New member here!

B

barracuda

New Member
Hi everyone!

I'm brand spankin' new to the forums (long time reptile owner), and just yesterday, I acquired a year old (?) female veiled. The previous owners are leaving for a month to go on holidays, and wanted to be rid of her before then. She's been laying eggs CONSTANTLY since mid-august. She looks a little dehydrated (her eyes are a little sunken, not too bad), but otherwise fine, as far as I can tell.
I had a veiled for about a year last year. She was egg-bound, and died. She was my first female. Sometimes, the perfect conditions just aren't good enough.
This new one is climbing and falling all over, and STILL laying eggs. I cleaned out her enclosure last night, and took out no less than 30.

She doesn't seem to be that interested in eating anything right now. I'll give her a little more time to adjust in peace and quiet, then worry if she doesn't eat anything. I added 2 large live plants, and she explored them right away. She didn't have much for appropriate enrichment when I got her.

My question is, how long will this egg-laying continue? There are no vets in my area that deal with reptiles.
 
she shouldnt be laying so much make sure the temps are in low 80s and cut down food once she ghas recovered from egglsying. did she just drop the eggs on the floor or did she dig a hole and are they fertile the lower temps should stop her laying eggs
 
barracuda said:
Hi everyone!

I'm brand spankin' new to the forums (long time reptile owner), and just yesterday, I acquired a year old (?) female veiled. The previous owners are leaving for a month to go on holidays, and wanted to be rid of her before then. She's been laying eggs CONSTANTLY since mid-august. She looks a little dehydrated (her eyes are a little sunken, not too bad), but otherwise fine, as far as I can tell.
I had a veiled for about a year last year. She was egg-bound, and died. She was my first female. Sometimes, the perfect conditions just aren't good enough.
This new one is climbing and falling all over, and STILL laying eggs. I cleaned out her enclosure last night, and took out no less than 30.

She doesn't seem to be that interested in eating anything right now. I'll give her a little more time to adjust in peace and quiet, then worry if she doesn't eat anything. I added 2 large live plants, and she explored them right away. She didn't have much for appropriate enrichment when I got her.

My question is, how long will this egg-laying continue? There are no vets in my area that deal with reptiles.
Click to expand...

hello and welcome!! this forum is tooo awesome...everyone here is super friendly and always willing to help...

IMO i think the egg laying should be up to 30 days...

-Daniella
 
They're not fertile, and she's dropping them everywhere!

Her "laybox" was half a Nutrigrain box, with maybe a cupful of dirt. It looked like dirt from the street, I hope it wasn't. I introduced a 5 inch deep box of clean sand, she has no idea what it is, and has no interest in going near it. She's laid 2 eggs on the floor of the enclosure since this morning.
 
welcome to the forum. good luck with them female problems. glad mine arent old enough for that yet
 
They normally dig in the laying box to lay a clutch. Make sure that the sand is damp enough to hold a tunnel, then cover the cage and leave her in peace so she can get on with it.
 
I'm in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

She seems to be doing well. I got her to eat a couple of superworms, and 2 crickets. I think she was just nervous. She's been drinking steadily since she ate, which she hasn't done since she got here.

She's still unconvinced that the laybox is for laying......lol

I don't know how long she lived with the previous owners, but I do know they got her from somebody else who thought she was a male.

Her legs and feet look good, she seems friendly enough, just not to bright.

Hopefully she'll be adjusted in a week or so. Nobody is bothering her, she has a nice quiet area all to herself, and she has some actual enrichment in her enclosure!
 
Cool! I'll be sure to check it out!

She is actually my second female, and I had a male a long time ago, and he was wonderful :)
 
Although the odd time a female will lay the eggs all over the place and be okay, usually its a sign of problems.

You said..."She's been laying eggs CONSTANTLY since mid-august. She looks a little dehydrated (her eyes are a little sunken, not too bad), but otherwise fine, as far as I can tell"...and you said she's is climbing and falling all over... this in addition to the eyes being sunken in make me think that she is in trouble. If you dig her a hole and she doesn't lay the rest of the eggs and fill it in then I would get her to the vets RIGHT AWAY.

The container should be opaque and should be at least large enough for her to fit into when its empty with a couple of inches to spare on all sides of her including above and below. (So...10" deep, 12" long and 6" wide at least). I fill it about 3/4 full of washed play sand that is moist enough to hold a tunnel. You could try digging a hole in it and putting her nose into the hole...she might get the idea if she's not too weak.

What this chameleon is doing (laying eggs constantly all over the place) is not really normal behavior. The female normally will dig several test holes and then settle on one and dig it until she is satisfied with it. She should turn around bum down and lay her eggs, fill the hole in and tamp it down and return to the branches.

While she is digging, you should not let her see you watching her...this can lead to her abandoning the hole and if it happens often enough she can become eggbound.

I'm not a vet so anything I say is just from experience (20+ years), what I've read and what I've been told along the way.

Sorry that this email is a little jumbled...but I don't want to waste time fixing it!

Good luck with her!
 
Hi everyone!
Thanks for all the input. The laybox I gave her is nice and big, I put her in there, and she wants nothing to do with it. She's only laid one egg so far today, and is no longer climbing and falling.

She's drinking more, and seems to be settling in. She's showing no interest in food, so I left a message with the previous owner asking to give me detailed instructions on her own feeding method. I figure if I feed her in the same manner (tongs, feed outside the enclosure, whatever) for the first little while, she may be more receptive to it.

I've only had her 2 days now, so hopefully I can get all the info I need from her old family soon.
 
Yeah, I thought the egg laying seemed a bit excessive. Now that I've adjusted her temps, and she's in a completely new environment, hopefully it'll stop soon.
 
Hi again!

I just wanted to give you an update regarding Moo.

She's eating much more now, has completely stopped laying eggs, drinks a LOT, her eyes are looking MUCH better, and she comes to the door to say "hi" when I see her.

I think maybe she was just stressed from the move.
 
If she shows any signs of going down hill (lethargy, not eating, eyes sinking in, etc.) get her to the vets quickly.

Good luck!
 
I'd like to have her looked at regardless, seeing how she's been laying for so long, and I have little to no history on her. However, I don't live anywhere near a vet who deals with reptiles. The nearest one is about 500 kms away from here.
 
barracuda said:
I'd like to have her looked at regardless, seeing how she's been laying for so long, and I have little to no history on her. However, I don't live anywhere near a vet who deals with reptiles. The nearest one is about 500 kms away from here.
Click to expand...

Where do you live? Maybe someone on here will know of a vet.
 
I've called all 4 vet offices here, and it's a no-go. I'm in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

I'm also 500 kms from a Gap, Costco, decent movie theater, everything. LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

pistachio2025
New Veiled Chameleon mom..
Replies
5
Views
998
Andrew1283
Andrew1283
K
Abandoned chameleon
Replies
7
Views
2K
kinyonga
K
L
Age!!
Replies
4
Views
304
MissSkittles
MissSkittles
P
Tunnel collapse
Replies
12
Views
3K
kinyonga
K
srod2591
New chameleon mom here
Replies
5
Views
2K
srod2591
srod2591
Back
Top Bottom