Why is my female veiled chameleon digging holes in the dirt

[Kamillion]

She is about 6-7 months. I left her without food for about a day and half and when I came home I noticed she had digged a hole in the corner. At first I thought it was cause she was hungry, but I fed her that night and the next morning I noticed she had re-dug the hole again. Is it egg time???

 

[Sleaper88]

Sounds like it to me

 

[laurie]

Yes I think you are looking at eggs. Do you have everything set up for her? Let me know if you née help.

 

[jannb]

It sounds like it might be egg time. I have a blog and a video for you linked below on the laying bin and egg laying.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/

 

[Kamillion]

Yes I think you are looking at eggs. Do you have everything set up for her? Let me know if you née help.

I wasn't aware I had to set anything up for her. I would watch the video in the link above, but I am using my cell phone and can't watch videos at this time. Any info is much appreciated.

 

[laurie]

You need a laying bin. It should be at least 10" deep and large enough she can turn around in it easily. I would use 1/2 sand & 1/2 potting soil. Made sure is is not wet but is damp enough to dig a tunnel without it collapsing on her.

Now can you put the laying bin in her cage? if not we will need to work with other options. Just let me know.

 

[Kamillion]

You need a laying bin. It should be at least 10" deep and large enough she can turn around in it easily. I would use 1/2 sand & 1/2 potting soil. Made sure is is not wet but is damp enough to dig a tunnel without it collapsing on her.

Now can you put the laying bin in her cage? if not we will need to work with other options. Just let me know.

Her cage is only 18x12 so Im pretty sure I would have to set it up outside of her cage..

 

[carol5208]

that cage sounds really small. Do you plan on getting something larger for her as she matures?

 

[Elizadolots]

Jann provided a link to her blog on setting up a separate laying bin. Here it is again:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

Some people have set the cage on top of the trash can, removed the bottom of the cage and run vines down to the sand/soil. If you look around the Chameleon Breeding forum, you can get other helpful ideas.

 

[Kamillion]

that cage sounds really small. Do you plan on getting something larger for her as she matures?

Yes I'm going to get her a penplex cage which is 48x24x24 with a acrylic front glass (no reflection). I just want her to grow a little more so she will still be able to find her crickets in the cage..

 

[Kamillion]

So I finally put my cham in a laying bin today and I dont think she did anything... is there a way to really tell? Besides weighing her?

 

[camimom]

It can take a female 3+ days to finish diggin and laying.

put her in the bin, leave her alone.
if she catches you watching, she will stop digging and become egg bound.

 

[ChameleonMom]

As mentioned it is highly important that she doesn't see you when she is getting ready to dig/lay. If she does see you or doesn't feel comfortable she won't lay and then will become eggbound. If you can loosely cover her cage with a sheet or paper (I use brown parcel paper) then she'll have the privacy she requires to lay. Good luck!

 

[Captive Creations]

I too cover my females enclosures when they are ready to lay. I peek in every night a bout 10 minutes after bed time. You should be able to tell if she has laid. I make note of everything when I check at night. their size, the dirt, what holes are where. and if any are filled on the next check up and shes smaller I will know when and where she laid. good luck. everyone if right though privacy is the KEY.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I too cover my females enclosures when they are ready to lay. I peek in every night a bout 10 minutes after bed time. You should be able to tell if she has laid. I make note of everything when I check at night. their size, the dirt, what holes are where. and if any are filled on the next check up and shes smaller I will know when and where she laid. good luck. everyone if right though privacy is the KEY.

Excellent advice about record keeping....I have started to do this as well in the last 4 months. It takes the guess work out of my chams quirky behaviour!!

 

[mick53]

Yes I think you are looking at eggs. Do you have everything set up for her? Let me know if you née help.

hi can you help me how do i set up a egg bin

 

[blueyeslk]

digging like crazy.

why is my chameleon digging so much, i spray her she is not eating like she use too. i was reading some blog that i should set up a nesting area? not sure how to do that.