Hi everyone, I am writing this post because I am a new chameleon owner.
A little about Cleo: she is about 10 months old now, she is a veiled species, I feed her crickets coated in calcium, I fully mist the cage about 3 times a day, I have vines and a living potted plant, and I have a timed lighting set up with two bulbs (ones the daylight blue, the other is the basking light) I never handle her. Ever. The only time I did was twice when she was a baby. She has been pretty healthy and over all I think pretty content so far.
She lost her appetite a couple days ago, and I noticed she looked rounder in her tummy. Just yesterday in the morning she looked neutral brown, eyes sunken a little so I fed her (thought she was hungry). Later around 3pm I check and she was digging in the potted plant I had in her enclosure. I thought oh no.. leave her alone, let her do her thing. So a couple hours later I checked and she was pale blue and face down in the plant. I was worried and looked for movement, none, then I nudged her and still no movement, and then I lightly stroked her side and suddenly a burst of breath came out of her and she got up and out of the pot. So, I was freaking out and set her up a nesting pot.
Here's what I used:
A large 2-3 gallon pot
Filled half way
Mix: 3 cups of soil, 6+ cups of vermiculite, and one block of cocoa core, I moistened the mixture and put in her cage. I moved her whole enclosure, (lights and all) to the bath tub, and I keep the shower curtain closed for her privacy.
I woke up to her digging this morning. At around 12pm I saw her buried in the dirt again, but she was green with black stripes. Fearful or her suffocating, I got her out of the dirt (mistake on my part).
She was mad at me probably bc I took her out of her hard morning work but I was scared of her suffocating.
So, she dug back down again, and her face was in the dirt. I let her be, I was really quiet when checking on her. Now she is turned around and her butt rather than face is in the dirt and I am just praying she has success and lays all of her eggs with no problems.
I hope that this clears up any other possible questions on what to expect or do when a female is ready to lay eggs.
I did not expect her to bury her face, but I think it is normal? I am also open to any suggestions or thoughts! Thanks.
A little about Cleo: she is about 10 months old now, she is a veiled species, I feed her crickets coated in calcium, I fully mist the cage about 3 times a day, I have vines and a living potted plant, and I have a timed lighting set up with two bulbs (ones the daylight blue, the other is the basking light) I never handle her. Ever. The only time I did was twice when she was a baby. She has been pretty healthy and over all I think pretty content so far.
She lost her appetite a couple days ago, and I noticed she looked rounder in her tummy. Just yesterday in the morning she looked neutral brown, eyes sunken a little so I fed her (thought she was hungry). Later around 3pm I check and she was digging in the potted plant I had in her enclosure. I thought oh no.. leave her alone, let her do her thing. So a couple hours later I checked and she was pale blue and face down in the plant. I was worried and looked for movement, none, then I nudged her and still no movement, and then I lightly stroked her side and suddenly a burst of breath came out of her and she got up and out of the pot. So, I was freaking out and set her up a nesting pot.
Here's what I used:
A large 2-3 gallon pot
Filled half way
Mix: 3 cups of soil, 6+ cups of vermiculite, and one block of cocoa core, I moistened the mixture and put in her cage. I moved her whole enclosure, (lights and all) to the bath tub, and I keep the shower curtain closed for her privacy.
I woke up to her digging this morning. At around 12pm I saw her buried in the dirt again, but she was green with black stripes. Fearful or her suffocating, I got her out of the dirt (mistake on my part).
She was mad at me probably bc I took her out of her hard morning work but I was scared of her suffocating.
So, she dug back down again, and her face was in the dirt. I let her be, I was really quiet when checking on her. Now she is turned around and her butt rather than face is in the dirt and I am just praying she has success and lays all of her eggs with no problems.
I hope that this clears up any other possible questions on what to expect or do when a female is ready to lay eggs.
I did not expect her to bury her face, but I think it is normal? I am also open to any suggestions or thoughts! Thanks.
