Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Budsteam · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: Egg Laying - Getting worried now

Last Wednesday Bud started scratching around the bottom of the viv, no change in colouration but did look a bit chubby in certain positions. We put a nesting pot in and Bud duly dug a tunnel and after a couple of days (Saturday)spent the night in the nest, only coming up in the afternoon for a drink a snack at this stage we covered the viv to give total privacy.
On Monday Bud cam out of the nest for a while and slept up the top of the viv but during the day (Tuesday) returned to the nest pot. Did the same thing last night and today. We dare not go in and disturb the pot but we don't know if any eggs have been laid. Bud's never been mated and this is the first time we have seen this behaviour, Bud is around 18 month old. Last couple of days the colouration has darkened but no other obvious signs of being gravid. What should we do? Bud doesn't look fat or bumpy but keeps going back to the pot, should we check the pot?

Rickeezee · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:16 am Post subject:

When she has laid the eggs she will cover them back up, and the pot will not look like it has been dug in, then is the time to remove them. My yem took about a week of digging b4 she laid and acted in the say way as yours. It is important though to just let her get on with it, she needs to go through the complete process especially covering them up once laid, if she does not get the chance to cover them up then mentally she will think job not done and get stressed.
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Budsteam · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:49 am Post subject:

Thanks Rick,
She keeps going up and down to the pot, she looks normal most of the time just sometimes when sitting upright the body looks fat but that may just be the way she's sitting. This morning She went back to the pot and scraped around a little now hiding up at the top of the flexi near the lights so I cant even get a photo. Just looked in the pot and the surface is smooth all patted own no more tunnels, recon she's done and now just going back to check on the nest every now and then. Shall I take the pot out?

Rickeezee · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:57 am Post subject:

well, your choice, but if there wewre tunnels and now there arnt any, may be worth a quick rumage. Let us know how you get on, good luck.
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Budsteam · Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

We've decided to leave the pot for a couple of days although we're pretty certain Bud's back to normal., still visiting the pot but just sitting there, kind of tending the nest. I know natural instinct would be be to head back up high but as Bud knows she's not at risk, (comes out and wanders around the house all the time even scoots across the floor given half the chance), I wonder if this is why she keeps going back to mind the nest rather than just going back up the branches. Do you think she'll carry on checking the nest and if so how long for, maybe we should just get the pot out.

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:27 am Post subject:

Thats an interesting question, I for one have not got a clue as to the answer.

When mine have laid, I have had to remove the nest boxs straight away to get the eggs into the incubator.

Would be interesting to find out if she is actualy tending / guarding the nest?
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Budsteam

A quick update... a happy post ... it does seem Bud was tending the nest. Would just go down to the pot every morning for half an hour or so, seemingly just checking that all is OK.
Well, we finally got her to come out over the weekend and removed the nest pot (didn't want to disturb anything with Bud in the flexi in case it caused too much stress) and sure enough around 30 plump little white eggs at bottom of the pot. What a relief - glad to have this first one over and done with, hopefully we will be less stressed next time.
Once the pot was removed Bud was back to her out going, explorer self again. Very Happy

Stayed up and watched TV with Jerry last night so Dad and Bud happy and reunited again!

PS posted this to try and cheer everyone up a bit as I just read about the sad losses in past couple of days. My deepest sympathy guys, I can only imagine how devastated you must be, Bud means the world to us.

Rickeezee · Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

Nice to hear a happy ending story, well done I am glad it all worked out well. Very Happy

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