Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When you bred skinks, how did you incubate the eggs. I have read the females will roll the eggs and tend to the nest. One of the females seemed to lure the kingsnake away from the nest while the other protected it. The protective female was not shy of me at all. She actually ran between my feet and looked up at me as I dug around her eggs. I was curious of the temps you used for incubation. I have them in a large container with around 5-6" of moist vermiculite and sphagnum on top incubating at 88. I also read they will hatch at temps in the 70 or in the 90s and egg gestation is 24-55 days. Got any stats for me? I appreciate the help.

Brandon Osborne
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

Not skinks - but I have incubated several clutches of alligator lizard eggs, where the females also tend to the eggs.

I removed the eggs and incubated them colubrid style room temperature, with 100% hatch rate.

I would have let the female do it except I was not set up to keep proper humidity for the eggs in her enclosure.

I highly doubt skinks actually rotate the eggs, at least not intentionally.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

Brandon,

I bred the Broad heads in the 80's (just by housing them together not by trying or perhaps gravid when I caught them for all I know, long time ago).

I can't exactly remember any data from the egg incubation for the broad heads, I did use the standard for colubrid eggs.

(didn't write down data)

I do have info for the Fire Skink I found on my old index card system and I had them for over a year before I tried breeding them.

Here is the info straight from the index card.

4/14/02 Riopa laid 4 pearly white eggs. Expected pip May 26th, maybe slightly longer due to lower incubation temps. We shall see! Temps used 80-84 F

5/28/02 opened one/still attached to yolk, detached stopped bleeding, should be ok, will let other go one more day/right next to other and probably still attached. Changed my mind and removed fourth also still attached, slight bleeding, stopped immediately, prob would have hatched tomorrow/ All four perfect. One has eaten already (spider).

Sorry this prob will not help much and the info is not the best I have recorded.

I did use a shelf in room where eggs went from 80-84. I used no rotation (didn't know about info you stated).

I used vermiculite and sphagnum like I use for most species.

(note I did brumate the riopa for 2 months before breeding at 60 F)
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

I def used a radio shack thermometer and recorded high and low for incubation period (Riopa) so I guess it could be plus or minus 2 degrees if it was even that accurate.

I regret not recording the broad headed data, I would be interested in how it compares to the Riopa data in regards to the amount of days, I believe your eggs will hatch with the method you are using.

>>Brandon,
>>
>>I bred the Broad heads in the 80's (just by housing them together not by trying or perhaps gravid when I caught them for all I know, long time ago).
>>
>>I can't exactly remember any data from the egg incubation for the broad heads, I did use the standard for colubrid eggs.
>>
>>(didn't write down data)
>>
>>I do have info for the Fire Skink I found on my old index card system and I had them for over a year before I tried breeding them.
>>
>>Here is the info straight from the index card.
>>
>>4/14/02 Riopa laid 4 pearly white eggs. Expected pip May 26th, maybe slightly longer due to lower incubation temps. We shall see! Temps used 80-84 F
>>
>>5/27/02 One pipped and It's out.
>>
>>5/28/02 Another pipped.
>>
>>5/28/02 opened one/still attached to yolk, detached stopped bleeding, should be ok, will let other go one more day/right next to other and probably still attached. Changed my mind and removed fourth also still attached, slight bleeding, stopped immediately, prob would have hatched tomorrow/ All four perfect. One has eaten already (spider).
>>
>>Sorry this prob will not help much and the info is not the best I have recorded.
>>
>>I did use a shelf in room where eggs went from 80-84. I used no rotation (didn't know about info you stated).
>>
>>I used vermiculite and sphagnum like I use for most species.
>>
>>(note I did brumate the riopa for 2 months before breeding at 60 F)
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

