Golden Gecko Eggs!

Goldie · #1 01-10-2009, 05:36 PM

There is a slight possibility that my golden gecko is pregnant! Unfortunately, her last 5 eggs (yeah, she's been busy!) havent formed properly.
But... there's always a chance the new ones could be okay.
Luckily, a reptile shop has offered to incubate any eggs that I have but...
I need to know what to do when I find the eggs?
How can I prevent them being damaged?
How should I pick them up?
What should I transport them in?
Do they need to be heated on the way to the shop? (Unfortunately, it is about 40 minutes away)
Basically, I need to know every little detail.
If I were to ruin the first good eggs they lay, I would never forgive myself.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Goldie x

crestedtimm · #2 01-10-2009, 05:56 PM

They glue their eggs, so if she does lay, tape a delicup over them on the glass, or remove the object she glued them to, and put it in an empty tank, with a lid of course.

We are talking about Gekko ulikovski right?

keep the questions comin'!

Timm

Those eggs will be fine from 60 degrees f, all the way up to 90, as long as you dont hit them on anything, or change their orientatiom( flip em over too many time) at least during their transport, if you do, to the shop.

I undertand your concern but this is something you can handle yourself, you dont need to pass those eggs off to anyone.

I would incubate at temps between 75-90, day to night fluctuations.

Goldie · #3 01-10-2009, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the reply!
I would love to incubate them myself but I thought an incubator was neccessary?
I wouldnt be able to put the egg in a seperate tank because I don't have one... I have a very small plastic tank which I keep their locsusts in... would that do? (obviously without the locusts in it) And how would I prevent it from rolling around?
Also, if its in this small tank how could I keep it warm?
Are the eggs very delicate after laying? If so, do they get harder?

Sorry about all the questions, I am just so worried about ruining these ones too!

Goldie
x

crestedtimm · #4 01-10-2009, 06:38 PM

No problem! You must ask to get answers!

You do not need an incubator, per se, you must keep them in a room that stays warm, within the perimeters that I gave. Obiviously, few people are going to keep their rooms that hot, but for my crested eggs, I simply remove them from their cage and place them in a nest box which I just put on my headboard and it has the same temps as the room. This is just placing the box, containing perlite, vermiculite, or some other sterile medium in a rubbermaid, or other container (really there are a number of things that could be used, so I cite a few for every aspect).

The only real issue you are going to come across is the fact that she will adhere (stick) her eggs to some object in her cage, be it the tank wall, a branch, or wood, she will almost certainly NOT simply lay them where they alone may be removed.

A note: the eggs are hard shelled, but very fragile, so do avoid bumping them on anything at all. Everytime I get Goldie eggs, I always break one removing the object from the cage.
Learn from others mistakes!

So, you must take this into consideration and provide an object she will want to use for deposition. Such an object would be a piece of pvc pipe approx 10 inches long, and with a large enough diameter that she could go in and turn around. She will likely utilize this, and when she lays, hopefully it would be in this pipe, and to address your lack of a tank, you could simply rubberband a paper towel over both end, and leave it in the cage.

Every week or so, open one end and see if they have ahtched, if not, put a new towel on amd wait. When they hatch, ask those questions then!

The female would prolly appreciate you providing another hide for her once you have sealed hers, and you only do this to keep the offspring form escaping into the tank and ( possibly) being eaten by the parents.

keep the questions coming, as this quesution has been asked several times here on the forums.

Timm

Goldie · #5 01-10-2009, 06:52 PM

Thank you for all your help! I'm gaining enough confidence to considier raising the eggs myself...
Currently in their vivarium I have a plastic tupperware box which I have cut a circle into the lid of so that they can climb in and out. Inside, i have put a nesting material. I don't know the name of the substrate, but it was reccomended to me for nesting.
If she happened to lay her eggs in there, would I be able to simply block off the enterance and leave the eggs in there? Would enough heat be able to get though?
If she didn't lay them in there, would I be able to move them into there?
Or is the whole idea of putting them in there out of the question?

Thanks again,
Goldie
x