Reptile & Amphibian Forums

today my female dug a hole and buried it. the past few days she has been digging but NOT burying it back up. my wife said that she buried it by draging her back end over the dirt.

tonight when i got home i went to check on her and she was resting a bit in one of her normal spots. so i took the bucket out and went though it to see what was there...there was nothing. by this time she had started to make her way though the plants, as i watched her i notcied two things. first her vent looked biggr then normal and second she seemed to be dragging or at least not really wanting to use her back legs. as if they had no strength. i took her out to look her over and she seemed not to grip me as strongly with her hind legs as she normally does. maybe that was just me i don't know? anyone have any thoughts about this? is her in labor?

dennis

Have you still not weighed her? This would tell alot. Last time I asked you she was 58 grams right? When my female got oxytocin, she did a similar thing, by dragging her back end, but only for a few minutes and right after that she was dropping eggs. Also, a few days after she dropped her eggs, she dug a complete hole and completely buried it in, like she had laid, but never did. After that she was fine and never attempted to dig again. She may be trying to lay infertile eggs. From what you've said before that she's a virgin, that's a possibility. Plus, she's pretty old to have never been bred. That's when they would lay. You should also let her dig or do her thing without her being able to see you. A few times I've interrupted a female digging and she stopped what she was doing until the next day. Maybe she was going to lay but backed out of it when she saw you. If she does lay, make sure you give the eggs a shot for a few weeks in case she's not a virgin.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV

she has never been bred i confirmed that yesterday from the i got her from. he is absolutely certain. i haven't waighed her again only because i don't have a scale of my own. what really bothers me is she is not her normal fiesty self. very passive or friendly and for the past couple days she has kept her mouth "cracked a bit" so and looking for water so i've misted serval times a day in additioin to her 5 times a days for 1 minute getting misted from the mister. i just talked to my wife and she said bring her down if i'm really concerned. so i'm headed out the door now.

dennis

so i took my girl down to the vet and they took an xray. thre are definately eggs there, i could count about 20. but the vet said it doesn't look like they are in place yet to come out. i asked about her being friendly and not her normal fiesty self. he said she may just be comfortable with you...at the vet she gaped and hissed at my wife and the doctor. while waiting she even let me hold her against my stoch to keep her warm, not displaying any dark colors or gaping. so i guess she is doing what she is suppose to do. i know i feek better.

dennis

Dennis-

Your male doesn't want to breed? He should be sexually active at 6 months of age. Some times you get a male that just takes longer. If she is still showing receptive colors you can still breed her. Sounds like pre ovulating ovaries which is the production of eggs. If the eggs are already well developed then it is to late to breed her for this clutch. My female Nosy Be is VERY tame, she has been this way since I got her at about 2-3 months of age. Even now being gravid she never gapes/hisses at me like the other females, weather they are gravid or not. The photo I first saw of your female she was showing receptive colors, after she saw your male and not being bred she could have started producing the eggs, or was already when you got her. Hope this helps!
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John W. Lucas

CHAMELEON PARADISE

CHAMELEONS ONLINE E-ZINE AUTHOR

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Photo © Chameleon Paradise 2003

I bet Dr. Greek is tired of seeing gravid female panther chameleons this week. I was just in there last night with one of my female ambanjas. He took xrays and told me to inject oxytocin twice a day. Shes had three injections so far and I can guarantee that whatever tolerance that female had for me is completely gone now Oh well, shes laid 6 eggs so far but it looks like none of them are any good. Good look with your female Nosey Be Dennis, keep us posted!

my veiled layed 54 eggs yesterday......without a problem......don't know if they are fertile or not, she hasn't been bred since she last layed, time will tell!
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