>>I def used a radio shack thermometer and recorded high and low for incubation period (Riopa) so I guess it could be plus or minus 2 degrees if it was even that accurate.
>>
>>I regret not recording the broad headed data, I would be interested in how it compares to the Riopa data in regards to the amount of days, I believe your eggs will hatch with the method you are using.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>Brandon,
>>>>
>>>>I bred the Broad heads in the 80's (just by housing them together not by trying or perhaps gravid when I caught them for all I know, long time ago).
>>>>
>>>>I can't exactly remember any data from the egg incubation for the broad heads, I did use the standard for colubrid eggs.
>>>>
>>>>(didn't write down data)
>>>>
>>>>I do have info for the Fire Skink I found on my old index card system and I had them for over a year before I tried breeding them.
>>>>
>>>>Here is the info straight from the index card.
>>>>
>>>>4/14/02 Riopa laid 4 pearly white eggs. Expected pip May 26th, maybe slightly longer due to lower incubation temps. We shall see! Temps used 80-84 F
>>>>
>>>>5/27/02 One pipped and It's out.
>>>>
>>>>5/28/02 Another pipped.
>>>>
>>>>5/28/02 opened one/still attached to yolk, detached stopped bleeding, should be ok, will let other go one more day/right next to other and probably still attached. Changed my mind and removed fourth also still attached, slight bleeding, stopped immediately, prob would have hatched tomorrow/ All four perfect. One has eaten already (spider).
>>>>
>>>>Sorry this prob will not help much and the info is not the best I have recorded.
>>>>
>>>>I did use a shelf in room where eggs went from 80-84. I used no rotation (didn't know about info you stated).
>>>>
>>>>I used vermiculite and sphagnum like I use for most species.
>>>>
>>>>(note I did brumate the riopa for 2 months before breeding at 60 F)
>>>>-----
>>>>=========================================================
>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>=========================================================
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

>>>>I def used a radio shack thermometer and recorded high and low for incubation period (Riopa) so I guess it could be plus or minus 2 degrees if it was even that accurate.
>>>>
>>>>I regret not recording the broad headed data, I would be interested in how it compares to the Riopa data in regards to the amount of days, I believe your eggs will hatch with the method you are using.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Brandon,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I bred the Broad heads in the 80's (just by housing them together not by trying or perhaps gravid when I caught them for all I know, long time ago).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I can't exactly remember any data from the egg incubation for the broad heads, I did use the standard for colubrid eggs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>(didn't write down data)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I do have info for the Fire Skink I found on my old index card system and I had them for over a year before I tried breeding them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Here is the info straight from the index card.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>4/14/02 Riopa laid 4 pearly white eggs. Expected pip May 26th, maybe slightly longer due to lower incubation temps. We shall see! Temps used 80-84 F
>>>>>>
>>>>>>5/27/02 One pipped and It's out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>5/28/02 Another pipped.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>5/28/02 opened one/still attached to yolk, detached stopped bleeding, should be ok, will let other go one more day/right next to other and probably still attached. Changed my mind and removed fourth also still attached, slight bleeding, stopped immediately, prob would have hatched tomorrow/ All four perfect. One has eaten already (spider).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry this prob will not help much and the info is not the best I have recorded.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I did use a shelf in room where eggs went from 80-84. I used no rotation (didn't know about info you stated).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I used vermiculite and sphagnum like I use for most species.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>(note I did brumate the riopa for 2 months before breeding at 60 F)
>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
>>>>-----
>>>>=========================================================
>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>=========================================================
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

A big thank you to Frank and everyone else that responded. I have no idea how long ago these eggs were laid, but I'll keep everyone posted. I would guess the females know what temps to use for egg laying and the spot was in wide open sunlight, under a blue tarp, in decaying mulch compost. Not only does the tarp heat things up, but the decomposition of the mulch has a heating factor on its own.

The neat thing I found in all this, was the females were very protective of their nest sites. Normally you can't get within 10 feet of these guys unless they don't see you, or you are really lucky. The second female actually ran between my feet and looked up at me as if she was telling me "those are my babies". lol.

Thanks again to everyone for their info. I'll be turning most of them loose after they hatch, but I have some graybands due to hatch at the end of the month. If I can get by without scenting, I'll do my best......but at least I have backup.

Brandon
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

brandon,

That is so cool to find stuff like that. No lizards where I live.
Maybe I could release some iguanas, hahaha (not). Good luck hatching them out and good luck with the graybands. I hope the alterna do not have to eat too many of the locals.

daveb
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in the light, you will find the road...

>>brandon,
>>
>>That is so cool to find stuff like that. No lizards where I live.
>>Maybe I could release some iguanas, hahaha (not). Good luck hatching them out and good luck with the graybands. I hope the alterna do not have to eat too many of the locals.
>>
>>daveb
>>-----
>>in the light, you will find the road...

Thanks Dave. I've never had this opportunity before, so I'm hoping it pans out. I just want to see how my nieces react to the babies. We're going to take them back so the girls can turn them loose. I'll probably keep a few around just in case....."scenting". lol. See you in a few weeks.

Brandon
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

I had five lined skinks lay eggs last year and I kept them 75- 83 with my corn and milk snake eggs. All of them hatched , except the one I gave to a stuborn feeding gentilis.
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Doug L

>>I had five lined skinks lay eggs last year and I kept them 75- 83 with my corn and milk snake eggs. All of them hatched , except the one I gave to a stuborn feeding gentilis.
>>-----
>>
>> Doug L
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.