Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just looking for some comments on improving the comfort of my Leos.

I've owned 2 leopard Geckos for the past year or so a male and female. In the past month they laid one clutch of eggs that died due to my ignorance and not realising they were breading.

They have in the past day laid another two eggs. The Setup I have is a 4' x 2' x 2' viv with Heat mat and 2xLight at one end (one is normal light for daytime other is Spot red light for cold nights). I have a Thermastat set to 84f. 4 hides a humid/laying box mid way, and water also mid way. They get through about 1-2 tubs of crickets a week which I dust with Calci poweder.

The new eggs that have been laid are currently (as I don't have the cash to hand, and my local herp stores incubators are full) are sitting raised in a tupperware box filled with potting soild with a plastic lid with air holes. Temp is ~84 during the day and about ~75 of a night. (No I didn't turn the eggs when I removed them).

Just looking for a few comments or any tips someone can give me. I'm very angry at myself for the death of the 1st clutch and I don't want to see the same happen again.

Thanks for any help or comments

Jil

Make sure the container they are in is kept nice and humid by damp bedding but don't overdo it with adding water. If you can somehow find a way, keep the eggs at a relatively stable temps (only fluctuating a few degrees up or down). If you know anyone with a still air incubator (the kind sold at feed stores to hatch chicken eggs) then you could borrow it (I am using one and the temps only fluctuate a couple degrees at most).

I believe that 75° is a fatal temperature for leopard gecko eggs. A ten degree fluctuation for incubating aggs is also very bad for development. At those temps, with thatfluctuation, it is likely the eggs will die. If you can keep them from 80-84° you should get females, and the eggs should hatch.

Thanks for the info.

I currently have them in the Viv in a coverered box (with Air holes) sitting ontop of the heat mat. They seem to be at a constant 84f. The heat mat is never turned off only during the day. I'll keep them there the mat is big enough for both to Adults and Incubator box to co-habit.

I have the heat mat on a thermo set to 84f. During the day with the light on if it goes over the heat mat turns off. During the night with the light off the temp drops at the cold end to about 75f and 80f at the warm end. With the box on the heat mat I hope to keep the eggs warm enough.

I'll post again in a week or so with an update.

Thanks again with an update I really wish I had the cash to hand right now to do this properly but pay day isn't untill next tuesday. :-/ I'm sure they'll last till then.

what the temp is on the cool end. All that matters is the temp where the eggs are. If you have the heat mat on a thermostat the eggs should be fine. It is certainly possible to hatch out eggs that way- keep a close eye on the humidity, and good luck!