Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been lurking here since well before I purchased my first chameleon. I have a female Veiled who is now about six and a half months old. She's a virgin and will remain that way until I have access to a male or end up buying one (unlikely). Luna is just about a couple months older and so I've been reading all of Lele's (and Luna's) posts to see what the future may have in store for Tilly and I.

In early December Tilly slowed down her eating and started showing some nice orange shades. I thought it was because of the change in weather and because she is growing up. I realized exactly what was happening when I saw the picture of "lumpy Luna". Tilly is about the same size as Luna and when I saw the picture I looked from the screen to Tilly's cage next to it.. They looked identical.

The next day I filled a plexiglas container (7"x7" ) with damp supersoil and put it in Tilly's cage. Tilly continued eating a cricket or two and maybe a few worms, not paying any attention to the dirt. The last couple days she got restless and explored every bit of her cage. Last night she didn't eat but actually checked out the dirt and promptly started digging. She didn't care that I was sitting right next to her or that the container was clear (though a little scratched up). She dug well into the night and this morning her eggs are halfway buried. She's finishing up as I'm posting this.

So.. I just wanted to say thank you, Lele, for posting that picture of Luna. I thought I had at least a couple more months until I would have to worry about laying. I hope this helps you to worry a little less. My girl is the same size and younger so Luna should do just fine.

On to the questions.. My Veiled is getting exhausted but her hole isn't filled. Should I leave her alone until she's done? Remove her and get her to eat and drink? Should I put the dripper over her so she can have a drink while she works? Mist?

Thanks to the rest of you too. Everyone here has helped me with so many things already. Almost every question I've had was already answered here somewhere.

Vivian

Well, thanks Vivian! I, too found this forum a huge help when I first began lurking last year! Well, I am hoping that Luna's time is near, too. She has been a bit "[bleep]y" the past 24 hours (very uncharacteristic of her) and even let out a little hiss when I gave her her calcium this morning - hormones, they can do that to a gal! LOL!

interesting that you used such a shallow container. I have one that is higher but I would rather use a different one that is lower, but wider - think I will. Did you leave the lights on so she would dig all night?

As for your questions...my instinct would be to definitely mist and I think offering her water by making it available would be a good idea. I would hesitate to remove her as in nature she would be on her own and I doubt she'll eat right away. There was a recent thread about a remaining egg or two - would have to look back for details.

Thanks again and keep us posted!!

lele and "soon-to-be-not-so-lumpy" Luna!

>>I've been lurking here since well before I purchased my first chameleon. I have a female Veiled who is now about six and a half months old. She's a virgin and will remain that way until I have access to a male or end up buying one (unlikely). Luna is just about a couple months older and so I've been reading all of Lele's (and Luna's) posts to see what the future may have in store for Tilly and I.
>>
>>In early December Tilly slowed down her eating and started showing some nice orange shades. I thought it was because of the change in weather and because she is growing up. I realized exactly what was happening when I saw the picture of "lumpy Luna". Tilly is about the same size as Luna and when I saw the picture I looked from the screen to Tilly's cage next to it.. They looked identical.
>>
>>The next day I filled a plexiglas container (7"x7" ) with damp supersoil and put it in Tilly's cage. Tilly continued eating a cricket or two and maybe a few worms, not paying any attention to the dirt. The last couple days she got restless and explored every bit of her cage. Last night she didn't eat but actually checked out the dirt and promptly started digging. She didn't care that I was sitting right next to her or that the container was clear (though a little scratched up). She dug well into the night and this morning her eggs are halfway buried. She's finishing up as I'm posting this.
>>
>>So.. I just wanted to say thank you, Lele, for posting that picture of Luna. I thought I had at least a couple more months until I would have to worry about laying. I hope this helps you to worry a little less. My girl is the same size and younger so Luna should do just fine.
>>
>>On to the questions.. My Veiled is getting exhausted but her hole isn't filled. Should I leave her alone until she's done? Remove her and get her to eat and drink? Should I put the dripper over her so she can have a drink while she works? Mist?
>>
>>Thanks to the rest of you too. Everyone here has helped me with so many things already. Almost every question I've had was already answered here somewhere.
>>
>>Vivian
>>
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Let her finish or it could be very stressfull for her if she is interrupted. They will even stamp down the ground to make it look like there is nothing there.
She probably will not eat or drink till she is completely finished so if it were me I would not mist if the droplets might disturb or frighten her at all.
When she is completely done and has climbed back into her plant or branch then offer water or misting and some food.
Welcome to the forum!

Tilly is always a little "[bleep]y" so I didn't notice any difference in that respect!

I picked the small container because that's all that I had that would fit in her cage without removing a plant. I didn't want to change her cage around too much if I didn't have to. Plus I wasn't 100% sure there were going to be any eggs. A larger bucket was ready if this one didn't work because of the plexiglas or size. She didn't seem interested in any dirt at all and I was just about to try the bucket this weekend.

She dug down to the very bottom into the corner-- into the farthest corner of her cage and away from her heat light. The top was covered with some dead leaves and vines from the pothos next to it. While digging and burying, her tail held on to the vines that crossed over the top of the container and were secured to the side of her cage. I think this really helped her.

