Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,

I've got 50 eggs due to hatch in the next 2 - 3 months and I want to get their new homes setup well before then. I don't have a huge amount of space, but am willing to live in "chaos" until they're old enough to go. One idea I heard/read about was keeping them singly in deli cups. Placing all the cups in a larger container/aquarium and heating/lighting that whole thing. This doesn't seem like the best idea to me. What is anyone's opinions and or experience in the matter? They are veild chams.

Thanks.
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1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Tangerine Leopard Geckos
1.1 Blue Spiny Lizards
1.1 Uroplatus Phantasticus
0.0.1 Yellow-Throated-Plated-Lizard
0.1 Moroccan Uromastyx
0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake

No way would use deli cups unless they're 1-2 gallon deli cups. For 5o babies, you'll need a few screen cages. Small ones are best, like 13x19"x20 and get one cage for about every 10-12 babies. I guess if you had that many actually hatch, you could probably get like 3 cages and just keep the different sizes separated in the different cages to avoid competition for food. I'm in the process of getting at least 6 small screen cages for upcoming babies and I got 3 of that size and 3 slightly larger, to move the babies to when I get more babies (different clutch). I'll probably end up getting quite a few more cages pretty soon, I just wanna see which of those sizes I like best.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
1.2 Nosy Be Panthers
2.2 Sambava Panthers
1.0 Tamatave Panther
1.0 Nosy Be X Unknown Cross
1.1 Veiled Chameleons
0.0.2 CBB Desert Tortoises
0.0.1 Sulcatta Tortoise

Hi Solomon,

Currently, we have over 140 baby veiled.... one clutch was 45 eggs. The easiest way we have found to keep large groups of hatchlings is in rubbermaid tubs - like 128 qt size. We just set the lids aside - as they are not needed. We put in viny plants (be careful to keep the leaves below the rim of the tub), and some small branches, and let the hatchlings stay in there for about a month or so. We keep up to 20 per tub in the first few weeks - then start separating them by size. Once they get about 6-8 weeks, they are moved into screened cages with pothos vines and ficus plants.

The tubs have to be cleaned weekly, and the paper towel on the bottom is changed. The plants can be sprayed off in the shower.

This arrangement keeps the food close for the new hatchlings. They will eat 1wk crickets almost from the first day.
Hope this helps,
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I really like the rubbermaid tub idea, simply because less space would be taken up. I already got the 50 deli cups that I thought I'd be using, I suppose they'll come in handy for something else. Is there a better way to heat them other than heat lamps? I'll definitely be providing UVB.

Thanks again.
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1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Tangerine Leopard Geckos
1.1 Blue Spiny Lizards
1.1 Uroplatus Phantasticus
0.0.1 Yellow-Throated-Plated-Lizard
0.1 Moroccan Uromastyx
0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake

Solomon,

Since the ambient temperature in our "nursery room" is usually in the high 70's or low 80's - we only use 60 watt lights to add a basking spot. These can be in the clamp-on style lamps, while the UVB tubes are in the 4ft fixtures.

Hubby built a frame that holds the 4ft fixtures above the tubs (about 6" above the rim), and the basking lights can be positioned at one end of the tubs.

Hope this helps,
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