Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a female and she has been in with my male and another female for about a month, is there any ways you can tell if she gravid? thanks soo much, my questions are kinda dumb but im new to this.

chris

If you have had your female for a while, you tend to know what she looks like when she is well fed. However, if her flanks are starting to "blow-up" -- sort of puff out, it COULD POSSIBLY, not saying that it is, be eggs. Her body could just be changing as she gets older. How old is she anyway? Weight?(if you have a scale). By visual acknowledgement, there is an obvious difference to a trained eye, but if this is your first time, it's best to just watch, see and learn. You will know after you see it for the first few times when she is gravid. Take pictures of her (or try) in the same position every few days with all variables equal(same camera, settings, distance, size, etc.) and compare them. If she has some 3/4"+ eggs in there, you will be able to see her getting wider in the pictures, however this may not always mean that she has eggs or that if she does, will be fertile. She may spend more time at the bottom of your tank, instead of near her favorite vine, but could not suggest anything either. It is hit or miss with the activity of my geckos, sometimes my females are scratching around the bottom constantly for days, sometimes I don't notice any thing different until I check the box in the morning. More than likely, if she has been shacked up with a male and they are both breeding size, chances are they may have been mating. That's one of the things that cresteds do...

I have heard people using a bright florescent light behind them while they were layed out on the side glass in tanks also, to help make the gecko more transparent. When this is done, you can see through her sides a little better and possibly the outline of the eggs in there. I have never tried this, but heard that it was done. The pictures that I saw showed the eggs in there outlined nicely, but I do not know what he used for the picture. If someone has done this in the past, let me know.

Another thing that people have suggested is to physically palpate the sides where the eggs are located. I do not recommend this. Even if you would, no offence, you probably might not know what to feel for and run the risk of damaging the eggs and possibly doing some serious bad to the female also. I do not palpate and don't plan to, I just wait patiently and when it happens...it happens. I would suggest the camera thing and when you find one or a couple eggs in the bottom of the tank or nest box, then you will know for sure. I hope this helps a little bit, it's about all that I can offer to you for now. Good luck!

Charlie
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www.charliesgeckos.com

thanks so much for the help ill keep you posted on how she is doing

chris