After much debating I turned off her lights not too long after her "bedtime". She didn't seem to notice because of the dark tunnel she created. I could hear her digging hours later. When I woke up early this morning I could see her eggs in the bottom corner of her container. She had buried them with a couple inches and was sleeping in what was left of the hole. There was another egg next to her. She woke a little earlier than normal and started slowly filling in the hole after her lights came back on.

Not long after my last post I lightly misted her. She stopped and turned dark but didn't drink. I got the dripper going not far from her hole and left her alone for the most part. She's paused to drink a couple times. She's almost up to the top now and trying to rip leaves off the pothos presumably to put into the hole.

I'm trying to leave her alone though she doesn't seem to mind me being nearby (my computer is right next to her cage). My kids are very curious though and she's paused whenever they've come within ten feet of her. I'm keeping them away for now.

Thanks for the help and hope this helps someone out there. Any other questions or answers are welcome.

Vivian

and let her finish without disturbing her or she could retain an egg or two and get eggbound.
She may just be ripping the leaf because she is thirsty and is eating it for moisture.
I know the kids are curious but you could tell them she needs her privacy right now and maybe they can help you dig up her eggs later.
When she is done and in her branches again offer her food and water right away and let her rest as much as possible today.
I would supplement her food with a bit of Calcium and vitamins today too.

This is great! About how big are the eggs? I am trying to gauge Luna's "due date." She went to her regular sleep spot so out went the lights. I kept a towel over her cage for part of the day just to give her a sense of being alone. It sounds like Tilly & Luna began around the same time. I will sure be glad when it is over!

Thanks for your description and observations! It will be helpful.

lele

>>Tilly is always a little "[bleep]y" so I didn't notice any difference in that respect!
>>
>>I picked the small container because that's all that I had that would fit in her cage without removing a plant. I didn't want to change her cage around too much if I didn't have to. Plus I wasn't 100% sure there were going to be any eggs. A larger bucket was ready if this one didn't work because of the plexiglas or size. She didn't seem interested in any dirt at all and I was just about to try the bucket this weekend.
>>
>>She dug down to the very bottom into the corner-- into the farthest corner of her cage and away from her heat light. The top was covered with some dead leaves and vines from the pothos next to it. While digging and burying, her tail held on to the vines that crossed over the top of the container and were secured to the side of her cage. I think this really helped her.
>>
>>After much debating I turned off her lights not too long after her "bedtime". She didn't seem to notice because of the dark tunnel she created. I could hear her digging hours later. When I woke up early this morning I could see her eggs in the bottom corner of her container. She had buried them with a couple inches and was sleeping in what was left of the hole. There was another egg next to her. She woke a little earlier than normal and started slowly filling in the hole after her lights came back on.
>>
>>Not long after my last post I lightly misted her. She stopped and turned dark but didn't drink. I got the dripper going not far from her hole and left her alone for the most part. She's paused to drink a couple times. She's almost up to the top now and trying to rip leaves off the pothos presumably to put into the hole.
>>
>>I'm trying to leave her alone though she doesn't seem to mind me being nearby (my computer is right next to her cage). My kids are very curious though and she's paused whenever they've come within ten feet of her. I'm keeping them away for now.
>>
>>Thanks for the help and hope this helps someone out there. Any other questions or answers are welcome.
>>
>>Vivian
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

After 22 hours of digging, laying and burying she went up into her tree. She drank from her dripper and moved under it letting the water wash off most of the dirt. She sunbathed, ate two dusted crickets immediately and loved it when I misted her. That was four hours ago.

Since then she's gone from the dirt to the tree at least half a dozen times. She pats and moves dirt around but not enough to make much difference in my eyes. She did finally rip a few leaves off the pothos (with her claws) and buried them just under the surface above her eggs. She's so thin, her belly skin sags and she's a little shaky but seems to be doing well under the circumstances.

Her eggs are very white. The size and shape are difficult to see. They are packed in very tight and in a hard place for me to see. I'd say they're size is somewhere between a plain m&m and a peanut m&m . I'll post when I know for sure.

As for due dates.. The only differences I've noticed this last week was that her poop was smaller and more frequent (and when she wasn't hungry she pooped directly in her food cup!). She also got increasingly restless. Yesterday she was almost running around her cage and trying to get between the pots and other places she didn't fit.

Anyone know how long she'll keep checking her eggs or does this mean she might have more? When can I remove them and will it upset her? I'd like to take them out before they rot to show the kids and take pictures. About how long will it take for her to recover? How long will it take for me to recover?

Thanks,
Vivian

Sonia, thanks for that info as I would possibly have tried misting. UGH! I just want it to happen!

>>Let her finish or it could be very stressfull for her if she is interrupted. They will even stamp down the ground to make it look like there is nothing there.
>>She probably will not eat or drink till she is completely finished so if it were me I would not mist if the droplets might disturb or frighten her at all.
>>When she is completely done and has climbed back into her plant or branch then offer water or misting and some food.
>>Welcome to the forum!
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta