Female veiled digging

[PythonWallace]

My female has been digging in her substrate for about a week. She is only 6 months old and isn't very big yet (about 5" from nose to vent, 11" w/tail). I have a male to breed her to when she is ready, but I haven't seen her change to the blue color and I thaught she would have to be older before she was ready to breed. Is she just restless or looking for bugs, or is she looking for a place to lay eggs? Should I try to breed her now, or if she is digging is it too late to breed her? Anyone know what's going on?

[Chase13]

6 months is the average age of being sexually mature. The only reason a female would start digging is to make a nest. Not all females will display the blue colors you are looking for BTW. If you want to know if she's ready for breeding, but the male and female together and observe her reactions. If she turns a very dark, almost black color, hisses alot, and rocks back and forth alot when the male comes around, she is not ready for breeding. Also, you say she is digging in her substrate. If she IS building a nest to lay eggs (which is prolly what she is doing) make sure you give you female a laying box rather than just using the substrate. It's easier for you to get the eggs, and with a box, the female usually will choose the box to lay because it is less stressful for the chameleon. Hope this helped!!

[PythonWallace]

Thanks, yeah I just reread my notes from when I had my first veiled, and she is old enough. I thought it was as early as 6 months but usually closer to a year before female were ready, when in reality it is 5-6 months usually. I will put an egg laying box in with her tonight and introduce her to the male tomorrow and hope for the best.

[PythonWallace]

If she's already digging, is it too late to introduce her to the male?

[PythonWallace]

Last night I took her to my friend's house who has the male. In the car she displayed the bright blue on her casque and along her sides. Good timing. So I introduced her to his cage and she crept up to within 24" of him and started basking. He slowly walked over to her and started displaying his color and puffing up. She didn't flinch, and he mounted her and after a few minutes of grabbing her it looked like it was happening. About 15 minutes later he backed off a little but was still holding her sides. She didn't turn solid black or attack him, but she did get very bright yellow spots as well as some patches of black/ charcoal areas. Did this breeding take, or will her disposition flip if it goes right?