laying bin?

[ghettomike]

Ive just made a laying bin for my 7 month veiled just in case she becomes gravid with an infertile clutch. I am going to put it in her enclosure. I used a 15" tall plastic waste basket and used a 50/50 blend of black earth and sand. Just wondering how packed it should be. I played around in it for a while to see if it see if it would keep its shape if Carmie dug down 10" and it seemed to pass the test but its difficult to judge how hard she can physically dig. It was easy enough for me to dig init but still hard to tell if it should be packed harder or looser?

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

where are the pics of it?

 

[BocaJan]

I would press it down slightly but not forcefully. She will be able to dig just fine as long as the mixture is damp.

 

[eppcheck]

Good topic. Seeing as my veiled is about the same age I'm interested in the same question. Also, do you have pictures of what your currently working with ghettomike?

Thanks

 

[Jerm]

I use a similar mix and dampen it just enough that I can tunnel in it with my hand without it collapsing on me. The only problem is that after a couple of days it tends to dry out and will need redampening.

 

[summoner12]

yes make sure the mix is damp enough to hold form. you don't want her digging down and having the dirt fall in on her.

 

[ghettomike]

here is a pic of her new bin. I put her init today and she didnt really seem to know what it was for lol, when I came home she had dirt on her face and legs but there was no real evidence that she had dug a hole or anything, probably eating some of it haha.

 

[reptoman]

If she had dirt on her and there was no hole, she probably layed and buried the eggs. I use a clear plastic bin that looks almost the same as yours. Its much easier to tell if she had layed or not. look at the end of this thread for pics.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/egg-bottom-cage-33059/index4.html

 

[hondataeg6]

How deep does the bin have to be?

 

[ghettomike]

I've always read that 12" is sufficient , I like reptomans clear bin, cause I cant' really tell if there has been any action goin on in her bin if she fills in her tunnel up.

 

[Jerm]

Did she have dirt on her nose? They use it like a shovel. It sounds like she laid her eggs to me also. Does she look thinner? Sometimes they dig test holes but they don't typically fill them in completely until they have laid the eggs. They cover them up so well that you can't even tell where they have dug once they lay their eggs.

 

[ghettomike]

she did have dirt on her nose, if she did dig she did a real good job filling it in cause it pretty much looked like I left it, I guess ill take her bin out and go through it.

 

[Jerm]

she did have dirt on her nose, if she did dig she did a real good job filling it in cause it pretty much looked like I left it, I guess ill take her bin out and go through it.

That is her way of deterring predators.

 

[ghettomike]

so I just sifted through all the sand and no eggs.

 

[reptoman]

I have been through that a few times. That clear bin really saves time and anxiety. Both fertile clutches have been clear as day on the bottom of the bin. Takes out all the guess work.

 

[ghettomike]

ya I think Ill upgrade to a clear bin a some point when I come across one.

 

[summoner12]

I have been through that a few times. That clear bin really saves time and anxiety. Both fertile clutches have been clear as day on the bottom of the bin. Takes out all the guess work.

Not a bad idea.... especially if you wanna let the hatch go to term 'naturally'

 

[shanksfaml]

awesome idea

thanks so much for the idea found a BR garbage bin at Target lsat night that was clear and 12' for $5.99. Love this forum!