Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I have caught her digging today, and she has been digging almost all day long. I only have about 3" of substrate where she is digging, and she has reached the bottom(should I look for eggs, and/or add more substrate?). Its really not hard for here to dig through the substrate I'm using because it is usually moist, and I use bed-a-beast.

Now the only problem I see with her digging is that I can't feel or see any eggs. So is this normal behavior for them to dig? And she is digging A LOT, all over the place. Its almost like she thinks she can dig a tunnel out of her terrarium.

Also, will MHD lay completely infertile eggs(like a chicken)? Because she hasn't been with a male for at least a month. She may or may not have been with one prior to me purchasing her.

Thanks,
Derek

My Erowen was compulsively digging for more than a week before she dropped the eggs
and if you are using bed-a-beast and you want to put down more, go ahead. but my Erowen dug to the stones, and layed right on the stones, and I was able to find the eggs because she had burried them UNDER the edge of the food dish and I could pick up just the dish and find them.

The second time she layed eggs, a few months later, I didn't find them for almost a month, (see my post about being a flake) and when I did they were tight up against the roots of a plant (the roots have big bulbs on them)

I bought Erowen in June, and she was supposed to be a Juvenile. I did not have a male, and she did not drop her first eggs until Oct. (I think, being a blonde and all I M pretty scatter-brained) and then gave me MORE eggs in Dec (more recent memory so I M good on the month)

The digging is a sign, the Elvis impersonation (with a wig made of dirt) means she has headbutted the dirt back into the hole to hide the eggs from any large monsters that might be about (like us)

Does this help?
Hope you do not mind the humor

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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

If you have had her for one month then it is a good possibility that Morgana is gravid. They carry the eggs for 4 months before laying them. Due to the long gestation time for the female to carry the eggs it isn't at all uncommon for a WC female to surprise it's new owner with eggs. If she does lay I would treat them like they are fertile until slime and mold prove otherwise!

If she is only digging around the perimeter of the enclosure she may just be stressing or trying to get out. If this is the case covering the bottom 8-10" of glass with paper or black nylon window screen should stop the digging. If she is gravid I would like to see her have 4-5" of bed-a-beast (or your preferred substrate) to dig in. If this isn't possible then place a few nice rocks in the tank and she will probably use them the way ecb's lady used the food dish. They will often tunnel under an object to lay the eggs if the substrate isn't deep enough for their liking.

I have also seen my females dig for days without laying and then when I rain on the tank they lay that day. I really believe that they will look for substrate that is moist. It should be moist enough to pack well so they can dig a solid tunnel but not wet enough to be able to squeeze water out of it.

Good luck with Morgana. If she is gravid let us know when the eggs come. Be prepared with a styrofoam box you can put the eggs in for the 5-6 month incubation process.
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

She is definitely NOT digging around the entire perimeter, it is a confined spot in one of her hide away spots(its right under neath a log/branch). The only problem is that she was nice and plump about a week ago, when I posted some pictures of her getting fatter, but now she has lost a little of that weight. So she really hasn't gotten any larger. Maybe she thinks she's gravid, but she is really not? I guess I will find out if eggs show up or not.

I have only about 3" of substrate in that area. Is it ok to add more to it now, even though she has dug in that area? And I do use bed-a-beast.

Get your incubation equipment ready.

It would be OK to add some substrate if she isn't currently digging. If she is digging I wouldn't disturb her but you could add some substrate around the perimeter of the area the hole digging is in. She may appreciate the extra soil for covering the nest when she is done.

As for the size thing, they look fat as in round and maybe even puffy before the eggs are visable. Then, just before they lay they do seem to lose the round and puffy look. This is when you can usually see oval lumps through their sides. If she is only carrying a small clutch this may not be as obvious as normal.

I would just keep an eye on her activities and if you see her covering the hole and packing the dirt with her head make sure you check the area when she is done.

Good luck,
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

I did add quite a bit of substrate around the perimeter of her holes, as you suggested, I kind of got a little bit in and near her hole, but the hole went straight to the glass. She did get a little upset that I added the substrate by showing off her dewlap, but didn't hiss or open her mouth(I've seen her madder).

Her stomach does show the lumps from where the eggs are at, I don't really want to pick her up because I don't want to stress her out anymore than she is right now. But I did get a good look, and she doesn't look as plump as she did a few days ago, but is lumpy around the bottom sides of her stomach.

I'm crossing my fingers, and praying that no harm comes from her laying these eggs, because if anything does, I will hunt down the guy who knocked her up and...well...I'd rather not get into that. (Protective Father Syndrome-PFS)

Thanks everyone for you help!
-Derek