Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have two gravid females and one other female in a 20gallon long tank. Its going into their 4th week of being gravid, and I was wondering if having the other females around affects them wanting to lay their eggs? I have a big next/hide box for them that looks like it has ample room. I'm just kind of getting concerned because none of them have showed any signs of digging, although they have been wandering the tank a lot more the last two days. Thanks for your time.
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-Sal

1.4 Leopard Gecko Colony

Sal, having more than one female in a hide really shouldn't have an effect, but it could be possible if there is a lot of competition or crowding for the humid hide... especially for first time mamas. I know this might sound weird, but I know my females so well that I can usually tell within less than 24 hours when they are going to lay their eggs. This may not be practical, but I have an actual 'maternity ward' in one whole row of my rack, so when they stop eating for a day or two and get restless, I put them in one of the enclosures with a Cool Whip container 1/3 filled with moist vermiculite, and they will lay sometimes within 8 hours. So, mine get their own private room so they don't have to deal with any others.

BTW, is the hypo male you got from me the father?
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

Thanks for the reply Marcia,

My gravid females are second year breeders that I purchased this year and they mated with a normal het blizzard het tremper albino, and they became gravid. As you know, this is my first breeding season and I just want to get things started right. I was thinking about transfering the gravid females to my new rack but was worried that another change would stress them out. Do you think I should transfer them? I definitely have the space. The only one living there is the little guy I got from you in his 28qt bachelor pad lol. I have 7 levels vacant. Thanks again

P.S. The little guy I bought from you is eating like a pig now!
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-Sal

1.4 Leopard Gecko Colony

Depending on how gravid they are and how long you've had them, if it were me I'd go ahead and move them to see how it works out. But, if you have the space and this is your first breeding/egging, you may feel better leaving them where they are until after they lay.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

Just out of curiosity Marcia, what size containers do you use for your maternity ward? I want my new rack to contain my maternity ward and nursery...lol. I'm just about ready to start building.

Thanks,

Tim
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LEOs: 6.9.0
1.3 High Yellows-Barney,Betty,?,?
2.0 Hypo Tangerines-Bam-bam,Rex
0.3 SHCT's -Journey,Wiggy,Lil'bit
1.0 Rescued Normals -Shleprock
1.3Tremper Albinos Mr.Slate,?,?,?
1.0 Tang Tremp Albino - Rocky

Tim, since they are only in there for about 24 hours, and stay in the humid hide, I just use the large shoe-box size... sam as for hatchlings.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com