Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We discovered them this morning
She didn't look fat in the stomache but last night she dug deep and laid
five eggs and covered them. Her sides are pretty thin now.

Since I was unprepared, I didn't have any vermiculite ready.

I took the eggs out and put them on some moist sand in a seperate tank
with it's own lamp. Some were a little dented.

Where can I get vermiculite (Home Depot?)?

Does she require any special attention after laying her clutch?

How will I know if they are fertile or not.

The eggs must be removed from the cage. Keep them right side up and place them in an incubator. An incubator can be made from a plastic shoe box with a hole, the size of a quarter, cut in the top for air circulation. Fill the shoe box with about three inches of vermiculite and keep the vermiculite moist but not wet. Put the shoe box in a place were the temperature won't drop below the high 70's at night and won't rise above 90 degrees during the warmest part of the day.. Temperature fluctuations will insure that the hatchlings will be of both sexes. As long as the eggs continue to grow they should be fine, even if they turn an off white to brown. In about 40 to 60 days the eggs should be ready to hatch. It take several hours to more than a day for the hatchling to break free from their eggs. Their umbilical cords will remain attached for several days. Hatchling lizards need natural sunlight in order to develop properly. Without it, they will likely perish. They can be fed week old crickets, but they will eat anything they can get their mouths around. Collared lizards grow very fast and within a matter of weeks they can be fed adult crickets.
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Hope this helps, do it immediately !!!

Can I have a link to Will Wells' site?
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Thanks and Take Care,

Geoff Orr

http://www.geocities.com/crotaphytus/index.html It has alot of great photo's and info - jim

Where can I get vermiculite (Home Depot?)?
Home Depot should have vermiculite with their indoor plants.

Does she require any special attention after laying her clutch?
She may be alittle dehydrated. Give her water and of course she will be very hungry.

How will I know if they are fertile or not.
I'm not real up on candling the eggs but if they are infertile they will sink in and get mold on them within a few days.

Hope they are fertile!