New Owner, New Member

[Meatball]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a new owner of two veiled chameleons. Well actually, I own the female, and my room mate owns the male. They are about 4 months old and are some of the most amazing creatures I've ever laid my eyes on. They have been living together in the same terrarium since birth and we have not split them up. Despite all the reading I've been doing on this forum and from other sources, my room mate and I have decided to keep them together. The female named Natalie (after Natalie Portman) is really submissive to the male whose name is Dave (named after my room mates saxophone teacher Dave Schiavone.) I'm really thankful that this forum exists, and look forward to being an active member.

 

[carol5208]

please do not keep them together. You are going to cause undo stress to the female when she become sexually mature and does not want to mate. for the well being of your female you NEED to seperate them. She can become gravid (pregnant) from about 5 months on. Are you prepared to deal with her laying eggs and everything that comes with it???

 

[Meatball]

That's a very good point. We are not yet prepared for anything like that, however we do plan on having them mate eventually. We are planning to build them a new terrarium soon. I've also read that it is not UNHEARD of for chameleons of the same species to live in the same habitat. Perhaps building a terrarium large enough for them both to have their own sections of it, with the two sections being separated by a screen of some sort so that they have their own space that one can inhabit without the other?

 

[carol5208]

well they could start mating in the next few months so if that is your time frame for eventually, then that is up to you. Also, if your chameleon becomes gravid on her own (producing an infertile clutch of eggs) she will be totally unreceptive to your male and she will let him know it. Again, just alot of undo stress. There are chameleons that can be kept together like pygmys and I have seen some Jackson and Melleri but a male and female are usually introduce to each other periodically for the sole purpose of breeding. At any rate whether you keep your female seperate or with your male you need a laying bin in the cage from about 5 months on. If you do not provide this and your cham becomes gravid and has no where to lay, she will become eggbound and die. It is not recomended to breed a female until she is about a year old. As far as the screen, I think that would be cruel to the male as he is a MALE and he is going to be looking to breed. It will probably stress her out as well. I would put a divider where they cannot see each other.

 

[K9Luvn]

Welcome to the forum!! I know you must be thrilled with your new little ones.

Carol as given you some great advice As she said.. please separate them. Also since they have been together since birth are they by chance brother and sister?

 

[Meatball]

I can't say for sure whether or not they are brother and sister because we got them at a pet store. The female is younger than male by about a month+. By saying they were together since birth, I was over enthusiastically implying that they've been together since they were months old.

Carol, thanks for the advice. I'm trying to do all I can to take very good care of both them. How soon do I need to provide a place for Natalie to lay her eggs, and how can you tell when she is ready to lay them?

 

[carol5208]

I can't say for sure whether or not they are brother and sister because we got them at a pet store. The female is younger than male by about a month+. By saying they were together since birth, I was over enthusiastically implying that they've been together since they were months old.

Carol, thanks for the advice. I'm trying to do all I can to take very good care of both them. How soon do I need to provide a place for Natalie to lay her eggs, and how can you tell when she is ready to lay them?

I know you are and that is why we are trying to tell you, although it would be nice to house them together, it is not really in the best interest for the chameleons. well, if she is never mated there is a slight chance she may never produce an infertile clutch. It is said by keeping food intake low and not keeping your temps too high that this can help in the prevention of egg production. However, she still may and can start as early as five months. When they become sexually mature they will display yellow or mustard colored spots on their sides. When she is gravid, she will most likely stop eating, get fatter, and start wandering down to the bottom of the cage looking for a place to lay. You will need a container atleast 12in x 12 in deep and fill that with washed play sand(you can buy at home depot). Wet it and Keep is moist enough to hold a tunnel. When they start digging they go way down and you don't want the hole she is digging to start collapsing on her. If the time comes and you are pretty sure she is with eggs, just post some pics and we can help you verify if that is correct. Also, she will most likely not dig in front of you, so you will need to cover the cage or leave the room. If she sees you, she may abort the laying!!! Any other questions please feel free to ask. There are tons of great people on here and we all love chameleons!!!

 

[carol5208]

also it would be very beneficial for you to fill this out
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ Unfortunately more often than not the pet stores sell the wrong lighting, wrong supplements etc. We see it on here everyday. Just want to make sure you have all the right set up to keep your chameleons healthy. Also, I know you said you have a male and a female. Another thing that the pet stores get wrong all the time. The male veild should have a little spike on the back of his back heel. The female will not. That is the best way to determine sex at this age. Their coloring will be different when they mature and you can tell from that also but probably not yet.

 

[Hoj]

welcome, looks like you are getting good help.
to add; if you are interested in breeding them at some point i feel that keeping them apart will create a better instinct to breeed when they r reintroduced at the appropiate time.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello and welcome . I will just add a great link for a Veiled Chameleon caresheet that covers all the basics - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html