Ready to lay eggs and I'm freaking out.

[mercy3400]

I will be the first to admit I purchased my chameleons on impulse at a reptile show a few months ago without knowing anything about them. I really wish the cham brokers who sold them to me were not so greedy and had explained how much care is involved. Luckily this sight has helped me out a lot. I didn't even know that females could lay eggs without a mate and the "care sheet" the broker gave me said nothing about it.
I have 2 female veiled chams. I think they both may be ready to lay eggs. We have them in a very large cage and I have put 2 large black plant pots filled with sand hoping they will lay eggs. I have read many blogs about females laying eggs but I am still freaked out. One began digging this morning but has now stopped and is just pacing around the cage. The other just continues to pace also neither has eaten much in the last few days but are still drinking. How do I know when they will lay and after the lay will their abdomens be notciably smaller? I wish there was more I could do. I feel so helpless.

 

[AReptile]

They need privacy or they will stop laying if they notice you watching them dig. I don't know anything else about gravid behavior though

 

[mercy3400]

One's digging

ok, so one has started digging just in the few mins since I posted. She is not digging in one of the pots I set aside for her but in the pot of the Umbrella plant that is in the cage. Should I be concerned?

 

[BocaJan]

They can dig in the plant if they want. They will find a place suitable. Are they both in the same cage? That could hamper the process if they are stressed by a second cham in their territory.

 

[kinyonga]

I agree with separating them.

When they are digging don't let them see you watching them...it will make them stop digging. If it happens often enough they could become eggbound.

This is how it should go...
the female might dig more than one hole in the beginning but she should settle on one hole and dig it until she is satisfied with it. It may take more than a day and she may take a break in between. When satisfied, she will turn around bum down and lay the eggs...likely in the evening. She should then fill the hole in and tamp it down and return to the branches. At this point you can dig the eggs up to see how many have been laid and make sure that you feed and water her well for a couple of days to build her up again. After that couple of days, you can cut her back on the number of insects you feed her so her next clutch won't be big.

 

[chameleon master0091]

I agree with separating them.

When they are digging don't let them see you watching them...it will make them stop digging. If it happens often enough they could become eggbound.

This is how it should go...
the female might dig more than one hole in the beginning but she should settle on one hole and dig it until she is satisfied with it. It may take more than a day and she may take a break in between. When satisfied, she will turn around bum down and lay the eggs...likely in the evening. She should then fill the hole in and tamp it down and return to the branches. At this point you can dig the eggs up to see how many have been laid and make sure that you feed and water her well for a couple of days to build her up again. After that couple of days, you can cut her back on the number of insects you feed her so her next clutch won't be big.

yeah i agree

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Chameleon master do you have any exp w chameleons? Please refrain from posting without any knowledge of the subject matter. sorry to thread jack.

now as far as your famales go. If they dig and wont lay another posssible problem could be the depth of the laying bin. My females would not lay until i put a small kitchen trash can in the emclosure. Both my females dug to the bottom of th can to lay. Just a heads up if they arent happy with the bin. Good luck

 

[Kevy Baby]

What kind of depth do the Chams prefer for laying? I know for our Beardies, I have about 14" of dirt for them to dig in (and they go all the way to the bottom).

Do they prefer a hard-pack dirt or softer sand?

 

[Elizadolots]

Soft moist sand or dirt...it should be able to hold a tunnel. Test that by trying to make a tunnel with your finger and have it stay open.

From what I've read, the bin should be about as deep as the chameleon is long (it can be a bit shorter than that and I know there's a formula, but I don't remember what it is). It needs to be big enough that the chameleon can comfortably move around on it....but it doesn't have to be as big as the cage bottom. I think I've read that for veileds they should be at least the size of a piece of typing paper (8 1/2 x 11). Someone else with more experience may correct that, if so, listen to them, not me.

I've been where you are. My experience wasn't good.

I hope you and your chameleons have a better experience.