Posted by:
lwcamp
at Wed Jan 21 18:43:44 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by lwcamp ]
In the past I have used rubbermaid storage bins as nest boxes with a hole drilled in the side large enough to admit the female. Females are usually sufficiently smaller than males that they can squeeze through holes that the males cannot. Unfortunately, a heavily gravid female requires a hole large enough that a male can get his head and neck in. The only reliable option is to remove the male when the female starts nesting.
I have used vermiculite to incubate argus eggs. I mix in just enough water that it is just barely damp to the touch, kind of like what you would expect from turning over a spadefull of dirt. Too much water kills the eggs. If the vermiculite is obviouly damp, it is too much. Don't bury the eggs, just nestle them down into the substrate a bit. Don't ever water them. If necessary, add water to the vermiculite if is starts to feel bone dry, but not directly to the eggs. I incubated my eggs in a hovabator, placing the eggs and vermiculite in a sealed tupperware container. Lift the lid every few days to make sure the eggs are okay and allow air exchange. Do not turn them.
Best of luck,
Luke
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RE: I need help with Argus breeding and egg incubation - lwcamp, Wed Jan 21 18:43:44 2004