licking the sand

[pamsywamsy1234]

So sorry but its me again, i sprayed my viv for my cham i have sand on the bottom and i have done it thick on 1 side of viv as i think she gunna lay eggs and i sprayed the sand and she started to eat it can any 1 tell me why plz am i doin owt wrong, so sorry to be a pain lol but if i dont ask il never know many thanks

 

[beeze]

Get the sand out of the bottom of your cage and get a laying bin in. You cham can become inpacted from eating sand and can become egg bound if she don't not have a proper laying bin.

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

thanks but when i take sand out what should i put in bottom of viv

 

[BMXICAN]

thanks but when i take sand out what should i put in bottom of viv

Try a tupperware that fits the entire bottom of the cage (something like 16x16x12) then set whatever plant is in your cage on top of it. That way "the floor" turns into a laying bin.

Also, you don't want 100% sand for egg laying. Try to use 40% sand and 60% organic soil. If your worried about pesticides and stuff, you can bake the sand and dirt in your oven for a few hours (although it won't smell appetizing).

Then just moisten it enough so it dosen't fall apart when you pack it (i.e. like if your cham builds a tunnel, you don't want it to collapse on her). I saw a few threads with really good pictures floating around. Try using the advanced search function above and search just under Chameleon Breeding forum. Hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[Miss Lily]

Lily had a soil/sand mix to lay in. She didn't dig a tunnel as such - she dug more from the middle down towards the corner of the box and laid her eggs right at the bottom in the back corner!

 

[jannb]

thanks but when i take sand out what should i put in bottom of viv

It's best to have nothing in the bottom of the cage....much eaiser to clean and more healthy for you cham. You need a container about 15 inches high mixed with moist sand and potting soil for a laying bin.

 

[sandrachameleon]

my laying containers contain almost 100% sand
when the girls are not laying, these containers are removed and I use paper towel on the floors

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

Is there a reason for not using sand plz

 

[Drone]

Get the sand out of the bottom of your cage and get a laying bin in. You cham can become inpacted from eating sand and can become egg bound if she don't not have a proper laying bin.

Well this is a good reason imo

 

[sandrachameleon]

Is there a reason for not using sand plz

Do you mean as a substrate or as a laying medium?

Any substrate at all is considered a less than good idea for most chameleons.

There is no reason not to use damp sand as a laying medium. Some prefer to use a sand/organic soil mix. I have done this myself on many occasions. Really the important thing is just to have something she can dig a tunnel into, turn around and lay eggs in - without said tunnel collapsing on her in the process. They like to go deep and usually on an angle , so laying bin should be no less than 12" height and no less than 12" wide either.
and dont bug her when shy is laying

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

lol ok drone so im a bit thick no need to shout at me lol im realy tryin my best

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

well i must be doin summut right as she is eating ok and seems happy lol

 

[Drone]

no shouting intended

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

lol drone thats ok it just seems i cant do right for doin wrong and i took it out on u im sorry.

 

[BocaJan]

Also, you don't want 100% sand for egg laying. Try to use 40% sand and 60% organic soil. If your worried about pesticides and stuff, you can bake the sand and dirt in your oven for a few hours (although it won't smell appetizing).

Then just moisten it enough so it dosen't fall apart when you pack it (i.e. like if your cham builds a tunnel, you don't want it to collapse on her). I saw a few threads with really good pictures floating around. Try using the advanced search function above and search just under Chameleon Breeding forum. Hope this helps. Best of luck!

I use 100% sand and am quite happy with it. When I was using sand/dirt mix the dirt was staining my chams foot pads and skin. She was awful looking until her first shed which was very hard and thick. The sand is much better and I will never use the dirt mix again. I guess each person is different.

The downside of keeping a sand laying container in the cage is both my ladies like to eat it. I don't know if it is because it is damp or they are just wacky, but the laying containers only go in if they are gravid and ready to lay. Otherwise I just use paper towels on the bottom to absorb mist water and to make it easy to clean up poop.

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

thanks bocajan my cham was eating it so im gunna take out sand and use paper towels well i will when she laid eggs im scared if i disturb her now it will stress her out and get egg bound.

 

[BocaJan]

How far along is she?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sorry if we upset you! not intentional from my end.
Im pretty sure you are not whatsoever alone in feeling like this:

... it just seems i cant do right for doin wrong ....

 

[pamsywamsy1234]

How far along is she?

i dont know lol she was diggn in the sand yesterday and i asked on ere and some1 told me she was prob ready for laying eggs

 

[summoner12]

I used peat moss and sand... mostly peat moss.

Was this before or after? (after) They are good at covering their tracks...

All cleaned up... she was 102g before she laid.

I know a bit off topic..... sorry.