I use an old translucent rubbermaid plastic container, couple inches deep, and an old glass casserole dish. I put about an inch of moist vermiculite in the bottom. Its damp, but if I take a fistful and squeeze, I can get no more than one drop of water out of it.



I put the eggs into the vermiculite, just half covered, spaced about an inch between eggs. I cover the glass dish with plastic wrap with a single small hole poked in it. The rubbermaid I use the lid it came with, also with a small hole punched in it. The container then goes in a dark cupboard.



The temperature is warmer during the day than at night, but never warmer than 75F and never cooler than 65F. I check them daily for the first weeks, to identify and toss any unfertalizer eggs gone bad.

Then I only check once a month for about 5 months.



I was told the eggs will hatch faster if warmed up slightly after month 6. So sometime around month 6 or 7 I move the containers to a cupboard in the same room as my chams. This location in this room is a little warmer, around 75 constant during the day, and about 67 at night. I also add a tiny bit of water to ensure the vermiculite stays moist.



And at this point I'd check the eggs almost daily. I find the one with plastic wrap much easier to see through than the semi-transparent rubbermaid lid. Next time I think I'll just use plastic wrap on the plastic bottom too.



They're amazing little creatures to watch hatch. Once out of their eggs, they rest a short while, and then BAM they are on the move - perfect googly-eyed minatures.



I found they dont tend to eat the first day - probably still using up the last of the egg reserves. But after that they are hungry hungry, so make sure you have fruitfly cultures ready from month 6. I also provided itty-bitty (less 5mm) mealworms after the first week, since I breed mealworms and always have some available. Also can offer very recently hatched silk-worms, if I happen to have some. I dont offer pinhead crickets until the fourth week. The crickets and fruitflies are the primary food items i used for the next couple months.



Hope this helps.



-----
SandraChameleon@gmail.com

BC Canada

[ Show Entire Thread ]