We have eggs!

[CaptainMorgantown]

Hey everyone!

It is 5am here, and I just woke up to get some stuff done before class today, and I peeked in on my veiled and it looks like she laid her eggs overnight! She is still sleeping in the hole, but there must be a lot because there are some that are up by her front feet.

Here's my next question: how am I supposed to tell if they are fertile or not? I've read various things online, but I would rather go with what you guys say. I think that we are going to incubate them just in case (since I'm not experienced with this sort of thing).

 

[brandon1]

Hey everyone!

It is 5am here, and I just woke up to get some stuff done before class today, and I peeked in on my veiled and it looks like she laid her eggs overnight! She is still sleeping in the hole, but there must be a lot because there are some that are up by her front feet.

Here's my next question: how am I supposed to tell if they are fertile or not? I've read various things online, but I would rather go with what you guys say. I think that we are going to incubate them just in case (since I'm not experienced with this sort of thing).

1st off, congratulations!!

Secondly, I have never bred chams so I don't know from experience and I haven't researched it, yet, but I would think that you would take ALL the eggs, place them on vermiculite, and then set them in the incubator.

 

[mychamtini112012]

Just set it up like you normally would, and incubate like you believe they are fertile in whatever way you decide. If theyre fertile, you'll have babies in six to nine months! If not, then they'll sink in and mold over in a few weeks.

 

[jannb]

I am very concerned that she is still sleeping in the hole and that eggs are up by her front feet. She might not be finished laying. I hope she's not having any problems. Normally, they lay all the eggs in a cluster in the bottom of the laying bin. How long has she been in the laying bin now?

To incubate the eggs put them in a plastic Tupperware shoe box with about 3 inches of moist vermiculite and keep them in a closet where the temps with be around 76 degrees. I punch two tiny holes in the lid. To test for moisture, take a fist full of the vermiculite and squeeze it, if no more than a drop or two of water comes out then the moisture level should be okay. Do not turn the eggs as you move them from where they were laid to the container. Lay them in rows about an inch apart in all directions in shallow dents made with your thumb in the vermiculite. Put the lid on and place them in a dark place where the temperature is between 72-78 F. Moisture will form on the sides of the container and underside of the lid. It takes about 8 to 9 months for the eggs to hatch. It they are not fertile they will mold over in a couple of weeks.

 

[carol5208]

did she mate with a male? That is the chameleon with the mbd right? Or is this a different one???

 

[CaptainMorgantown]

This is a different cham that was pregnant at the pet store I work at. I offered to take her in since I already had a good bin set up for my chameleon.

And I think she finished laying at some point between 5 and now because she has now covered the hole and is trying to escape now. I am getting everything set up for the eggs as I type.

I couldn't find the vermiculite, but I did find perlite. I read that I can use this? Our store is right next to a flower shop, so I haven't bought it yet.

 

[CaptainMorgantown]

Oh, and she may have mated with a male. Our current males are too young to be able to mate. We thought that the female chams were a lot younger than what they are, but she has been with us longer than any of the others and she is a bit bigger. I honestly don't think that she mated because she has been with other females for a few months now, but I don't want to take any chances. We will be setting up her own cage after the eggs are taken care of now that we have a better idea of her age.

 

[mcleodschams]

perlite is fine. I use vermiculite. which you can buy at the hardware store also. most places with garden centers sell them both

congrats on the eggs good luck!