C.calyptratus question about breeding...

[NS exotics]

If someone has and wants to share, please put C.calyptratus gravid female picture, ofcourse with those markings she has when gravid.

Are eggs somehow visible in her? Behaviour changed or what are general indicatores that she is gravid?

I have female calyptratus for about 3-4 months and I got her with maybe 2-3 months, she was very small but lately she grew much, she is now 4 times bigger then when I got her, she ate many(about 10-15) B.lateralis roaches per day sometimes, and usually 8-10 pieces. I am thinking that she is for sure above 6 months of age and is about 15cm in body. She is eating less now, and I saw some lupms above her hind leggs. I thought that she has false eggs(those developed without breeding), but I need some info on that matter also,cose when I touch those lumps they are verry soft and aren't visible when she moves, they are visible only in some particular situations. What can that be, maybe fat reserves or something?

Thanks in advance and sorry for so long posting, hope someone helps a bit and shares the info.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Start here:

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

There is a picture.

-Brad

 

[NS exotics]

Which picture is the female gravid? And the text for keeping female vield chameleon is missing, not yet written...any other inputs and experience tips?

Thanks anyway Brad, I see only you answer always, many people here, but not so much answers...

 

[Brad Ramsey]

The picture above the breeding article is a gravid female.
The female care article should be published by the end of the weekend!
Patience .......

For now, have you tried searching your topic here?

I just went to the search option (top bar of the home page) and typed in "gravid veiled"
There are 4 pages of threads on the topic ... surely some good info there.

-Brad

 

[NS exotics]

Ok,here are 3 pictures from today, so please let me know what you think.

You can see the lump above her hide legs, that's what I was talking about, it is soft on touch and isn't visible always only in some situations when she is standing still and a bit curled...that's why I wanted to see some pictures of females with developed eggs...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

As I have mentioned on at least a couple other threads ... the female specific article will be published soon.
I have transcribed it and read it several times, there is just a little more editing to be done and a couple of things that need to be added before it's published.

One thing I can tell you though is that you are feeding her WAY too much!
It should be something like the equivalent of 8 crickets*, every two to three days.
I think part of her situation is that she is obese. She could be carrying eggs ... and over-feeding does encourage egg production.
Give her a container to lay in and cut her food way back.

-Brad

*4-5 B. lateralis roaches = 8-10 crickets in my estimation.

 

[NS exotics]

One lateralis roach is same as cricket, and now she doesn't eat so much, she cut it her self to some 3-5 roaches every 3 days. I did stop feeding that much about 3 weeks ago. I put box with moist soil in her tank, but she didn't touch it. Should I put her in separate box only for laying or what? And if I should, how long should she stay there and when will she start digging?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I actually think, nutritionally, a B. lateralis is worth 2 crickets (I know the size is similar) especially the females!

Is she acting restless at all? Going to the bottom of the enclosure pacing, etc.?
If not I wouldn't worry too much yet.

Make sure you have a branch that leads into the laying container so she can access it easily.

-Brad

 

[NS exotics]

I think she has the eggs and that I did encourage her by giving too much food, she is more active now and eats less, so those are symptoms of gravidity as I know. My question is should I put her in separate box with peat and sand to lay or put something in her cage? I did put laying box but she never dig,so I think I should try with separate laying box, but I need to know should I close her in there with light ofcourse or just put inside with lid open, but that she can't escape, for how long should I leave her there and everything needed for that action.

Thanks in advance!

 

[joefarah]

She looks gravid.
Go with the laying box inside the enclosure like you suggested originally. She isn't digging yet because she isnt ready to lay. SHe will dig when she is ready.

Keep her well-hydrated also.

Good luck

 

[kinyonga]

What I do for all egglaying female chameleons once they are old enough to produce eggs is put a container of moist washed playsand in their cages. The container should be opaque and when empty, large enough for the chameleon to fit into with several inches to spare on all sides including above her. This gives them a place to start to dig to show you that they are going to lay eggs. Some will actually lay the eggs in these containers...but some will need to be moved to a larger container.

Do not let the female see you watching her when she is digging the hole or she may abandon it. If she abandons it often enough, then she could become eggbound. Nest to not providing a place to lay the eggs, I would say this is the next most common thing that pushes a female towards eggbinding. A chameleon will often test holes though and hopefully settle on one. The one she settles on she may dig for several days before deciding that its time to lay the eggs in it. Let her dig, lay the eggs and then fill in the hole and return to the branches in peace...and then you can dig up the eggs.

Overfeeding can play a part in the chameleons "ability" to lay eggs. Power feeding is thought to play a part in bone health, constipation and maybe even prolapses.

 

[chadbandman]

opaque?

K why opaque?

 

[VerteX]

K why opaque?

So light doesn't shine in.