BrendenBilodeau
Member
Should my laying bin for my chameleon be temperature controlled so that it will be warm for her in the dark? Right now the temp in her bin is about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Laying bin temperature control?
- Thread starter BrendenBilodeau
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BrendenBilodeau
Member
I have a veiled, the room the cage is in is about 70-75 all the time. I live in Michigan so it's quite cold right now but her cage is plenty warm. I just figured the laying bin (being underneath the cage, dark and somewhat moist) would be kind of cold. Also she hasn't layed her eggs yet and I'm worried the temps might not be right for her.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
I doubt that you need to heat the laying bin but hopefully some one from a cold climate will chime in. Do you have a recent picture of her that you can post? How big is your laying bin? You might want to try the trash can method. Here's a few blogs that might help you out.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/entry/egg-laying-and-the-laying-bin.345/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video.77225/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html
BrendenBilodeau
Member
The thing is, I can't do the trashcan method with the way I have her cage set up and where it is in my house. I put an aquarium under her cage with a large square hole cut through the floor of the cage that gives her access to the aquarium. the aquarium is filled to about 12" deep and the dimensions of the aquarium are 14"(depth)x10"(width)x36"(length). She should have plenty of space inside it to burrow and lay her eggs. the substrate is 50/50 play sand and organic soil mix. I moistened it so she can burrow without it collapsing. I have a pothos plant in the aquarium so she can lay next to the roots if she wants. here is a pic
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Female veileds can be very picky about where they lay and she just might not like that. If she were mine and I thought it was time for her to lay then I'd try something different. They can become egg bound and die. Have you took her to a vet? Has she had an x-ray? The vet can give oxytocin if it's not past time frame for them to lay. Is she still eating and drinking? Does she seem to be any weaker than normal?
BrendenBilodeau
Member
I haven't taken her to a vet yet, she doesn't seem any different other than her coloring and a bit bigger of a belly (you can see small clutch lumps in her and she is a bit fatter). Everything about her seems normal though. she will always eat just like she did before she started showing her gravid coloring and she is clearly healthy and strong, she roams her cage most of the day trying to find a way out it seems like. I put her on an every other day feeding schedule of crickets/butter worms/horn worms (only a couple in the morning) and some kale greens so she has a source of water and more calcium/vitamins. Whenever I open her cage door she will crawl out on to the top of the cage and explores a little bit. I don't let her get too far before I put her back though. She goes into the aquarium sometimes and stays in there for about 5-10 minutes and then comes back out with dirt on her. I have seen some test holes she made but im not sure if they are actual test holes or if she is just digging around trying to find a way out. She doesn't act like she needs to lay at all other than roaming around the bottom sometimes.
BrendenBilodeau
Member
Here is a current picture of her. What do you think?
Seiryu
Established Member
I'm from Michigan and never warm my buckets. You want the soil to be moist to dig a tunnel, but not too wet where if you squeeze a handful water comes out.
I just use a 3-5gallon bucket. I can agree, she may not want to go through the hole to get to the bucket.
As for the trash can method. It's more of a separate thing outside of her enclosure. You use a trash can, fill it 15" or so, put a branch for her to rest on in there and cover it if needed.
I just use a 3-5gallon bucket. I can agree, she may not want to go through the hole to get to the bucket.
As for the trash can method. It's more of a separate thing outside of her enclosure. You use a trash can, fill it 15" or so, put a branch for her to rest on in there and cover it if needed.
BrendenBilodeau
Member
What do you think about my chamy? Does she look like she needs to lay yet? I know her coloring says she has eggs developing but I don't want it to get too late and have to take her to the vet to try and medically force her eggs out. Her behavior tells me she is fine with the way things are right now and isn't determined to lay her eggs. the aquarium is more than 5 gallons so plenty of soil for her to lay and definitely dark and private.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
She is beautiful! She does look like she might have eggs. Her casque it pretty thin so she's not just overweight. I would just be prepared at all times. In one of the blogs I gave you there's a link to pictures of my trash can laying bin. My little girls are often so busy they don't settle down long enough to lay so I put them in the can for a few hours with no way out and if it's time they get to work.
Seiryu
Established Member
Color isn't necessarily a tell either. Some girls may not show gravid coloration at all times.
It's best to have a lay bin available at all times. Worst case. Try the garbage can thing and leave her in for most of the day. If you don't notice her going down and checking it out out her back in the enclosure.
My girls will usually start scouting the lower parts of their enclosures before laying but that doesn't always happen.
She does look full of eggs though and a little thin in terms of casque. If she isn't ready now she should be soon
It's best to have a lay bin available at all times. Worst case. Try the garbage can thing and leave her in for most of the day. If you don't notice her going down and checking it out out her back in the enclosure.
My girls will usually start scouting the lower parts of their enclosures before laying but that doesn't always happen.
She does look full of eggs though and a little thin in terms of casque. If she isn't ready now she should be soon
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