Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everybody, I keep seeing mixed information on this subject, but when incubating a crested gecko egg what is an acceptable fluctuation in temperature. Some of the sources I've read say no more than a degree up or down and some say it can fluctuate much more than that. Any help would be appreciated.

they will be fine at fluctuating room temperatures as long as those are not below 65 F or above 82 F (around 70 F being ideal with 5 degree fluctuations acceptable).
-----
3.1 snakes, 3.1.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta

Thanks.

Perhaps you should read his message more closely, he was asking about EGGS, not geckos.

I don't breed, I'm sorry I do not have the answer off the top of my head, but I would guess a fluctuation of only a few degrees wouldn't matter too much, but more than 5 degrees and you'll probably see problems if not sooner. (Just assuming it works similar to leo breeding.)

How are you incubating?

Good luck! Baby cresties are so incredibly small, I can't resist them... nor figure out how they turn into such big oinkers.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

I am going to be using a small chicken incubator at temps around 78 degrees. I havent got my eggs yet, but with a little luck I will be expecting some soon.

do NOT use an incubator for crested gecko eggs. they do better at cooler temps (around 70 like i said or room temperature). incubators are for eggs which need warmer or constant temps. just put them in deli cups on a shelf in the closet and they will be fine. good luck.
-----
3.1 snakes, 3.1.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta

Sounds about right, to quote my favorite source of information, a breeder in Wisconsin:

"Eggs should be incubated at 74-80 degrees. They will hatch in 6-12 weeks. Temperatures closer to 80 will make them hatch quicker. Most "reptile room" temperatures should be warm enough so that you can put the egg containers on a shelf. If the room is cooler than 74, you may want to purchase a Hovabator incubator."

You can read more here about egg care and such, this is the source of my quote:

http://crestedgecko.com/cg_care.htm

So I was wrong, looks like 6 degrees is the fluctuation they recommend.
Good luck and happy egging!

-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

The "sounds about right" was directed at maintaining a temp at 78F.

sorry but i disagree with that recommendation. this part of their statement is true: "Eggs ... incubated at 74-80 degrees ... will hatch in 6-12 weeks. Temperatures closer to 80 will make them hatch quicker." however, i disagree with the statement that they SHOULD be incubated at those temperatures and that "If the room is cooler than 74, you may want to purchase a Hovabator incubator." hatching quicker is not necessarily a good thing. cooler incubation temps and longer incubation times (up to 120 days in some cases) produce larger and healthier babies, since they have had more time to develop in the egg. kind of like how human preemie babies are tiny and not as healthy.

you can get your care information from that breeder if you want to, but i am going by the general consensus among the crested gecko breeding community as a whole.
-----
3.1 snakes, 3.1.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta

where did i say anything about geckos??? what i said applies to eggs, and comes from personal experience breeding for a year, and having ALL my eggs hatch healthy babies, except for 2 which dented due to the incubation media being too dry.

perhaps you shouldn't guess and comment on things you don't have experience with. leopard geckos are completely different from crested geckos. plus you just repeated the exact same thing i already said.
-----
3.1 snakes, 3.1.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta