intrested in going in it she just claws at the glass like she wants to get out

any advice please???

thanks

 

[RachelRiot]

I know I was told that the box needed to be pretty deep. Like a bathroom type trash can. Maybe dig a starter hole and put her directly into the bin.

I do know that they want total privacy when they are laying. If you are making a bunch of commotion or looking in her enclosure over and over she will probably not lay.

Good luck. I know some more educated owners will chime in here soon!

 

[laura2020]

hi

well thanks for that info i will deff pass it on

i think he has in at the min a type of washing up bowl if you get me full with damp sand so id say its approx 6" inches deep ish

thanks

 

[BocaJan]

That isn't deep enough. You need something about 12" deep and wide enough for her to turn around in. Also, I cover her cage with a towel to give her privacy. Don't peek. You should hear her scratching around when she is ready, but make sure she has a branch or something to take her down into it. If your friend doesn't have something large that will fit into the enclosure then take a 5 gallon bucket or kitchen trash can and put the damp sand in it. Then, put the female into it (she shouldn't be able to climb out).

 

[laura2020]

hi

great thanks for the advice i just phoned him and he is on his was out to wilko as we speak lol i have told him to ensure she has her privacy also

many thanks hope it works

 

[laura2020]

oh

oh just to check is it ok that its just damp sand or is he better to put anything else in with it?
obviously make sure it wont cave back in on her while she is digging

thanks so much guys

 

[nick barta]

dirty question

Some kepers mix 50% damp sand with 50% sterile soil bought at a garden shop. Either will do.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Some kepers mix 50% damp sand with 50% sterile soil bought at a garden shop. Either will do.

'

That is what I do

 

[laura2020]

hi

thanks so much for all the tips, he has now placed in a large very deep plant pot filled with the sand its approx 7.5 inches deep also a branch for her to climb onto,the lower half of the viv has been covered for privacy so now to leave it up to her.

He did mention that she did eat one locust last night but lost intrest after that one, from only seeing her the other day to last night i can actually see little bumps appearing on her lower belly when she moves, could it be possible if she hasnt started digging that the eggs could still be forming as she is not really that big or do most panthers hide the bulge of eggs well?

thanks to all who replyed very much apreciated

 

[BocaJan]

That isn't deep enough and a plant pot isn't big enough. You need something like the size of an oval Rubbermaid trash can filled with sand. If it isn't deep enough or big enough she won't lay.

 

[laura2020]

hi

no worries i finish early from work today so i said ill go out and get him a trash can

the one im thinking of should be filled about 8 inches worth of sand with another 6-7 inches spare at the top will this be big enough?

also does he just pop the branch inside for her to climb in/out the hole?

thank you so much

 

[laura2020]

hey

good news guys took your advice on trash can and she has been digging this afternoon, we had a peek round the corner when we heard her stop digging and she was out the hole but she didnt fill it in were going to leave her to her privacy now in the hope that she might return to finish the job?

thanks

 

[chameleonneeds]

Congrats, was she mated recently?
Good thing you came to this forum for the knowledge of the experienced cham keepers, anylonger with out a laying box and she probably would of died from being eggbound.

Good luck for the rest of things

 

[laura2020]

hi

great news she has laid and left the box now totally covered.

the eggs are going to be removed today we have a home made incubator a polly box with ait holes in, heat mat at the bottom and a termostat to control the temp, few questions please

do the tubs with the eggs in get laid directly onto the heat mat or raised half way?
also they are being placed in to vermiculite is this satifactory? also how do you keep them moist?€

thank you

 

[Julirs]

The vermiculite should be moistened before the eggs are set in. Add enough water and mix so that if you squeeze a handful of vermiulite that barely a drop of water comes out. I would not place the boxes of eggs directly on the heat mat as you could have too quick a temperature extreme but I am able to incubate at room temp year round here so maybe some cold weather people will add in.

 

[laura2020]

hi

thanks for the advice i am happy to say her first clutch was 27 and there beautiful and white whoooo

 

[blackbetty]

If humans incubate, how do chameleons produce int he wild? I know that might sound silly, but we are providing perfect arrangement for hatchings..yet they don;t get that in the wild so how come, if you provide adequate environment in the cage, are they not able to be left in there? Also, how do you know when a female is ready to mate?

 

[RachelRiot]

If humans incubate, how do chameleons produce int he wild? I know that might sound silly, but we are providing perfect arrangement for hatchings..yet they don;t get that in the wild so how come, if you provide adequate environment in the cage, are they not able to be left in there? Also, how do you know when a female is ready to mate?

I know they will eat the babies or some of them will if you leave them in. Where they live is pretty warm (like here in Florida) so they would be naturally incubated.

 

[dodolah]

If humans incubate, how do chameleons produce int he wild? I know that might sound silly, but we are providing perfect arrangement for hatchings..yet they don;t get that in the wild so how come, if you provide adequate environment in the cage, are they not able to be left in there? Also, how do you know when a female is ready to mate?

in their local environment, the success hatch rate will be less than the one incubated in captivity.
We incubate to make it easier for us to control the exact temp and humidity.
Female will show some receptive coloration when they are ready to mate.

 

[laura2020]

hi

hi guys

well eggs have been incubated now, checked them today they all apear to be white although there appears on some little spots like a tiny yellow/gold dot would this mean anything?

thanks