Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do you guys know when your DI's lay the eggs in the dark hide? Secondly, what substrate do you use in the nesting box? I have calci sand in the tank is that okay. Sorry about all the questions, but this is my first time breeding DI's and I wanna get it right!!! This is my little gravid girl..isn't she cute?

It will be easy to tell as she will look thin and sometimes emaciated but should recover very quickly. I would use play sand as the medium. Tom

You might want to consider using a small somewhat elongated palstic container with the lid cut of about a 1/4 or 1/2 so it it has an opening for the female to get inot, cover the rest of the top of the box with a larhge flat stone and put smaller stones around the box so it gives the apperance of a good nest site. Dampen the sand (I agree with Tom) and put one end sort of close to the light so you h ave a warm end and cool end. It's hard to knopw what or where she considers the best corner to lay the eggs in. But if you set this up that way and put a rock on the warm end so she climbs up the rock and finds the open hole, I think she'll do a number right there. Ususally they start digging around in the cage, and after they lay, they usually look much thinner and sometimes weaker after the ordeal. Just a another suggestion...good luck.

np