Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Anne]

I was doing my nightly check last night, and had been noticing both of my females doing a bit of digging - Amy seemed to be digging holes then just wandering off (she has been doing that for a little while now) and Hazel had dug a nice round hole about 10cm deep and was sitting in it. I hadn't seen her dig before, but I noticed she has been eating loads of crickets recently.
I looked this morning and Hazels terrarium was all nice and neat- you couldn't even see she had been digging! I carefully re-dug the hole bit by bit and I have come across a bright white egg!! whether there was another one there I do not know, I have just quickly covered it back over for now until I am sorted.
I have got a few tips from reading previous topics but would appreciate your comments before I move the egg/s

1) Should I use an incubator? I have a hovabator if that is any good?
2) What is the incubating temp - 79f?
3) Incubating medium - 2" of damp vermiculite followed by bone dry perlite?
4) How long do successful eggs take to hatch?

Thank you for your help.

[Scott W]

Hi Anne, that's great news.

1) Should I use an incubator? I have a hovabator if that is any good?
Fluctuating temps don't seem to affect rhaco eggs but using an incubator will hlep predict hatching dates better.

2) What is the incubating temp - 79f?
79f should be fine

3) Incubating medium - 2" of damp vermiculite followed by bone dry perlite?
That sounds perfect, rhaco eggs are better on the slightly dryer side so the perlite will help with that

4) How long do successful eggs take to hatch?
Mine have been from 80 days up to 150 days, but at your temps it should be around the 80.

Good luck.
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[Anne]

Thanks for the reply.
There were two eggs next to each other, and they are a healthy white colour.
I have done all of the above so fingers crossed....

[Stuart]

Good luck Anne and keep us all posted on how it goes..
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[Jackie]

Yey congrats Anne - fingers crossed they are fertile.

Scott's answered all your questions but here's my input..lol:

1) Should I use an incubator? I have a hovabator if that is any good?
I use an incubator - it's a homemade one not a hovabator. I tried incubating on a shelf at fluctuating room temperatures but the eggs went mouldy and died (they were fertile).

2) What is the incubating temp - 79f?
I incubated at 80oF so that temp. is fine. It took 55 days for the first egg to to hatch at that temp.

3) Incubating medium - 2" of damp vermiculite followed by bone dry perlite?
I use only perlite but Scott has had great success using that method you mentioned.

4) How long do successful eggs take to hatch?
See number 2.
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Best wishes, Jackie

3:4 Eublepharis macularius
1:0 Gekko gecko
3:4:1 R. auriculatus
1:3 R. ciliatus
1:1 R. chahoua
1:1 R. leachianus henkeli

[Budda]

Hi, just put my bit in (better late than never)

I incubate at 80-81F and have had hatching occur at 65 days.

The rest has been said.

Hope it all goes well.
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