Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female Sambava, that mated on the 10th and 13th of last month just laid 24 eggs. I didn't expect her to lay so soon.
I currently have them in a tupperware container with lightly moist coco bedding as a substrate, temp at 72 degrees.
Should I switch to vermiculite?
I have a brand new Hovabator in storage, should I use that?

Sorry for the newbie questions but all my experience is with live bearers up until now (except for my gold dust day geckos and I leave their eggs in situ with no problems besides the occasional loss of a baby tail).
Thanks,
Shawn

Congratulations Shawn on the successful breeding.

We have never tried coco bedding as an egg substrate for anything other than geckos. We always used vermiculite (sometimes vermiculite mixed with perlite). In any case, make sure it isn't too moist. You can handle the eggs for a few days only - then it becomes risky - as with most herp eggs. Be sure to mark the top, if you move them.

We have heard of many Hobavators that failed and cooked eggs. We have one (for quail eggs), but we never used it for chameleon eggs. I truly think they are meant for warmer temps than used for chameleons.

We found a closet or household cabinet that stayed between 68-75 degrees year round - and placed our shoeboxes in there. We check them weekly. There is a digital thermometer in the closet at all times.

Some folks say that 80F is okay, but we don't agree. We believe that the cooler temps allows the embryo to grow at the proper rate and not "rush the process", thus possibly making weaker babies.

Read as much as you can on the hatching process - and get ready for the long wait. Here is a good book: (see the LINK below)

Link

Very Cool indeed ! Sure hoping all will do fine. I have not had chameleon eggs yet, but breed other lizards and always use vermiculite.

I also agree about them (hovabators) running at higher temps, I use them for my desert lizards to incubate.

Best wishes with those eggies!
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve