Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

Sorry for the lack of forum activity. My last clutch failed very rapidly and I am fairly convinced that my new male ust hadn't quite "done the business" properly! This time however, I have had a clutch of 9 that have slowly been reduced to 4 viable eggs (mould mainly some early random dessications) and we are currently 57 days along.

In the last 36 hours, all but 1 of the eggs have started dimpling. One is dimpling in a pattern I have not seen before (4 small dimples in an even sort of belt all around the egg). My incubation temp has been 89-91 F. I have added some water to the perlite but this has had no effect and I am very reluctant to add any more. Please ignore the dessicated egg in the background-I was curious to see the process and it has now been removed.

Having had a quick recap through the advice offered by you wonderful people last time - could this be them readying themselves to pop out or is it too early? Should I be getting my chuckling rearing setup sorted ASAP

Yurs very anxiously,

Ben

and yes that should have read "dimpling!"

Could be getting ready to hatch for sure especially at those higher temps of 90-91. I wouldn't add anymore water. SOmetimes they will dimple a week or 2 before hatching. Just be patient and see what happens. My bet is they will hatch in the next week or so. Of course worse case scenario is that they went long term and died in the egg which you could have done nothing for them anyway. Keep us posted.
Tom

Wow thanks Tom for the quick reply. That has eased my worried mind in one repsect but has sent me on a google frenzy on the other- best rearing enclosure/setup for the hatchlings?

I was planning on them going at least 70 days so I am thinking I will need to get a move on now!

Thanks,

Ben

You should google the name "tom greb" and "how to raise chuckwallas" I think you will find great answers here on this forum. Even though the forum has seemed to die, I think most people still check in just to help out.

Regards,

John

Thanks John,

I have googled as you suggested and I am still struggling to find what size/temps etc and how best to set it up. I have also scoured the archive on this forum but there are no posts describing the ideal setup for rearing hatchings.

Is the best set up a smaller version of the adults or do they require slightly lower temps and more moisture? I have read about food ( insect component to diet, finely shredded greens etc as adults), misting them so that they can sip drips of water, plenty refuges and adding in some of the adults excrement to kick start their gut flora.

Any other advice would be great as i feel like the clock is really ticking.

Thanks again,

Ben

Wow...I'm really hoping Tom will chime in as I have never reared the baby chucks. I think they will dehydrate if they are kept too hot so you will want some moisture in the cage. Probaby keeping them on paper towels for the first few weeks.

J

Hey Ben. You can keep the babies as the adults EXCEPT- they need more moisture. Make sure you feed a lot of fresh leafy greens and misting daily or even baths in shallow maybe 1-2 cm deep luke warm water-they will drink. They seem to get dehydrated very quickly. I would stay away from any type of dry foos such as commercial diets or seeds or anything like that. They seem to impact very easily.

Yep...still traveling a decent amount. Too much in my opinion to keep something as active as a collared lizard. Not that much time. I'm glad to see Eve starting to post more pictures again to keep me updated...I sure miss them.

How are all your lizards doing? I have a chance I may be heading to the Detroit area. Maybe we can do lunch.

Oh yea, I sent the article "Captive Management, Behavior and Conservation of Chuckwallas, Sauromalus obesus" by Richard Montanucci. Do you have a copy of this? If not send me an e-mail @ eddington_john@yahoo.com

regards,

John

Hey John for sure on the lunch deal. my adress is chuckwalla@frontier.com. Send me the article too. I have it but not on the computer so that would really help. Hey do you think Eve would post it on her web-page? Good to talk to ya again.
Tom

Hi Guys,

good news-one has hatched! What an awesome little creature. I will have to put him in a large plastic tub inside the adults viv until i get my smaller viv sorted this morning.

Pics to follow....

Thanks again,

Ben

Congrats Ben! That is awesome. If there is any yolk sac remaining, leave it be...the baby will absorb it over time.

That's great news!

John

Check your e-mail...I have sent you a message via the forum. I need your e-mail address and I'll send you a couple of pdf files all about the care of chucks.

Kind Regards,
John Eddington

How have you been? Still traveling alot? Keeping any collareds?