some hoehnelii breeding information

[The Chameleon Collective]

Hey y’all anyone still breeding hoes here? I have some questions about behavior etc. this is my pair… my female is around 18 grams and I’m noticing her go to the bottom of the enclosure more in the last two days

 

[bobcochran]

Yes, I keep hoehnelii. They are a wonderful species. Your female looks just about ready to pop. Has she slowed down eating? You need to have some small feeders ready for when she drops the neonates.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

Yes, I keep hoehnelii. They are a wonderful species. Your female looks just about ready to pop. Has she slowed down eating?

Today was the first day she wasn’t running over to the feeder run when I put crickets in. She was up and down the enclosure for most of the day towards the evening she was back up top.

 

[bobcochran]

You better have some small feeders ready. They usually drop their babies around noon.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

You better have some small feeders ready. They usually drop their babies around noon.

I have some fruit fly colonies and pin heads ready to go and just made up some enclosures today. Have you bred hoehnelii before?

 

[bobcochran]

Yes, for about 12 years now. I currently have 2.3 adults and 8 babies about 3 weeks old.
You can search me in the photography section for some of my past hoehnelii.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

Yes, for about 12 years now. I currently have 2.3 adults and 8 babies about 3 weeks old.
You can search me in the photography section for some of my past hoehnelii.

Awesome, will do! What do you find are the best temps and humidity levels for day and night?

 

[bobcochran]

Optimal temps:~ 75F. daytime, 50-55F. night. Humidity: 50-60% daytime, 85-100% nights. These data are plus or minus. They can survive almost freezing temperatures at night and can certainly take 85F. during the day.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

Optimal temps:~ 75F. daytime, 50-55F. night. Humidity: 50-60% daytime, 85-100% nights.

Thank you!

 

[bobcochran]

I edited the above post

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

I edited the above post

So my temps are good and humidity is there. You have them in a hybrid or all screen enclosure?

 

[bobcochran]

I live on the central coast in Ca. I keep them in all screen cages outdoors 8-9 months of the year depending on the weather. Babies are in the cham room for 2-3 months in plastic tubs depending time of year. Hoehnelii cycle twice a year regardless if bred.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

I live on the central coast in Ca. I keep them in all screen cages outdoors 8-9 months of the year depending on the weather. Babies are in the cham room for 2-3 months in plastic tubs depending time of year. Hoehnelii cycle twice a year regardless if bred.

Ah that has gotta be nice! I’m over on the east coast so it’s harder to keep them outside all year. Have you weighed your gravid females before?

 

[bobcochran]

No, I go by their behavior. Weight won’t tell you much- too dependent on age and size of the female. Younger females deliver 6-8 babies, larger older females can have 12-15 babies.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

No, I go by their behavior. Weight won’t tell you much- too dependent on age and size of the female. Younger females deliver 6-8 babies, larger older females can have 12-15 babies.

Okay good to know she is definitely round. I was a little worried to see her on the ground a few times throughout the day but don’t know much about their behavior in general.

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

No, I go by their behavior. Weight won’t tell you much- too dependent on age and size of the female. Younger females deliver 6-8 babies, larger older females can have 12-15 babies.

Do yours go towards the bottom when they are about to give birth?

 

[bobcochran]

No not really one of the cues I look for. The uncalcified eggs are semi-adhevsive and most stick to branches some fall to the floor. Most females remain up in the branches but move around between each egg deposition. I would check the temps in the higher areas in her cage. Adjust temps to 75F. in the highest areas. My females have no problem birthing at 60F. outdoors. Lower temps and higher humidity is probably beneficial to neonates as they absorb the last of their yolk sac.
A better cue is the decrease in food consumption 1-2 days before delivering their clutch.

 

[bobcochran]

5 weeks old

 

[The Chameleon Collective]

3 weeks old

Those babies are adorable! I really hope that my female is able to give birth and I’m able to have some captive born babies.

5 weeks old

so I’m starting to get a little worried about the male and female. The male yesterday started to close his eyes a bit and continued the behavior today. The female also I am seeing occasionally close her eyes today too. The male had a higher basking temp around 85 but the female had a lower one around 78. Don’t know if something like parasite is at play or if my humidity and temps aren’t right. I have been getting good drops at night to the 63 area.