Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a female crested from a local petstore today and they said one of their geckos had laid an egg before (I'm assuming it was the same one because they havent sold any others recently and it was the only female in there) and while I was holding her I noticed a lump in her abdomen and she seems fat. If she lays an egg I want to try to hatch it. I have a friend with an incubator but I dont know anything about what temps to keep it at or humidity. Any help would be awesome. I also have her with my male who is about the same size as hher, they're not used to each other but havent been agressive towards each other. I was eventually going to breed them but if shes already gravid should I separate them?
Again, any advice would be appreciated!
EEK!
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Jess
1.1 adult brazilian rainbows
1.0 sub-adult brazilian rainbow (FOR SALE!)
1.0 western hognose
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
1.0 black kingsnake (wandering around the house)
Oodles of mice
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

Also, it seems she has lost her stickyness on her feet, could this be for lack of calcium? if it is whats the best way to get her back to normal?
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Jess
1.1 adult brazilian rainbows
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
1.1 crested geckos

Oodles of mice
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

Incubating crested gecko eggs is pretty easy. If your room temperatures are between 70-80 you can incubate eggs in a small deli dish with lid. Moistened vermiculite (one part vermiculite to one part water by Weight) is the most commonly used incubation medium. With a tight fitting lid with a few or no holes will keep in the humidity. Add a bit more water once in awhile will keep it moist (or add water when the eggs show any sign of dimpling, except towards teh end of incubation, collapsing eggs at this point means hatching is about to happen) Incubation is typically between 60-75 days. Open the deli dish once or twice a week to allow fresh air to get in.

I would keep you female separated (shouldn't have introduced her to your male at all). It would have been better to keep her quarenteed for several months to ensure she didn't have any illnesses that could transmit to your male.

The loss of the stickiness of their feet usually is a sign they are about to shed so no need to worry about that. Make sure she gets plenty of calcium though, to avoid calcium crash. It takes alot out of a female to shell the eggs. Expect more eggs after each laying ever 3-4 weeks. Also prepare an egg laying container for her to lay her eggs in. This can be plain untreated soil (remove any large lumps or sticks out of it first) and keep damp enough it will clump up when squeezed but not ooze water. A small dish works welll, with a few inches deep of soil.
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PHLdyPayne

thanks for all of the advice, I had already put a small bowl of substrate in there in case she laid and she shed last night she's hanging out on the glass now so I'm glad her sticky is back.

Just a couple more questions:

Do I need to keep her at higher or lower temp since shes gravid or should it be the same as normal?

Also, can it hurt the eggs if shes jumping a lot, I know I cant help her from jumping but I'm just curious.
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Jess
1.1 adult brazilian rainbows
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
1.1 crested geckos

Oodles of mice
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

They don't tend to jump much once they are close to laying eggs so no real worries there. However I wouldn't handle her much till after she has lain a clutch of eggs. Once she lays one clutch, you can handle her a bit, but keep it very short (a couple minutes) and pretty much just let her walk/jump from hand to hand for a few minutes then put her back in the cage. After about 2 weeks have passed since she laid a clutch of eggs, stop handling her, as she will be getting eggs again. (typically 3-5 weeks between clutches).

I don't think you have to increase the temp any, as long as it's not below 74F (a good temp or at least in part of the cage, would be 75-79F)
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PHLdyPayne