egg laying advice?

[jennaandpesto]

My veiled is only approx. 7-8 months and im wondering when they normally start laying clutches. Ive seen her snooping around her live plant for the past few days but I cant tell if shes ready to lay? Her colours are normal, her eating is normal, she still loves being handled and when I put her in a separate laying bin she wanders for a few seconds but then wants back out. Any suggestions on what it might be or if shes ready to lay yet?

 

[zsazsa85]

They usually stop eating 1-2 days before they start to lay. Mine started to scratch the background of the enclosure, I placed her in a big garbage can with moist playsand and left her there.
Check out Jannb's blog about egg laying!

 

[kinyonga]

If you put an opaque container (at least 12" deep x 8" x 8" minimum) of washed playsand in the cage she will have a place to dig to show you she's ready to lay eggs. The sand should be moist enough to hold a tunnel but not wet.

 

[jannb]

If you put an opaque container (at least 12" deep x 8" x 8" minimum) of washed playsand in the cage she will have a place to dig to show you she's ready to lay eggs. The sand should be moist enough to hold a tunnel but not wet.

Once she starts digging in the lay bin in her enclosure just live her alone. You probably want have to move her and she will just lay her eggs right there. She will however need complete privacy to dig and lay her eggs. You might find these blog helpful.

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video-77225/

 

[jennaandpesto]

Thanks everyone, im just being paranoid I guess. Shes my first cham and I tend to worry about everything regardless lol.

 

[azrael]

I understand about being paranoid about your female laying or becoming egg bound. I check her bin and plant everyday to make sure.

This might be a silly question, but is it really obvious that your female has been digging or buried eggs. Can they be incognito about it?

 

[Lizardguy1]

I assume she's never been with a male/bred? She may not lay infertile eggs at all if that is the case. I had a female for 2 1/2 years, never bred her, and she never laid infertile eggs. When I finally did breed her- BAM - 3 clutches of eggs in 8 months, all fertile-

 

[jennaandpesto]

No eggs in her plant, I checked when I noticed her digging. And she's never been bred she's still really small for her age, my boyfriend has a female the same age and she's much bigger.