Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a gravid female greentree,she is in pre-shed right now what steps should I take prepare for the eggs?

First, get an incubator set up and stabalize the temp at 88.6. The best nest box I've found is a med-large cockatiel nest that you can find at most pet stores. Place DRY sphagnum moss inside and place it in the cage. If you are going to go with maternal, just be sure to keep the humidity up inside the cage, DO NOT let the next box become moist. This can and will kill eggs. The eggs must be kept dry but in high humidity. Set the cage temp at 85 and let the female do her thing. You may have to hang wet towels inside the cage, as well as mist a couple times daily to keep humidity up.

If you are going the artificial route, I recommend NOT using the no substrate method for your first time. I've tried this on 2 occasions with less than stellar results. I've used perlite and vermiculte with great success. Vermiculite is a little easier to work with, but a little harder to find. If your incubator has high relative humidity, most of the time, you can use the vermiculite dry......straight from the bag. Place the eggs on the vermiculite/perlite in a closed container with only a couple of small air holes.....any type of plastic box should work. Try not to be too anxious(yeah right) and look at the eggs 20 times a day. By the 5th week of incubation, you should fan the eggs with fresh air at least once a day just to remove the co2 from the egg box and to give them oxygen. Keep an eye on condensation and make sure water DOES NOT drip onto the eggs.

Good luck and watch for day 49.

Brandon Osborne

Brandon has given you tons of great advice. I would personally not waste time with the no substrate method. I would stick with vermiculite or perilite, although I have not used perilite for any clutches. I also incubate at a steady 88 degrees for the entire 49 days, some people use 87 degrees, others use the changing temps gradually over the 49 days method. As you can see, there is almost always more than one way to do things, and the best thing you can do is figure out what works best for you. Never take something said as gospel because you will undoubtedly make changes to what was said. All you can do is take others people advice and try and apply it to your own situation. I learned just about all I know of breeding chondros from reading the different forums and websites that have information on them, and very long phone calls with a guy named Rob Worrell

If you follow what Brandon has told you, and use that as a guideline, you should have some success with the eggs. Also, if you have any questions you can always email me on the site listed in my signature.

-----
Mike Bair
Chondro Dreams