Reptile & Amphibian Forums

...So I caught an obviously gravid female southern alligator lizard in my back yard in Southern Cali, right before I moved up to Washington state....Today she laid her eggs about a month or so later...I thought she was done at 15...then when I came back to check on her later, she had 7 more!! ..Am I wrong thinking 22 eggs is a lot? ....I was thinking maybe 8 - 12...But 22? LoL ....It's my first time trying to hatch lizards, so it's exciting

According to information from Harry Greene, you have a clutch with numbers slightly above average. His research shows that about 18 is normal and numbers above 30 occur occasionally. You have you work cut out for you! Getting the babies through their third month is the hardest task. Make sure you have supplements for feeding.

Dave
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One man with faith equals the majority.
Thomas Jefferson

Getting the babies through their third month is the hardest task. Make sure you have supplements for feeding.

May I humbly ask why getting them past three months is a task?

You mention supplements but not which type you recommend?
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

A friend had Texas Alligator lizards that produced two clutches. All died by the 30th day. He thought that he did not have the right mix of supplements. I use One A Day vitamins but do not know what he used.

Dave
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One man with faith equals the majority.
Thomas Jefferson

>>A friend had Texas Alligator lizards that produced two clutches. All died by the 30th day. He thought that he did not have the right mix of supplements. I use One A Day vitamins but do not know what he used.
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>>Dave
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>>One man with faith equals the majority.
>>Thomas Jefferson

Having raised over one hundred alligator lizards from hatching to adulthood I have to say it is no harder than keeping the adults alive. That is southerns, Madrean and Texas all the same.

BTW, did you know two years ago scientific evidence came out that proved vitamin supplements for humans are at best neutral and at worst dangerous to your health? Avoid vitamins for yourself and your animals.
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

I agree about the supplements.... I like to feed my crickets alfalfa powder, which is FULL of vitamins/nutrients and Calcium. ...With supplements, they're not in their natural state, so aren't absorbed well by the body, plus you can overdose on them....Natural Whole foods have all the vitamins they (& we) need, and can't overdose...

I raised a hatchling southern alligator lizard under a 60 watt External Ballast MVB using only calcium dust and well fed crix, silk worms and pheonix worms. He is a year old now and thriving. To be perfectly honest, I flat forget to use the vit dust! The crix are fed dark leafy greens, mixed grains, some high protein cat kibble or chick starter, and some veggies, so my shiny little lizards get all of their nutrients from the feeders and I keep a small salad in every cage, regardless of whether that particular lizard is "supposed" to eat salad or not. Most at least nibble greens, and if they don't eat it, the feeders will.