Female Vieled Chameleon possibly trying to lay eggs? help!

[MissMichaelaH]

Heya so I have my first chameleon and I've had her for about 4 months now. I don't know how old she is assuming around this age. My partner noticed her digging in the corner of her tank and she isn't eating as much as normal. So with this I heard these could be signs of her trying to lay eggs. I got a bucket about 10 inch deep and 8 inch wide (it's all I have at the minute) and I've filled it with damp play sand. But she's ignoring this and still walking around on the ground digging. I know it can take time but worried that I might be doing something wrong? She's a really aggressive chameleon aswell. I've never been able to hold her or go near her at all without her becoming very stressed and trying to attack me . Does anyone have any advice? The pet shop I got her from was not very useful at first they seemed great but after buying her they are no help whatsoever. You can see in the picture she has ignored the bucket and squeezed beside it to dig down there?

 

[FlChamMom]

I can't really see her that well but from the size of her relative to the 8" wide bucket she is definitely older than 4 months. Do you have substrate on the bottom of the cage that she is digging in? She may like the privacy- hold a branch out to her and see if you can get her to climb on it. Transfer her to the lay bin and cover her cage with a sheet. She may lay at that point. Also see if you can get better pics of her so we can see if she looks gravid.

 

[brownie64]

Try digging her a starter hole, and putting her in her laying ben. Then put some towels over the tank to give her privacy.

 

[Tommy Bonnet]

I'm no expert and someone with more experience will hopefully chime in.

Make sure to give her a lot of privacy during this time. Try starting a small dig spot in the bucket for her so she gets the idea. Make sure that if she begins to dig that she does not see you as this can cause her to get shy and stop. I know you said she is aggressive but maybe try getting her into the box also?? Good luck

 

[MissMichaelaH]

At the bottom of the tank I got given some bark but it's not very deep maybe about an inch or 2 deep. I've just taken a picture of her and she's climbed up one of her branches

 

[MissMichaelaH]

I've started to dig a hole for her and I've put some towels over her tank hopefully this will be okay. She seems to be so scared of me aswell which is heartbreaking. I've taken another picture of her aswell does she look healthy? Any idea of an age aswell?

 

[brownie64]

Personally if it were me I would get rid of the bark on the bottom it looks nice, but causes a real hazard for you cham with impaction if she was to accidently swallow some.

 

[brownie64]

She looks gravid but fine to me right now, but we need to get those eggs out of her. Like was said when she does start laying don't disturb her, and cause her to stop. I have seen some look a lot fuller I would even suggest she isn't quite ready to lay if it weren't for the fact she is digging. But that's a good thing the less eggs the better for her.

 

[MissMichaelaH]

So should I just leave her alone for the next few days just check on her to see if she's laid them? I am planning on getting rid of the bark it's just trying to get in the tank without stressing her out and without her attacking me. I will take it all out when she has finished laying I think.
Thanks everyone for all your help!

 

[JGuinan007]

I don't think she has eggs I could be wrong but she doesn't even have adult colors yet which from what I read is the 1st thing that happens before they start laying. I'm not an Expert on the matter but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express, a Good person to ask would be jannb

 

[MissMichaelaH]

So she doesn't have eggs then? Are there any other signs which I could determine if she is ready to lay or not?

 

[jajeanpierre]

So she doesn't have eggs then? Are there any other signs which I could determine if she is ready to lay or not?

I find that they get really restless before they lay. Females that used to be happy in a cage are suddenly climbing the screen front, which they never normally do. They tend to not eat much right before they lay, and often their appetite drops for days before they lay. I've never had a veiled lay.

I don't think she looks like she is even gravid. She looks too young, still got baby colors, but I'm not a veiled expert at all.

You can dig a little starter hole or two in the bin, maybe four inches deep at about a 45 degree angle. Stick a bunch of thing sticks into the bin, maybe three inches deep. They like to lay at the base of plants. Put lots of cover over top of the bin so the bin is not really exposed. Give her privacy if you think she is going to lay. I block them off visually and just leave them alone.

 

[brownie64]

She has got her adult colors females don't show the same colorization as the males, and they don't always get the receptive colors when gravid. My experience tells me she is gravid look at the round bulges towards the back of her. Please let her lay those eggs you don't want her to become egg bound it can be very expensive for you, and detrimental to her.

 

[MissMichaelaH]

Ahe has had a loss in appetite not reallyeating a lot and she has been restless too. Noticed her digging last night aswell. I will leave her to lay her eggs the last thing I want is for her to get egg bound or unwell. I will leave her tank covered I've made a small hole so hopefully she will start soon. I'll keep checking on her and let you guys know if she lays her eggs.

 

[brownie64]

I still think I'm right however if @jajeanpierre is right you are going to have to find out why she is hanging around the bottom of her enclosure. That is not normal behavior for a cham that isn't laying eggs. So you might want to fill out a ask for help form so we can look at all the husbandry to see if we can give some friendly advice, and find out what is going on. Here is a link. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

 

[MissMichaelaH]

I still think I'm right however if @jajeanpierre is right you are going to have to find out why she is hanging around the bottom of her enclosure. That is not normal behavior for a cham that isn't laying eggs. So you might want to fill out a ask for help form so we can look at all the husbandry to see if we can give some friendly advice, and find out what is going on. Here is a link. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Thank you for your help I will fill it out tomorrow. I'm going to leave her for today and see how things are looking tomorrow morning

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thank you for your help I will fill it out tomorrow. I'm going to leave her for today and see how things are looking tomorrow morning

I looked at the pictures again, and Brownie64 might very well be correct--she might very well be wanting to lay eggs. Brownie64 is giving you good advice, please follow it.

You say she is digging at the bottom? Where? Is this in the laying box or in the corners as if she is trying to escape?

It is best of you assume she is needing to lay eggs. My laying bins cover the complete bottom of the cage so that if they go down, they have no problem finding a suitable place to lay. I've always been afraid a female won't f ind the laying bin with a set up such as yours--if she goes down to the bottom, she has to go up to find a place to lay. Maybe I am underestimating the common sense of a female about to lay, but that's always been a fear of mine. Set up a garbage can laying bin just in case you need something where she can't end up in a part of the cage without a good spot to lay.

Good luck. I find egg laying very stressful for me as well as the females.

 

[MissMichaelaH]

I looked at the pictures again, and Brownie64 might very well be correct--she might very well be wanting to lay eggs. Brownie64 is giving you good advice, please follow it.

You say she is digging at the bottom? Where? Is this in the laying box or in the corners as if she is trying to escape?

It is best of you assume she is needing to lay eggs. My laying bins cover the complete bottom of the cage so that if they go down, they have no problem finding a suitable place to lay. I've always been afraid a female won't f ind the laying bin with a set up such as yours--if she goes down to the bottom, she has to go up to find a place to lay. Maybe I am underestimating the common sense of a female about to lay, but that's always been a fear of mine. Set up a garbage can laying bin just in case you need something where she can't end up in a part of the cage without a good spot to lay.

Good luck. I find egg laying very stressful for me as well as the females.

She's been digging in the corners. Since I've put the bucket in I haven't noticed if she's still digging on the floor of the tank as I've been trying to leave her to it.

I am hoping she is just wanting to lay eggs. I'm so worried for her. Just hope I'm doing everything right for her. I'll keep you all updated!

 

[jajeanpierre]

She's been digging in the corners. Since I've put the bucket in I haven't noticed if she's still digging on the floor of the tank as I've been trying to leave her to it.

I am hoping she is just wanting to lay eggs. I'm so worried for her. Just hope I'm doing everything right for her. I'll keep you all updated!

Stick some sticks into the sand to give her the impression their are plants growing out of the bin. They like to lay at the base of plants among roots. You can even plant a small plant in the bin.

 

[MissMichaelaH]

Hey everyone I've just got home from work and doesn't seem like she has laid yet. The hole I had dug she had sort of buried it? Had a look in the bin but no eggs. Ive dug another hole for her aswell. She's also sleeping on the floor between the bin and the front of her tank. Is this right? I'm getting worried. She normally will always sleep at the top and be bright green.