Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, my pair has finally rewarded me with viable eggs (I found a clutch last year, but only after they were laid in a poor location and had dessicated).

I've "successfully" incubated (1 of two eggs hatching) a C. brevis a couple of years ago, but it took somewhere close to 60 days (keeping it in the mid-70s F). Material I think I've read in the past suggests a period closer to 45 days if kept at optimal temps. I may be able to raise the temp for this pair of eggs (I'm not using an actual incubator, so temp control is a little more haphazard).

My question is, do Coleonyx eggs utilize temperature-dependent sex determination, and if so, do higher temps result in males or females? I'd like to increase the chances of females for a follow-on breeding project.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Hi Chris,

I read from a few sources that Coleonyx sex is genetically determined.

Lou~

I don't know about the tmep/sex thing but for for some reptiles it's true while others it isn't.

I can tell you how to build a cheap incubator that will stay much closer to 80F or 85F. Buy one of those small hexagonal platic fish setups from a place like Wal-mart for about $15-20. (You won't be using the under gravel filter, just the top and light). Then cover it with construction paper or a brown paper bag unless the light won't bother you. Although the paper might help keep it warmer especially if you use black construction paper. Othen than a substrate like vermiculite or Jungle Mix that's all you'll need but a $16-20 rheostat can help if it gets too hot.

I've used this setup to hatch green anole, house gecko, and day gecko eggs. The anole eggs hatched in 32 days while the day gecko eggs were 56 days. I can't remember how long it took the house gecko eggs to hatch.

I don't know about the tmep/sex thing but for for some reptiles it's true while others it isn't.

Yes, and with some herps, higher temps produce females but for other species it's the opposite. Confusing to say the least.

>>I can tell you how to build a cheap incubator

I can too. I'm just lazy. The eggs should hatch just fine as I currently have them; I just wonder how much I could heat them up without worrying about ruining my chances for females (if TSD is in effect).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I recall Nathan Hall once posting that Coleonyx variegatus are GSD, but I don't know if this is true for all species of Coleonyx.
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Chris

2.0.0 Coleonyx variegatus
1.0.0 Gekko vittatus
0.0.1 Tarentola mauritanica
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Terrestrial? Who you calling terrestrial?!!