Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My normal female and graziani pastel male are locked up as i type this! WOOHOOO!!! This is my FIRST time trying to breed. So if they locked up tonight when should I expect eggs? will a hovabator work ok for the eggs?

thanks!

One lock up doesn't guarantee eggs - or even that either one of them is mature enough (physically) to produce eggs. Balls will "get it on" even in the "off" season.

Don't be discouraged, though. Keep putting the male in with the female and allow them both a couple days of rest (along with an offer of food... no guarantee they will eat, but offer anyways). Give them a few days together followed by a few days apart through out the breeding season or until you are sure the female is gravid.

As far as the incubator goes... the Hovabator will suffice for one clutch of eggs. Be sure to have it hooked up to a reliable thermostat, have an additional thermometer in the egg box just so you know exactly where your temps are. One other tip: place the incubator in a place that will not be exposed to drafts or frequent fluctuations in temperatures. A closet in a guest room (or any seldom used closet) works great for this purpose.

If you think you are excited now... wait until you KNOW she is gravid... then it will all be about WHEN the eggs come, followed by WHEN they hatch... and when the first one does pip... I guarantee you'll be thinking about skipping school or calling in to work. Guaranteed. First clutches are like that. Good luck.

My female is 1650g and the male is 830 I say plus because that was their weight over a month and a 1/2 ago, so Im sure they've prolly gained a little since then.

i do realize one lock might not be enough so I will continue to introduce him to her and with my other female, a few days on.. a few days off for him. I will offer small prey for them too

I have 2 females, will the hovabator work for 2 clutches? I plan on buying either a rancho or helix to keep the temps steady. (if i can afford it i will def get the helix) My house temp fluctuates all the time upstairs, between 72-76 degrees, the down stairs is too cold and drafty.. and sometimes my furnace dies, (i rent and the LL refuses to buy a new one) what would you suggest for incubating? would the hovabator be ok as long as its not opened alot with a good thermostat?

If you think you are excited now... wait until you KNOW she is gravid... then it will all be about WHEN the eggs come, followed by WHEN they hatch... and when the first one does pip... I guarantee you'll be thinking about skipping school or calling in to work. Guaranteed. First clutches are like that. Good luck.

Oh man... I cant even imagine how excited I will be once all the above starts!!!!

I've never used the hovabator, so I can't really offer any info about them. It might actually be cheaper to make an incubator, though. You can use an old cooler or mini fridge and use flexwatt for heat. I'll post a link to Clay Davenport's page for instructions on how to do this for you (there are other people who also have good instructions...I just happen to have the link to Clay's site).

You might also want to seriously consider backing up your thermostat so that if the main t-stat fails the second one will shut it off and save your eggs. You can either use double Johnsons or Rancos or a Helix and a Johnson or Ranco. If you're not going to spend the extra money to back up the t-stat you might want to consider the Herpstat. It's proportional like the Helix but it has an alarm that will come on if the temp varies from the set point. I have a Herpstat and a Helix and I like the features on the Herpstat a little better than the Helix.

Hope this helps,
Shelly
Clay's Incubator Page

thanks for the site and info. i will definitely lookinto building my own, as I hear mixed emotions with the hovabator. and i will definitely look into a backup thermostat, i already have been looking into them actually

They may have to lock several times. How many females is the male being used for? One time may be the charm, it has been for me sometimes, but I'd prefer to see 4-6 good locks over the period of a month or so...

A single hovabator will work fine.

Good luck!

Steve Harrison

He will only be used for 2 normal females. as I only own 1.2 balls

I will give him a break for a few days then introduce him to my other female. and yes, I will deff keep letting him breed with the girls

Congrats!

thanks!! i was so excited i was literally shaking last night hehehehe