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egg laying question

IMAT May 27, 2006 01:55 PM

She's FINALLY DIGGING!!!!! Since this is the first time that I have done this, I have another question. Does she usually lay all the eggs at once? Or does she do it multiple times? and if it is multiple times, do I need to wait until she's completely done before I dig up the eggs or can I dig them up between her laying times?

Replies (7)

kinyonga May 27, 2006 04:34 PM

Glad to hear that she's finally digging again!

You asked..."Does she usually lay all the eggs at once? Or does she do it multiple times? and if it is multiple times, do I need to wait until she's completely done before I dig up the eggs or can I dig them up between her laying times?"...she is supposed to lay them all at once. Let her lay them and bury them completely and let her go back up in her branches...then dig them up.

Water and feed the chameleon well (dusted, gutloaded insects) for the next few days and then cut the amount you feed her back to normal.

Have the container that you plan on incubating them in ready first. I use a shoebox sized tupperware type container. I punch a couple of tiny hole in the lid. I fill the container about half of slightly moist vermiculite (dry enough that you can only squeeze a drop of water out of it). I fill it only half full so that when the babies hatch they have room to move around until they can be removed from the container. Once you put the eggs in the container, put the lid on it and put it in the incubator.

I dig the eggs up carefully by taking off one layer of sand/soil at a time until I reach the eggs. I carefully lift one egg out at a time trying not to turn/rotate them when I'm doing it. I lay the eggs in rows about 1" apart in all directions in a slight depression in the vermiculite. By spacing them this way they will hatch more individually and I have had a better success rate and survival rate doing it this way. Put the lid back on and incubate them.

Since I have never incubated flap eggs, I can't tell you a definite temperature....look in the sites that I gave you before and see what they say. You're better to err on the side of lower than too high.

My fingers are crossed for the successful laying and hatching of them!

IMAT May 27, 2006 07:05 PM

Thanks for the information. The site said between 76-82. My incubator is ready to go! I have been running it for about 36 hours now. She's been digging since 11:40am.......its 5:10 now and she is still in her hole. I am soo excited! I just hope these eggs are fertil. I will be soo sad if they are not. Is there any specific way to tell if they are or not?
I will keep you updated. I am hoping to find a male flapneck chameleon so that I can continue to breed them. Thanks again.

kinyonga May 27, 2006 11:13 PM

I have never seen flap eggs with my own eyes....but generally, fertile eggs look white and are bigger than those small flavored jelly beans. Infertile eggs look more yellowish and are smaller than fertile ones. You won't be able to judge the size, of course, if you haven't seen chameleon eggs before. If you can post a picture, I might be able to tell you.

Infertile eggs will go bad within a few days of being laid (mold, shrivel up). (Re shrivelling up....good eggs can also dent in and look somewhat shrivelled if there's not enough moisture in the substrate. Don't throw any eggs out until you are absolutely sure that they are no good.

Fingers still crossed!

IMAT May 28, 2006 12:19 PM

I havn't gotten so see the eggs yet. It has been about 12hours now and she is still in her burrow.......I will send you pictures of the eggs once we see them. How long does it usually take for them to lay the eggs? I am a little worried. I can see her face so I know that she isn't trapped underground.

kinyonga May 28, 2006 02:43 PM

How long has she been turned around with her bum in the hole (face out)? If she is staying with her face out, then she is likely laying her eggs...or she might be resting before she starts to lay them. It can take a while.

IMAT May 28, 2006 03:25 PM

I am not exactly sure how long she was faced that way. I left the house for about an hour and now it looks like she is starting to bury them. I am hoping she will be done within an hour or two. I will be sure to take pictures of the eggs for you.

kinyonga May 28, 2006 08:40 PM

Glad to hear that she is burying them. After years of keeping/breeding/hatching chameleons there is still nothing that makes me as nervous as the egglaying process!

My fingers are still crossed! Hoping to hear that they are fertile and she is fine after her experience!

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