Ophelia is in her laying bin!!!!!!!

opheliaeatsbugs

opheliaeatsbugs

Avid Member
I'm seriously trying not to panic. Deep breaths. I just got home and went to check on her and give her an extra shower. As I approached her viv, I first notice that she is not basking. Next, I notice her in the laying bin and dirt has obviously been turned over. I did an about-face and left the room. I never made it fully to her viv so I'm not sure exactly WHAT is going on. But now, my mommy worry has kicked in and all sorts of horrible concerns are flooding my imagination. Deep breaths. OMG. I might die - excitement, stress?? I don't know.

Please, please, please.... tell me that the fact that her eggs have not calcified will not cause an issue when laying them.

What do I do next? Leave her until tonight when lights go out? See where she is at that point and go from there?
 
opheliaeatsbugs said:
I'm seriously trying not to panic. Deep breaths. I just got home and went to check on her and give her an extra shower. As I approached her viv, I first notice that she is not basking. Next, I notice her in the laying bin and dirt has obviously been turned over. I did an about-face and left the room. I never made it fully to her viv so I'm not sure exactly WHAT is going on. But now, my mommy worry has kicked in and all sorts of horrible concerns are flooding my imagination. Deep breaths. OMG. I might die - excitement, stress?? I don't know.

Please, please, please.... tell me that the fact that her eggs have not calcified will not cause an issue when laying them.

What do I do next? Leave her until tonight when lights go out? See where she is at that point and go from there?
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I have absolutely no idea, but good luck with the lay!
 
opheliaeatsbugs said:
Thanks :)
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Hi, I know is is exciting and quite scary to deal with a gravid cham. As someone who went through the same thing, please don't disturb her or let her see you AT ALL or she will probably abandon her hole and might not want to try again. Leave her be and turn off her lights when you usually do and she will probably be finished in the morning. Chams will work through the night while laying so it is important you leave her alone to do her thing. Once she is finished, give her plenty of food to eat and a good misting.
 
Yesterday was rough (on me). Ophelia seems to be fine. She did not pay any eggs.

Just before lights out last night, I noticed she was dirty and basking. I took a quick peek in her hole and noticed the bucket had a couple inches of water. I reached in and felt that she had started to dig horizontally (after going down) to obviously avoid the water. I'll be honest. I panicked a little.

She sat on her basking branch, feet folded in the most adorable way, and watched me scoop most of the dirt out, scoop the water out, turn the bin so that it wouldn't be under the spray nozzles (also further adjusted the nozzles to point to the back), put the dirt back, and pre-dug a hole for her (about 1/2 way down). Turned the mister on, used the hand mister to wash her face a little, tacked up a sheet to give privacy and got it done in 15 mins just before the lights went out at 7:30.

She woke up this morning, I can hear her climbing around (on the screen) as usual. I waited an hour, turned on the mister for 5 mins. Popped in quickly to give her 7 small dubia (she climbed out on my arm while I was putting the cup in) and then climbed back in to see what was in the cup. Checked all other systems and left the room. I'll be back in several hours.

I'm hoping she will pick up where she left off this evening.

She's the best and so forgiving... I love her so much. Fingers crossed she does fine.
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jannb said:
I recommend putting a few holes in the bottom of the laying bin after the egg laying is over. The best to Ophelia and .you. Keep us posted.
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I do have holes that I drilled into the bin, bottom and around the sides. They clogged. Not sure how to keep them from getting clogged when dirt/sand is always coming through with mistings (the holes I have can been seen draining, but obviously not enough). Its an issue I did not catch in anything I read/watched. Caught me by surprise as I thought I was pretty smart for thinking of it on my own, but utterly failed.

Bigger holes? More of them? How does the dirt not totally wash away? A screen? Questions for another time. Hopefully we'll come thru this ok. Thanks @jannb :)
 
How is she doing now?! Any updates or eggs laid yet?? See, she was right behind Lucy! I know your stress and excitement from just a few weeks ago; I didn't sleep much the 3 days she was digging.

I turned Lucy's Monsoon off for while she was laying and hand misted instead (making sure to avoid her bin other than making sure it stayed damp), but I only misted etc. when I saw her up and basking. Even with holes in the bottom of her bin for drainage I was too afraid she would get stuck during laying and have the water build up too fast to get out safely.

Me and Lucy wish you and Ophelia good luck, hope it goes as smooth as possible and are so excited for you; keep us updated, we are sending positive egg-laying vibes your way!!!
 
UPDATE:

Ophelia has been eating (I've been offering small amounts, but something every day) and drinking every day - behaving normally. She has been out in the sun once. I finally figured out that the holes she was digging were test holes. I took out the real plants on the first day (when I found water at the bottom of the lay bin) because it was too difficult to maneuver around the laying bin in her small cage. I improvised and tied plastic flowers from the Dollar Tree around the outside to give her more coverage. When I open to feed, she wants to come out and climbs on my hands while I put the feeders in - but then sees them and climbs back in to get them. I've weighed her once - no change (she lost 3 grams from me not bothering her/feeding her for the first 1-2 days). I did look for eggs in her first 2 holes, there was nothing, and I haven't bothered the laybin since.

So, basically, every day she has been digging one or two test holes, gets dirty, basks for the rest of the day, sits under the mister, tries to climb out on me, eats her feeders... repeat.
 

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Should be soon. Just keep to the same routine so she doesn't get "spooked" and she will do her thing when her body is ready. The practice holes are good.
 
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