UGH!!! Gravid???

[Incognito]

So I know I have been gone for well ever! But I think my female is expecting! She's been getting larger in the belly for about two weeks :/ today I noticed it's extra large! She is more protective of her area and very temperamental whereas before she use to let me hold her and didn't mind me in the cage cleaning or filling the cricket cup, she is a jacksons and is housed with a male. They do not fight and have been housed together since her birth via the breeder. Anyway... Are these signs!? What do I need to look for?! She gives live birth but do I need a nesting area set up? How long is gestation?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

she is a jacksons and is housed with a male. They do not fight and have been housed together since her birth via the breeder.

...really hope that doesn't mean they are brother and sister...

 

[melrito]

You don't need to have a nesting area for her, but if you're sure she's gravid, you'll want to remove the male from the enclosure so she doesn't have the added stress of having to deal with him. Gestation is typically 9 months for the first clutch and then every 3 months or so thereafter, provided she has either retained sperm or the male is reintroduced about 3 weeks after she gives birth. Jackson's chameleons look quite robust and fat for a long time before they give birth (several months at least) and closer to the delivery they will look like a bag of marbles with the yolk sacs/babies readily visible through her sides. When the babies are born, be sure to get them out of their mother's enclosure. You can check my other posts about the care of Jackson chameleon babies.

Congratulations!

 

[Incognito]

No they are not brother and sister, he is 2 months older from another breeding pair.
9 months!!! Oh my!! She is soo fat already! I am assuming her cricket intake may increase? Well , seems like we have a long long road ahead of us >.<

 

[melrito]

They tend to eat quite well until a few days or weeks before they give birth. You'll also notice she'll start basking a lot more until a day or two before she gives birth, when she'll probably start roaming the enclosure quite a bit.

 

[Incognito]

Ok! Thanks do much guys!! I will pop in as questions arise

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

You should not house a male and female together. Or male-male, female-female usually. It doesn't matter whether or not they don't fight NOW, they will eventually and one will get severely injured. Unless your cage is the size of an entire room, even then it's still a bad idea.