Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, i was wondering if anyone knew how to incubate salvators. I have recently attained a small (4.5-5ft) female salvator water monitor and she dropped seven eggs on me, so far. she started on the 12th and I think she is done... i have had waters before but not gravid females or eggs for that matter. I bought an incubator and want to know exact humidity levels and temps. I currently have them at 82-86 degrees, please let me know if this is correct. Other than calcium supplements and fatty foods what can I do for my underweight female?

A couple pointers - firstly, was she kept with a male or mated? If not you've got infertiles (yes- go and incubate them on the rare chance they are parthenogenetically viable, but it's a fat chance). Secondly, most monitor eggs do well incubated in contaniners of perlite and water (apprx. 50:50 by WEIGHT as a starting point). The temp should hold stable somewhere in the 85-86*F range generally for monitor eggs. Lower temps work, but take longer to hatch. Not too many V. salvators are CBB. Please change that trend. Good luck.

Yes she was seen mating with a large, robust high yellow male just before I picked her up.(possibly another future meeting) The eggs are beautiful. the only problem I have run into is that one egg has began sagging today, but I have most of them on different substrates/humidity levels. I have the incubator reading between 84-86 degrees. what should the humidity level be maintained at? I appreciate ANY help that anyone has to offer....

You don't watch the gauge and keep it at, say, 87.5%, you watch the eggs. Denting and dessication requires adding tiny amounts of water to the egg container sides and rechecking a day or two later. Don't brashly add a lot of water or you will kill the eggs. I believe more eggs die from too much water than not enough, particularly as the animal is coming up on hatching.