My new veiled chameleons

[patrickfraser]

They take 9 months! Talk about a waiting game.

Here's my male from last night. "Hey Buddy, Spare some chapstick".

 

[hierodula]

Lol, love the pic. How about "hey, got milk?"

 

[patrickfraser]

This is my female getting ready for bed. Such an array of different colorings they have.

 

[CoolMantid]

Did you get these at the Pomona Show? Are you going again this year?

 

[patrickfraser]

Yes, it was the Pomona reptile show. I purchased them from an outfit called Amazing Blue Reptiles. I believe they were out of San Diego. I will try to go again.

 

[patrickfraser]

My female is digging again. I guess she's ready to lay another clutch.

This is my male. He was on my hand and backed up and snuggled up in the sleeve of my bathrobe.

 

[aNisip]

Do you have to mate her again everytime she lays a clutch? Or do the females store the sperm like the mantises...that male is adorable!

 

[agent A]

I seriously hope thats your arm hes clinging to

 

[patrickfraser]

I have read that they can retain sperm for a future clutch, but when she becomes receptive I will let them mate. You know, it's only natural. :lol:

 

[patrickfraser]

She's getting deeper today. Might just possibly have a clutch laid for Christmas. I'm off to the family's, so I will see when I get home.

 

[aNisip]

She's dissappearing! Don't let her get away! how deep is the dirt bin? Are you going to give her a bath when she's all done?

 

[patrickfraser]

The laying bin is a big planter like 12" with about 9-10" of topsoil. I came home and found he hole somewhat covered and her just as fat as she was, so maybe tomorrow. This was her before I turned the lights out. She's a dirty girl. I will mist her as usual, but I don't want to stress her out while laying, as she can become eggbound. She will just get dirty again when she digs tomorrow. I will give her a long shower and a large feast once the eggs are laid. Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Mime454]

They're kinda cute when they're dirty. She's huge! I wished I lived in a place where I could just go outside and find them! But I probably wouldn't be on mantidforum then.

 

[patrickfraser]

It looks like today might be the day. She's got a nice cave that is big enough for her to turn around in. I was trying not to disturb her by taking the photo through the screen, but as you can see I was spotted. :lol:

 

[hierodula]

Lol shes like what are you looking at?

 

[sinensispsyched]

WOW! Good luck with the hopeful laying!

 

[patrickfraser]

She still has not layed her eggs. She covered the one hole and has now started one opposite the first. I guess she knows what she's doing. I don't know their "cycle", but the last clutch was laid on October 1st. If not laid by the new year, I might have to start to worry. She's going through all the motions, so she's probably waiting for the "THIS IS IT!" or "UH OH" moment. My mom always said that babies come when they're ready. I guess the same can hold true for eggs.

This morning when i misted her she was really thirsty and was drinking right from my hand sprayer. Soooooo cute. If I had more hands I'd take photos. :lol:

 

[agent A]

warpdrive says it's bad to even watch them lay eggs and that they can become eggbound that way

 

[patrickfraser]

She has seen me each time she has laid before. I think it's more if they are stressed or feel threatened. I think mine are pretty secure with me. I do put up a privacy curtain (you can see it in some of the laying pics, just an old sheet), but she always catches me peeking (maybe I peek to often :lol: ) . Don't ask me how, since they don't hear. It's a "mother's intuition", I guess.

 

[patrickfraser]

I woke up and checked on my female this morning and she was covering her hole and looked MUCH thinner.

I got my incubating container prepped decided to do a little excavating when she left the laying bin and found the "tip of the iceberg".

I finished digging them up and there are a total of 50. I think the first clutch I left for a day or 2 and were stained by the topsoil (first clutch down to 50). These are a lot more white and what I am used to seeing.

This is her taking a drink from the sprayer.