Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today I went into one of my cham rooms and found 3 infertile eggs from my female carpet cham in her pot. I am pretty sure she isn't done either, she still looks very full. But the eggs were not moist or anything, they look like they had been there all day. Is this a problem? I don't think I interupted her while she was laying, when I came in she was at the top of the cage basking. Also, she must have fallen because she looks like she has a pretty nasty sprain (I am saying a sprain because it looks very swollen and bruised but she is still using it fine so I do not feel it is a fracture.) on her front right leg. Maybe this is why she isn't laying? Would the fall damage any of the eggs? It probably was only from several feet, but thats a long way for a 7 inch cham. Can anyone help?

Also in the past several says I have noticed my male four horn acting very strange. He has not deficated is several days and today I found him sleeping (Sleeping during the day has been a horrible sign of bad things to come in my chams). He is still drinking like crazy and he ate the other day. But do think he may be constipated? He has not pooped in a while and I am really starting to get worried. Or is this some sort of parasite? I dont htink its the set up. He is in a 4x2x2 all wire mesh cage in a 70 degree room (I am keeping them rather cool in hopes of breeding) and he is being sprayed for 5-7 minutes a day. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well as for the carpet, they do not lay in a particular spot, then just drop their eggs wherever she may be. As for the sprain I can't say, but you will need to keep a eye on your carpets so the eggs don't dry out..

But she has already started to lay. Is it common for them to drop their eggs in various places over an extended period of time? I know that they usually do not burry the eggs in captivity, but I have a cainter in there just in case. And how long is to long in regards to leaving them out? I will be able to find them with in several hours on her laying, is that ok?

What you are seeing with the lateralis is what is thought by some keepers to be caused by improper substrate temperature.
The biggest problem with this species is it comes from so many differant locations on the island. If you look at the known locales you see a great differance in climate.

The lateralis that come from Antananarivo never get the warm temps that the lateralis from Morondava get. In Tana the temp generally is cool and very humid. Morondava gets hotter and is very humid. My understanding from people who have seen lateralis at Morondava is it is found close to the cooler ground. I found lateralis between 4' and 5' high while in Tana. Even though they were in someones garden, the terrain around Tana consists of mostly shrubs, vines and small tree's.

Now add to the issue that 3 forms of lateralis are found at Morondava. Then add to the fact the west coast specimen experiance a great variation in seasonal rainfall. The cool rains would certainly bring the temps of the soil down.

I had some animals that I could never find the ideal laying temp while others only needed minor drops. I would try getting the bottom of the cage into the middle 60's and work from there.

Carl

While it is common for carpets to simply scatter their eggs around the cage bottom, it is untrue that they will not lay just as other chameleons do by digging a nest. In my very limited experience (2 females laying 4 clutches between them), I have not had one time where they did not dig and lay. One time came with help from me by starting the hole for her, which she finished by herself. The other 3 times the carpet started and finished her own nest, which was about 4-5 inches deep.

Only one of those times was when an egg deposition site was left inside of the cage. The other 3 were by placing the female in a separate laying container, outside of the cage. A very experienced lateralis breeder I have talked with has no problems getting them to nest, and only uses nesting receptacles that are separate from the caging. She had mentioned that she believed that was preferred by carpets.

Carl, do you suggest cooling the laying receptacle as in fischers? I actually warmed the laying media instead from below, and once from above, and once not at all. I do not know the locale of the females however...very intersting that you have had luck cooling (or did I misread?). Both are worth a try.

Good to see you on the forum Carl!

Kevin

Hey Kevin

Not so much cooling the laying can but keeping it cooler than the warmer air. I have found that if the soil temps are cool (65-70) most species will lay quicker. The fischeri are the perfect example. I could not get either of my 3 females to lay until I got the soil temp into the 60's. I also had problems getting cristatus to lay until I let the soil cool down. I know there are a few more species but they just aren't coming to me at the moment. Lateralis is a tough species to use as an example. It is just to widespread to say "68" is the optimal temp.

Alot of this can also be seen in incubation. Too warm and you have a faster hatching with all sorts of problems both short and longterm. I don't think I have ever heard of any issue's arising from a cool incubation.

Next add in moisture content of soil in the laying can. That is a whole other conversation.

Carl

Thanks for the info Carl. Nice to see your input. :-D How are the Nchisiensis?
Kevin

>>Thanks for the info Carl. Nice to see your input. :-D How are the Nchisiensis?>>

The nchisiensis are coming along. One of the female uluguruensis is dug in this morning so we'll be seeing another clutch.

Carl

Your quad might be dehydrated. What's the cage humidity level? Drinking a lot, lower activity, and pooping less often might be signs he's a bit dry. Cooler air holds less moisture than warm air. If he's cooler his metabolism will drop, and this includes digestion.

I'm not sure on the humidity. I spray him 5 times a day. But he does seem dehydrated. He usually tolerates being sprayed, I never really saw him drink to much before. But now he he hanging real close to the light and drinking alot more than I have ever seen him. He pooped a little bit today so I am hoping I am just being paranoid.

Also In reguards to my carpets, I should lower the temp? The cage is about 75 or so degrees with a 60 watt basking lamp. All 3 of them tend to hand real close to the lamp. They really seem to enjoy the heat. Or maybe they are just stressed, I don't know. They are drinking like crazy also. They drink for several minutes a day. I have a several gallon laying container in her cage. I have a 4 inch tunnel already dug for her, but she didnt use it. Is this a problem that she laid 3 eggs and not the rest?

It still sounds as if something has changed in the climate of your herp room. Are you heating more because of winter weather? Is the room a bit cooler than usual? Temp change is not a problem as long as everyone can bask daily, but humidity drop is an issue. Get a hygrometer and check the air humidity...as more than one of your chams is acting differently I bet it is generally a climatic change that they are responding to (basking more, drinking more). Especially for the quad, you must know what your humidity level is so don't guess. Sorry, I don't know about carpet egg laying. I've read that they can just randomly drop eggs in the cage, but don't know more than that.