laying eggs....

[dindy]

this is the setup i made for my female veiled.....she has already started digging a hole....tell me what you think...its about a foot deep.

sideways sorry

i just dampened washed play sand and it seems to be working alright for her...ill keep you posted with how many she lays when it happens!!!

 

[Dankmeleon]

i'm no expert but from what i've heard you may want to compact that soil down just a touch so that it will hold a tunnel

 

[kinyonga]

How deep is the sand? Is it moist enough to hold a tunnel?

Don't let the female see you watching her while she is digging. She will likely abandon the hole. If it happens often enough then she might become eggbound. A chameleon may dig several test holes before deciding on one.

She may dig the same hole for more than a day. When she turns around bum down and stays like that she is laying the eggs.

Let her fill the hole in and go back up to the branches before you dig them up.

I dig up infertile ones too. I want to make sure that the female has laid them and to see how many were laid.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Yea. It needs to be pretty wet (not muddy) ... enough so that you could make a sand castle with it.
Also don't watch her, she may abandon the hole if she doesn't feel like she's found a safe place.
I wrapped the cage in brown paper so mine couldn't see what was happening in the room and felt some privacy.
You'll be surprised ... her tunnel will be 12 to 15 inches long and it will take her many hours to dig it and many hours to re-fill and re-pack it after laying.
I would guess 16 to 24 hours from the time she starts digging.

-Brad

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

Agreed...needs to be much moister...also you may want to mix play sand with it. It makes it much easier for tunnel digging...well at least that is what my chameleons tell me

-chris

 

[dindy]

thanks guys it actually is play sand!!!(washed and sifted)....well its about 12 inches deep and like 15 inches long...she has started digging deep and to the side.....i have put up somehting to block her but she seems good shes taking breaks and going back and forth....it is moist enough to hold a tunnel.... i tested it...should i feed her cause i dont think she will eat and i dont wanna leave cricks in there if shes nto gonna eat them?......and should i mkist the sad to keep it moist?

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

No don't feed her...she shouldn't eat.

-chris

 

[kinyonga]

You can feed her and water her while she is up in the branches...but don't leave any uneaten insects in there that might nibble on her or the eggs. You can mist the cage and run a dripper too. Just don't disturb her any more than necessary...you want her to have peace to get through the egglaying.

 

[dindy]

ok thanks alot