Group and pair bonds are not to be changed! You must also be aware that keeping other speices in the same cages cause the female stress as even smaller species will eat eggs. All plated lizards are territorial, size of cage for 1.3 should be 6o" L x 24" deep x 18" to 24" high, bigger is always better. Dual UVB ZooMed/Exo Terra 8.0/Lumichrome 1XX are good combinations-these go on and off with our sunlight schedule. Basking spot Light should be place over Cork bark/12" x 12" Tile, never use heat tape or such devices with this species. Air temps: ambient 75f - 85f, basking area 92f -95f (note the tile will give them belly heat). Use 3" to 4" of "Aspen Bedding" as substrate, this creates the perfect tunnling maze. Use a Sterilite/Rubbermaid box for a "Humidity box" which is setup as follows: "ESU Forest Floor" or "Bed-a-Beast" @ 1" - 2" deep (with entrance hole on side of box accordingly) then a nice layer of Sphangus Moss which is misted daily. Females will use this box to lay eggs also.

Special note on Males* if kept to HOT sperm counts will be very low. If stacking cages check ground temps. The use of Mineral I and Nekton Rep MS works very well, use of "T-Rex Solar drops" with gravid females aids in replacement Calcuim in the Skeletal System. Since you mentioned you feel infertile eggs: there may NOT be breeding and female(s) are just cycling eggs (as Leopard Gecko females do). When your male(s) is in top breeding condition and season, his femoral pores will have long waxy secretions, horns used to rub against territorial items such as rocks, bark, hides to leave not only his scent but a UV trail attracting females for breeding. If memory serves me right under a BLB blacklight (not a poster blacklight)these trails can be seen. Imported WC Zs are always treated with Panacur & Flagyl, quarentined for 6 months together, and take up to 3 yrs max to acclimate from Madagascar time zone to ours. It is the Barometric Pressures during Winter that trigger hormonal breeding prep. NO cooling/brumation/hibernation is necessary. Lighting changes are in accord with our natural daylight time table. Crickets, waxworms, superworms as treats only, dog/catfood mixed with finely chopped vegs, sweet fruits from Spring through October. Only occasionally are speciems offered for sale through Import/Export and distributed to venders/petshops and they are WC; all Captive Bred & Born (Intensionally) are not offered up to date as it is a rarity.

I hope this answers most of your questions. I have 15 yrs experience with Zonosaurus & Gerrhosaurus species. Natural captive enviornments have always had negative results for me.

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]