Gravid Veiled: Help/Advice

[Chiichan]

So our Cami has certainly grown and developed some eggs. She is reaching her 4th week of gestation since we introduced our male to her.

She has a free range enclosure in half of our closet with 2 live plants, one hangs on the coathanger and the other is her tree. I recently put rocks to cover the soil in her plant so he doesn't try laying there. Right next to her tree I've placed a very large lay bin (been there for 2 months, I felt the previous bin was too small for her). She has yet to display any interest in the bin or to dig. She has however crawled her way across the room to hang out at the window. And we thought she went to her bin to start digging but turned out she just wanted to explore more and hang out at the window again.

She doesn't appear to be eating, but is drinking well. No signs of egg binding, yet (and i want to prevent that). She isn't weak or lethargic, just her usual self.

In this photo you can OBVIOUSLY see the shapes of the eggs, and i can visibly count 3 in this photo. Both her sides look bulgy like this. My question/concern is...

If, by the end of the 4th week she is not showing signs of laying... Can/should I isolate her in her large bin and cut her access off from her tree and plant during the day? I would obviously place her lights over her bin and put a nice branch to perch on.

Won't it stress her out feeling "trapped" if I do that?

I've done all the expected steps and now its just the waiting game. But I'm so paranoid about her not laying because she's so bulgy and the eggs feel so ready to come out! It is her first clutch and she certainly looks like she's on the bigger end of female veilds, which i'm hoping will be beneficial in the egg laying proccess. I noticed she slowed down on eating after copulation too, so I'd assume a small clutch as a result.

 

[jannb]

What a beautiful little lady. They normally lay around 30 days after they mate. Attached is my egg laying blog. You might find it helpful. I have use the large trash can method (with no way out) and it worked for me. You can read about it and see it in the fourth paragraph down. I hope all goes well for your Cami.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

 

[Walter1]

Gravid female/help advice

I would expect something in about the next two weeks as long as she is getting enough water and is suitably warm. You'll know. Her routine will change. You might see her perched high but with a dirty snout or legs from testing. I would provide her with a starter burrow at an angle and about 6 inches in. Soil not wet but can hold the burrow. Digging takes a while, but egglaying goes quickly. Afterwards, she will look skinny. Make sure she gets to warmth, water, and calcium-dusted then multi-vitamin dusted food very soon after she lays. Best of luck.

 

[Chiichan]

What a beautiful little lady. They normally lay around 30 days after they mate. Attached is my egg laying blog. You might find it helpful. I have use the large trash can method (with no way out) and it worked for me. You can read about it and see it in the fourth paragraph down. I hope all goes well for your Cami.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

Thanks jan! That helps a lot. I thought it was kind of odd that she was wandering around because she hadn't done that for months until now. She always stayed in her area ofthe closet. I put up some sturdy walls around her large bin and made all the necessary adjustments with lighting, dripper, and perching area to make her as comfy as possible in her lay area when I put her in there tomorrow. Hopefully we'll make progress soon!

 

[Chiichan]

I would expect something in about the next two weeks as long as she is getting enough water and is suitably warm. You'll know. Her routine will change. You might see her perched high but with a dirty snout or legs from testing. I would provide her with a starter burrow at an angle and about 6 inches in. Soil not wet but can hold the burrow. Digging takes a while, but egglaying goes quickly. Afterwards, she will look skinny. Make sure she gets to warmth, water, and calcium-dusted then multi-vitamin dusted food very soon after she lays. Best of luck.

Yea her "routine" has started changing with the no eating and wandering. Ill be sure to do the necessary care and supplementing after she lays. thanks guys!