Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

I have been told numerous times that yemen chameleons are very prone to egg binding and that I am likely to only have my two girls for about 2 years due to this.

I know there are a few things I can do to help with this when the time is right, substrate for laying and not overfeeding them (they gunna love me for that).

But I have also heard that having them mated also helps with this problem as they are more likely to lay fertile eggs than to let them bind... not sure how true this is myself but it does sound right.

I am more than happy to get a male for them if this helps, but if it makes no difference then I will be getting a Panther instead Smile

Dennis · I'm new here... Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

I've been keeping two females for over six years and they have never been mated during this time cause they were very big and to agressive towards any male i introduced to them. They never laid any unfertile eggs in this time. I think the key is the feeding. Egg binding is often a sign that you are overdoing it with the amount of food,also with the quality(to much protein,fat). Im keeping them short on food and always gutload every insect. A vet told me not to use vitamins to often but instead always dust with minerals,calcium.. Why don't you just "borrow" a male for the mating job and still buy a panther? Very Happy

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

wont they require a regular "knocking up"?

Dennis · I'm new here... Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

after producing the first fertile clutch the problem with egg binding sinks-just my opinion/experience. Keep in mind that only one mating is enough for two or three fertile clutches (with panthers up to six!) Anyway,wheres the problem,invite the guy with his male again, have a beer meanwhile-done ! Very Happy

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Excellent advice Dennis...
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tigerbaby2k · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

Another possibility is to spay the females. This is really a last resort as previous responses have said, egg binding is not a problem if diet is fine Smile

Very occasionally the females spine can be too curved to lay the eggs (if the female was inbred) though I do stress this is not common (thank god!)

Anyway if your confident and have the facilities Im sure you'd love to see lil babies grow!
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Sophxx

Counting down the weeks til I get my Cham! My beardie is 10 1/2 years old Smile

1.0 Bearded Dragon
1.0 Lhasa apso
1.1 Lionheads
0.1 Syrian Hamster

kinyonga · Contributing Member Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 126

I have been keeping veileds for many years now. I have not had one become eggbound for a long time now.

I have one female that is over 7 years old now and she has never produced a single egg or been mated. This seems to be the norm for me. I have mated some when they were 2+ years old that where never mated before and never produced a single egg and they produced a clutch and every egg hatched. The 7+ year old is the daughter of one of these and I have the daughter of another one of these that is over 4 now and has never produced a single egg or been mated.

I control the diet of the females and to some extent the temperature. It seems to prevent the egg production and extends their life expectancy...and controls the clutch size too. By altering the diet and temperature it seems that they can produce eggs again.

Here's how I do it....
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html

tigerbaby2k · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

cheers, love the viv it looks great!