Eggs in unusual places

[colinmelsom]

I have been racking my brains to come up with an answer but cannot think of one.Therefore I am asking for your help.This year my egg gluers are laying their eggs on the internal corners of the glass and on the glass runners.

I normally cover the eggs with small plastic pots to keep the humidity up and prevent the adults from eating the hatchlings.Can anyone think of a way to do this in these awkward situations? By the way I have moved the adults into new vivaria and they are doing the same there.In previous years they hsve conveniently laid them in the middle of the glass,in the bamboo tubes or in the Sansevera.

 

[Jonny5]

You can use the plastic condiment cups then cut the cup in half to deal with the corner. Runners might be more tricky. Maybe notch out for the runner. Hope this helps.

Jon

 

[LLDG]

Jon (Jonny5) has the right ideal which I do when the egg is glued in the enclosure.

For the last few years I remove gravid females and place them in smaller containers. They lay their eggs in the smaller container and I return the female to her original breeding container.

The eggs, now in a smaller container, can be better monitored and incubated in an more controlled environment.

This is the method I am using to better control male and female ratio in P. cepediana, P. and inexpectata eggs.

 

[colinmelsom]

Thanks for the replies.I must admit that I haven`t caught the gravid females.I would be too worried about harming them.
My biggest problem is with borbonica mater and its not always eay to see when they are gravid.I find that they hide it better than the smaller species.Its cetainly somerhing that I will consider though.

 

[LLDG]

It takes some time to have an eye for gravid females. I look for roundness that extends the sides and a belly that lifts when the are flat on a stick.

Some species you can just see the egg in the belly.

You can look for white areas on the left and right of the stomach that I call "egg fat". When a female is not gravid, the "egg fat" is not there.

Monday I saw a female cepediana with her mate and even though she was small she looked as if she had swallowed a white mushroom. Without even looking under her belly I knew she was ready to lay. Took her out on Monday afternoon, and Tuesday she laid her egg. She was fed an extra meal that evening, and today fed her another meal then put her back with the male.

I like to have eye to eye contact with each gecko in the collection at least once a day. It's not always easy but as a husbandry practice, it's my best tip.