Male Veiled digging hole

[Julirs]

Can you get some focused ones a little more close up and then maybe a good side shot of your cham?

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Unfortunately that was as close as i could get to get a focused picture and i have now turned off the lights for the night. Will try again tomorrow. This is really frustrating! the vet said he couldnt feel any male genitalia - are they hard to feel?!?

 

[dodolah]

Unfortunately that was as close as i could get to get a focused picture and i have now turned off the lights for the night. Will try again tomorrow. This is really frustrating! the vet said he couldnt feel any male genitalia - are they hard to feel?!?

that does seem to be a spur.
Only thing that i knew of why male veiled would dig is to escape from the heat if they have nowhere to go.
But, his behavior seems to suggest that he's about to lay eggs.
Isn't there used to be a thread where 1 member have a shemale veiled (complete with a spur on her heel)?

Another way to find out is by letting him see a receptive female.
See if he will bob his head and show some interest in her.
But, idk if this is effective for young chameleons. Too bad that we don't know his age for sure.

 

[SoCaliSon]

I would have to agree that after examining the pictures that have been posted... Definatly a "Casquely Challenged" Male. He has some cool patterns... but seems streesed in the shots. Get him settled in nicely and I am sure His colors will get even better!

As far as a male digging holes? That is a new one to me.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Update

Ok, lights went on about 9am this morning, tank was misted, cham was nice green colours at the top of the tank. Left him/her to it. Came back a few hours later to find it down the bottom digging another hole! temps were fine, as was humidity but he/she spent a good 4 hours at least digging. Left well alone. Has now come to the top of the tank (looking darker and a bit pissed off). Still won't take any more food. in fact turned its nose up at a juicy waxworm. Managed to get a couple more pics. Is still a little scared/angry in these, and the stripes tend to come up in these situations. Any thoughts? Have also attached a pic of where the digging is taking place.

 

[bucky]

Idk if anyone has told you, I think its a male from the pics,so I think you should just get rid of the substrate all together. Its never been good, it could cause impaction.

 

[Julirs]

I would take your temps down to the mid 80's. Why is it hanging out by that vent hole-I am wonderng if it is still too hot in there.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

he climbs onto the wires by there to get to the top by the basking light. He then sits there and watches the world go by. I just got him as he was on his way. The wire by the basking light is where he sleeps too. So definately a he then!

 

[Julirs]

So the lights are inside the cage-this is also not a good thing-as bulbs can explode if water hits them and they can easily burn themselves.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

They are in the cage as this is the set up we were sold. Not sounding like a good reptile store now! I'm not sounding like a good owner either! We are very careful to make sure that the lights are avoided (as much as humanely possible) when we are misting. The tank temp today has been 22C and the basking spot lamp 32C.

Guess we are going to have to reassess the entire set up!

 

[Julirs]

You are a great owner trying to make sure everything is right! Petstores are the worst about set ups!

 

[WelshOneEmma]

We searched everywhere for somewhere that could provide us with the right info as it is so hard to find reptile places where we are, and the info on the net is varied and contradictory!

i think i will leave the substrate for a few more days, see if the digging stops and if anything does turn up! Still struggling to get it to take food though.

 

[dodolah]

that could be the reason.
the bulb inside the glass cage can make things hotter than it looked.
take the bulb outside and see if he's still digging.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

We have a digital thermometer with sensors placed at various places throughout the enclosure, and the the tank temp is 22C. If it is the temp, how else can i bring the temp down, other than take the lights out?

 

[dodolah]

wow.. the enclosure temp is right.
is he still digging now?
could it be that he's looking for crickets?

 

[Julirs]

Is teh top of the cage screen? If so I would take the lights out and place them on top of the cage. I would also leave the substrate for a few more days just in case.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

No. The whole viv is solid (wood and glass) with ventilation holes stratigically positioned. (S)He is still digging and has gone back to the hole behind the ficus that was dug a day or so ago.

There are a few crickets that I've seen on the substrate so I don't think he's digging for them. They've actually walked past him and he's ignored them.

Does the fact that he goes to his relaxed / sleeping, pale green with pale yellows when he's sitting in the hole give any clues? There isn't any gaping.

 

[THECHAMMAN]

im 99% sure he is a HE. now with the digging thing. idk.

 

[Jam]

Just to throw this out there ... has s/he pooped lately? I had an impacted female who began digging/pawing when she was impacted. I thought that it she was egg-bound for sure ... but when we took an xray no eggs. Later (unfortunately) she died, and on necropsy there was a large impation.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

I think we need to try a new vets (although the one we used advertises as an exotics specialist). The vet is adamant its a girl. I just don't know what to do, we are trying everything but it wont stop digging tunnels and then sitting in them. The temps are within the ranges we have been told they need to be, we are making sure that the cage is misted regularly, i have been feeding the crickets fresh organic food for at least a couple of days before they go in to the enclosure. We have only ever had greens, pale yellow and maybe a little dark purple colours from it, no bright blues etc. I am really at a loss and feel totally powerless.