Crested eggs, what to do now?

mbhorslev · #1 09-28-2011, 04:02 AM

I have ordered 4 crested eggs, and I am going to try to hatch them myself. But should I use a reptile hatcher or could I just leave them in a terrarium in the boxes they are in? My terrarium the temp is 24 degrees celcius, and 57% humidity. No animals at all. I dont know much about babies, can I feed them repashys from the start, or will they need crickets ant size? I am really exited, I get to follow (if all goes according to plan) my geckos from the very beginning (almost)

I was thinking, since it is a 50/50 for 2 girls and 2 fellows, how long will I be able to keep them in the same enclosure? I am hoping there will be at least 1 girl..I have a small terrarium standing by for them, since I have read that they dont do well in big spaces as babies and juvies..

Anything else I need to know?

lauraleellbp · #2 09-28-2011, 09:14 AM

I'd try and incubate them cooler, if possible. 68-72 F and they will take much longer to hatch, but the hatchlings will be much more developed when they do and the hatchlings tend to have much better crest structure.

You also need more humidity.

Here's a good link:

Crested Gecko Egg Incubator Redux - YouTube

mbhorslev · #3 10-07-2011, 07:19 AM

I got the eggs yesterday. 2 eggs from the that will hatch within the next week, if all goes well. And 2 eggs from the 22 of august. Really exited about this

I forgot to ask, will they eat repashys from the start, or do I need crickets? I really want to feed only with repashys, since my daugther has an allergy for crickets, mealworms and ****roaches

But will the little ones eat that or will they starve?

lauraleellbp · #4 10-07-2011, 10:31 AM

Repashy CGD is actually best for hatchlings, it can take a while for them to eat bugs sometimes. They should be ready for their first meal 2-3 days after hatching.

You can raise a crestie entirely on Repashy and never feed anything else, though they will grow more quickly if you offer bugs at least occasionally.

mbhorslev · #5 10-07-2011, 11:37 AM

Okay. Thank you very much

calicat386 · #6 10-07-2011, 01:18 PM

Where did you get the eggs from?

mbhorslev · #7 10-07-2011, 01:29 PM

I bought them of a breeder, not far from where I live

mbhorslev · #8 10-15-2011, 09:17 AM

So the big eggs havent hatched yet.. I was wondering; How can you see when it is about hatching time?
Two of the eggs are dated, but the two others arent, because the breeder found them in the terrarium,during a cleaning. They are big, they weigh (including moist vermiculite) 79 grams. I havent handled the eggs, even though I am thinking about candelling them, but I am scared they will break. I know not to turn, shake and so on, I have bred and hatched a lot of bearded dragons, and leopard geckoes. But never cresteds.
The breeder thought the big ones would hatch within a week or so, but still nothing. They look fine, no mould or darkness. And they are growing, no doubt about that (you can see it very clearly, when comparing to the size when I got them).

So when you dont know when they where laid, how do you know, when it is time to hatch?

lauraleellbp · #9 10-15-2011, 10:03 AM

A friend of mine is doing a weight experiment with eggs and find that hers are hatching when the eggs (and only the eggs) weigh around 4 grams.

Otherwise- hatching is entirely dependent upon temperature. Normal hatch times average 60-100 days, but I've seen healthy hatchlings come out of both younger and older eggs. (IMO longer hatch times are preferable as the hatchlings are more developed and typically have better structure).

mbhorslev · #10 10-16-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

A friend of mine is doing a weight experiment with eggs and find that hers are hatching when the eggs (and only the eggs) weigh around 4 grams.

Otherwise- hatching is entirely dependent upon temperature. Normal hatch times average 60-100 days, but I've seen healthy hatchlings come out of both younger and older eggs. (IMO longer hatch times are preferable as the hatchlings are more developed and typically have better structure).

Thank you for all your help, it is really useful

I weighed the eggs, they weigh approx. 3 grams each. Since I dont have a perfect scale (0.1 grams) I cant say if they are colser to 3 grams, or 4 grams.
My guess will be hatching within the next week. Is that all wrong?

I have another question. When I weighed the eggs, I noticed that there are springtales in the vermiculite. Is that something I should worry about? I have springtales in my terrariums, which I know, isn´t bad, but dont know about eggs..

All the eggs are incubated a roomtemp, after the advice i was giving from the breeder. I weigh once a week, to ensure moisture.