[oli]

I'm just looking for some successful personal experiences with fimbriatus egg incubation. Temps, substrate, humidity (water to incubation substrate ratio), container size, etc. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

[luevelvet]

from the Uroplatus fimrbaitus care sheet on the U.I.C.

Two eggs (occasionally three) are deposited in the substrate, often buried or covered with loose foliage. Dead leaves on top of any substrate is recommended to provide the animal with suitable options for a nesting site. They will not lay if they can't find a suitable site and they even have been known to reabsorb their eggs because of it. If you're using a laying bin, it is recommended to check and clean the bin nightly to prevent any feces from fouling the substrate.

Eggs are incubated in 100% RH at a range of 72-78F. The will hatch anywhere from 70-120 days and emerge around 1-3 grams in weight. We've had great success in raising babies in mini vivarium setups. Each baby setup is no bigger than a 5.5 gal aquarium, with a layer of coco coir for substrate. Each enclosure is furnished with one or two live plants and a few branches to hunt and perch from. Small food items (3/6-1/4") are introduced 1-2 days after birth and continue as needed every day. Nightly misting provides water for hydration, though it's still not a bad idea to provide a shallow dish with fresh water that is replaced daily.

Babies really begin to grow once they get the knack of eating a good meal each night and soon they require a large enclosure. We usually move juveniles that are 2-4 months old into a larger enclosure, roughly the size of a 10 gal aquarium. Again, the enclosure is complete with substrate, live plants and many branches. As they continue to grow they will have to be moved into appropriately sized enclosures. I've heard a few different stories as to when they become sexually mature and the general consensus seems to be between their first and second year. There have reports of WC specimens in captivity taking up to 2 years before they began to mate.

Cheers!

Luis