Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello.

I have a beautiful red dalmation female crestie that I believe is gravid.
Her midsection has increasingly grown in size over the past month or so. She has been with my male gecko for about a couple of months now.
She is so big now, that she can't jump as well as she used to, and is very slow to scale the sides of her terrarium. In fact, she used to spend most of her time up in her branches and plants, but now spends most of her time on the cage floor.
I have placed a hide/nesting box within the cage which she frequents often. It is filled with a few inches of moist vermiculite and is hidden under a sheet of egg crate. I can check on her a few times during the day, and at least once a day she is in her nesting box.
She is still eating well on CGD, Baby food, and gut loaded/dusted crickets.
Sometimes when I handle her and she slumps down a bit, I think I can see 2 eggs inside her which have seemed to be growing over the course of the past month, but I can't tell if they are actually there or it's just me wanting to see them there.
When I first noticed them they seemed about the size of jelly beans. Now, I would say that they are about the size of a small bird egg. And I can barely make out that whatever it is I am seeing is most definitly light in color, more than likely white.

How in the world can I tell if my girly has babies in her belly??
I'm dying with anticipation here!
Is there any sure fire way to determine if she's gravid? Or do I just have a voluptuous gecko on my hands? =)

This is my first breeding expierence, but definitly not my last.
Any and all help appreciated!!!
Thanks!!
Charlotte

sounds like she's most likely gravid. Many color patterns of cresteds you can see the eggs in fairly easily, if not within 3-5 days of the female laying them you can noticeably feel them. you'll see her start diggin around in the substrate or lay box 1-3 days before she will lay.
good luck, i remember exactly how you feel

Hi Charlotte,

The way that I like to tell if a female is gravid is by GENTLY (can't say that enough!) palpating her belly and feeling for eggs. After they've had time to develop a little bit, you'll be able to feel them easily.

Also, try keeping records once she starts laying. Record-keeping is always a good thing and comes in handy when trying to tell when she'll lay next. During the breeding season, my ladies lay like clockwork. It can save you a lot of time to know their schedules, and you can also post "cheat sheet" stickers on their enclosures as a reminder.

I wish you luck!
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~Sarah~
www.crestedlady.com