Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I have the hovabator set at 90 it's been steady at that temp for 3 days. One of my females is about to lay I just have no idea when. What is the easiest way for me to setup a laying chamber. I was going to use a margarine container cut a hole in the side and put in something to hold moisture. I just don't know what to use. I was thinking cotton balls but then did a doubletake. Is there anything other than vermiculite and anyone uses.

Secondly other than getting perlite or vermiculite is there any other way to hold the humidity in the incubator. There is a trough at the bottom for water, should I just use that and refill it? Or should I get the perlite and do the mix.

I think that 90 is a little high. Myself, I wouldn't try to go above 87-89. But that's just me, because I plan on the worst of things, lol.

Anyhow, I use Peatmoss in all of my humid hides / egg-laying containers. I incubate in perilite and use the instructions listed on Albey's webpage. www.albeysreptiles.com
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Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
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Ok I dropped the temp to between 86 and 89. I guess I'll go grab some perlite soon.
Is there anything around the house I may be able to use in the laying box?

Go to HomeDepot to get the Perilite (it's like $3) and get a big bag of peatmoss while you're there (it's like $5 or so) and you'll be set for this year. Make sure that you moisten the peatmoss in the hides. When they lay, they dig, so unless you have some peatmoss laying around the house. I'd say no.
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Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
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Heh my geckos have been laying eggs for 2 years I just finally decided to incubate them this year (I was freezing them and tossing them before). The 2 egg producing females have never dug to lay. Half the time they let them go right ontop of the house under the heat lamp. But yah I'll try to grab some peat moss. It's the middle of winter so it may be hard (Up in Canada) to find peat moss in feb.

But if they are laid in the peat moss that is moist they'd stand a better chance of not drying up and dying, see? Lol. You could probably find it most places. I found this huge bag at a local gardening supplies shop for $5 last year in december. So, yeah. Lol
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Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
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I completely understand why to use the peat moss. I've just never seen them bury the eggs. They like to leave them in the most exposed place almost saying hey dad look what I made.

But yah I'll take a look around for some moss and perlite. Home Depot would probobly be the only place that would still carry it.

Is it true that you don't need to re-water the perlite for the entire incubating period?

Yep, that's true. The ratio for Perilite/Water is 1/.8. Just follow the instructions on Albey's Incubation page and if they're fertile they should hatch.

I wish you luck.

Incubation
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Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
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Thanks for all your input. I'll try and post baby pics when they hatch. I should have a clutch in the incubator by the end of this week (She's getting real fat).

Hello my name is Andrew Randazzo I have sucssfuley breaded lepord geckos many times buy Taking a plastic cantaner {it must be clear and never used befor}put sand in the contaner and litley mist it so the sand is soft but not mushy mist about every other day until the femal lays her eggs. Also I find that the best temprature for the tank is between 85-88.If you have any more Questions you can e-mail me @ sanke3b@yahoo.com