Pregnant Panther questions

[Basilisk09]

Hey guys,
So I've been asking a ton of questions about my female panther Abby who is pregnant right now because the internet and books fail at informing me about laying eggs. She seems regularly sized right now, and I believe she mated 4-5 weeks ago. She has been digging in the bin of dirt at the bottom of her cage (FINALLY) more recently and has made a tunnel next to her tree. She dug it out yesterday, and I found her digging deeper again today. It is not buried or collapsed yet, and she comes back occasionally.
So 2 questions:
1: will she be laying in that tunnel really soon?
2: How skinny will she be after laying? Nobody has really explained to me how thin she will get after laying a bunch of eggs :/
Thanks!

 

[Lizardlover]

First of all, egg-laying reptiles are called gravid, not pregnant, second of all, they will often dig many test-holes before actually laying, its important for you to give her LOTS of private time, because if she catches you watching her she will abandon her hole. They are visibly skinnier after laying, and are covered in dirt, I can assure you that when she's done laying you will be able to tell .

 

[Basilisk09]

Sorry, gravid. Holding babies inside them. Shes dug a couple holes just straight down, but shes been back and forth to this tunnel. My friend suggested placing her in the tub and covering it over night. Recommended or frowned upon?

 

[Lizardlover]

Some people do that, and leave a light on them 24/7 until the hole is dug. But not all chameleons will dig in that type of situation.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I recommend leaving her alone. Do not move her since she is already digging. Do not let her see you seeing her.

 

[Basilisk09]

Oh and my big reason for so many questions is I'm worried shes gunna lay eggs and I won't notice. My friend told me that you must remove the eggs and put em in vermiculite within 2 days, and that can be pushing it. Same case, I'm worried cause she hasn't eaten for a week since she is close to laying, and I don't want to starve her after she lays her eggs. I would be digging in the dirt myself every other day if it wouldn't ruin anything, but I know it would stress her out and can push her away from digging there :/

 

[Basilisk09]

Can I look at her when she is in her tree and mist her so she gets hydrated? She goes up the tree and down to dig, up the tree and down to dig. Also, when shes done laying, will she bury the hole/tunnel? Would that be a dead giveaway she laid eggs?

 

[kinyonga]

When she is in her tree you can feed and water her....but don't leave anu uneaten crickets, etc. in the cage....they may bite her or chew on the eggs when she lays them.

Here's how it should go....the female may dig several tunnels but should settle on one and dig it until she is happy with it. She will then turn around butt down in the tunnel (usually in the evening) and lay her eggs, fill the hole in, tamp it down and return to the branches....hungry and thirsty and likely exhausted.

If she stops digging (for more than a day) and starts to become lethargic, etc. then she may be getting eggbound and will need to see a vet right away.

 

[Basilisk09]

So i just got back to my room tonight and there is a plethora of dirt mounds in her tub. She was black and sitting on her branch very flat. I think she laid them . Ill check tomorrow and update, maybe with pics