Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering at what age usually a female will start to lay eggs?? Is it by age?? Or weight?? I want to make sure that I am ready for this. I also am going to make sure to get a check up for both of them in the next week or so with a good vet in the area. Just to make sure they are in top shape. I have talked to a breeder who said that if they are in good health you don't have to worry to much about egg binding. Is that true or is egg binding just something that happens??

you may find this article usefull:
Observations from a Keeper

Thanks. It was helpful. Seems I will have a while yet before Navi gets reaches reproductive readiness.

Have you ever owned any of the pigmy chams or any of the others of that size. I have heard that almost all that are for sale will be WC. Are there any that you can find that would be CBB??

I am thinking that in a year or so, after I feel more comfortable owning my chams, and after researching I will try a panther, or a pigmy. Wouldn't a panther be easier as far as husbandry..

You asked..."Have you ever owned any of the pigmy chams or any of the others of that size"...I have had brevs and a couple of other small types of chameleons over the years....all WC's. There are few CB's around where I live. Depending on where you live you might be able to get some CB's.

With the brevs...some have come in WC and have done well...but some batches of them have come in with problems and all have died. Also, brevs are short-lived compared to some chameleons.

You asked..."Wouldn't a panther be easier as far as husbandry"...I don't know that the husbandry is easier with a panther chameleon. Its more a case of CB's being more likely to do well whereas WC's present more challenges.

wildeyereptiles.com has CBB pygmies. born or bred by Roocat71. I believe he's on his 3rd generation of CBB off-spring.

wild eye reptiles

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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago
Valentino, Veiled Chameleon
Chyam, Nosy Be Panther Chameleon

If I remember correctly, you are talking about veileds?

Although female veileds can produce eggs well before they are a year old, I never mate mine before they are at least one year old. I like to make sure that they have finished their bone growth before I expect them to lay fertile eggs.(My females usually live to be over 6 years of age, produce good healthy eggs that result in good healthy babies.)

I have three females right now that are over three years of age and have never produced a single clutch of eggs. I feel this is due to the feeding schedule (and temperatures) that I keep them at. I have bred females after these three years that have produced good eggs.

You said..."I have talked to a breeder who said that if they are in good health you don't have to worry to much about egg binding. Is that true or is egg binding just something that happens??"...the main causes of eggbinding are poor husbandry (vitamin imbalances mainly), lack of an appropriate egglaying site (there should be a site in the cage at all times once the female is sexually mature, IMHO), and physical problems (eggs that are misformed, fused eggs, reproductive tract deformities, eggs that have grown too big to lay) that prevent the eggs from being laid. Letting a female see you watch her when she is digging the hole can also cause eggbinding...she usually abandons the hole if she sees that she is being watched...if it happens too often, she will get past the point of being able to lay the eggs.

Hope this helps!