Need Help With My Cave Geckos

[Gecko_Gal]

I have a breeding pair of Chinese Cave Geckos (Goniurosaurus Lichtenfelderi). We started breeding them last season but had no luck with the eggs. We got maybe 5 or 6 clutched out of our female but none of them made it. I'm incubating them just like Crested Gecko eggs, since their native home's climates are similar. I have a lay box for my female, she is ALWAYS in it but never lays in it. When she does lay I move the eggs onto vermiculite and incubate them at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Then they get moldy, so we take peroxide put it on a qtip and take the mold off everyday because it just grows right back (our reptile store suggested that). Then the eggs never make it. They grow a bit then just stop, but the eggs are never discolored, before I owned the mated pair she has given eggs before, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Does anyone suggest any special ways of incubating them? What substrate should I put my eggs on?

Also what substrate do you suggest that I keep my geckos on. I have them on a forest-wood like substrate that was recommended when I bought them, but quiet frankly I don't care for it to much. Should I go a mix of Eco Earth and Moss or what? I do know they need 80% humidity, what heat source should I use to keep it that? A heating pad or a heat bulb (not UV) ?

I'm looking to expand my collection on Cave Geckos, they are my favorite gecko out of all of my different species. So what are some other species of cave gecko that are similar to the Chinese Cave Gecko, Vietnamese Cave Gecko, and Japanese Cave Gecko? I prefer the English name, but if you have to give the scientific name then I'll figure it out!

THANKS!

 

[Gecko_Gal]

Anyone? ):

 

[Felinus]

I have a breeding pair of Chinese Cave Geckos (Goniurosaurus Luii). We started breeding them last season but had no luck with the eggs. We got maybe 5 or 6 clutched out of our female but none of them made it. Does anyone suggest any special ways of incubating them? What substrate should I put my eggs on?

Maybe you can tell us how you incubate your eggs ? So we can find out why your eggs didn't make it.

cheers
Caro

 

[Gecko_Gal]

How I Incubate Them

Maybe you can tell us how you incubate your eggs ? So we can find out why your eggs didn't make it.

cheers
Caro

I'm incubating them just like Crested Gecko eggs, since their native home's climates are similar. I have a lay box for my female, she is ALWAYS in it but never lays in it. When she does lay I move the eggs onto vermiculite and incubate them at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Then they get moldy, so we take peroxide put it on a qtip and take the mold off everyday because it just grows right back (our reptile store suggested that). Then the eggs never make it. They grow a bit then just stop, but the eggs are never discolored, before I owned the mated pair she has given eggs before, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

 

[mikew1234]

To help a little, and I will admit I am no expert on these geckos. I googled their care, and got incubation temps of 78-80 from two care sheets. As for other species, every species in Caro's signature is in the genus.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I'm incubating them just like Crested Gecko eggs, since their native home's climates are similar. I have a lay box for my female, she is ALWAYS in it but never lays in it. When she does lay I move the eggs onto vermiculite and incubate them at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Then they get moldy, so we take peroxide put it on a qtip and take the mold off everyday because it just grows right back (our reptile store suggested that). Then the eggs never make it. They grow a bit then just stop, but the eggs are never discolored, before I owned the mated pair she has given eggs before, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Keep in mind that, just because the climates of their native homes might be similar (I don't know if they are), that doesn't mean they lay their eggs in identical kinds of places. One species might choose a spot with very different temps/humidity than the other.

~Maggot

 

[Gecko_Gal]

Keep in mind that, just because the climates of their native homes might be similar (I don't know if they are), that doesn't mean they lay their eggs in identical kinds of places. One species might choose a spot with very different temps/humidity than the other.

~Maggot

I'm very familiar with my Crested Geckos and incubate them 65-70 and they do fine, I do my Cave Geckos at 75. The only thing that I do the same with the Cave and Crested Geckos is the vermiculite when incubating them, thats what I mean by same climate. So thats why I do the temp. similar, so you could be right.

 

[Gecko_Gal]

Also, What type of heat source do you recommend I use to give them humidity?

 

[Felinus]

Hi again!

No idea how others incubate their eggs, but here's the way we do

I use an empty cricket box or a similar container without air holes, half filled with vermiculite (~ 30 gr.).
Put the eggs into the box, but don't cover them with the vermiculite.
Then I provide ~ 70ml water to the container, moist not soaky.
Incubation temperature between 24-26 ° Celsius (75,2 - 78,8 °F).

From time to time i use perlit instead of vermiculite , works fine too. But needs a different humidity level.

 

[Gecko_Gal]

After the 70mL do you still go in every once in a while and spray the vermiculite? Or No? And how long does it usually take them to hatch>

 

[Felinus]

After the 70mL do you still go in every once in a while and spray the vermiculite? Or No? And how long does it usually take them to hatch>

I check the eggs from time to time (once a week) and if the substrate gets dry, I carefully add some water onto the vermiculite around the eggs (with a syringe) . But take care : No water on the eggs.
The incubation can last between 55-80 days depends on temperature.

 

[Gecko_Gal]

Do you know why maybe they get all moldy? The eggs start to mold within days of them being hatched. And what substrate do you keep your geckos on, and what substrate is in your laybox?

 

[Felinus]

Do you know why maybe they get all moldy? The eggs start to mold within days of them being hatched.

There are several reasons, eggs will start to mold:

1. eggs are not fertilized (my first thought about your eggs)
2. the incubation substrate is too wet
3. insufficient aeration in the incubation container

And what substrate do you keep your geckos on, and what substrate is in your laybox?

I use cocosfibre in my cave geckos terrariums. One site a bit more dry, the other one with moisty hides. And this is where my females lay their eggs. So at the moment no need for layboxes.

cheers
Caro

 

[Gecko_Gal]

Thank you! I think it is either they aren't getting enough air or the eggs are infertile. Though I've never have infertile eggs mold before.. I'll poke some more holes in the box next time, I believe she is gravid too.

 

[Saskia]

I have ZERO experience with cave geckos, but I have succesfully bred Eulepharis a few times, when I read your first post my first thought was that they might be infertile, have you cracked them open when you are sure they are bad? To see if there is an embryo there??

 

[rwintjen]

I incubate my cavies at 75*. I keep them similarly to how I used to incubate my crested gecko eggs, using the aquatic pond soil. I do not worry about fluctuating temperatures, as long as it's not a huge change. A few degrees up or down thru the day makes no issues in my experience. Make sure if you don't have holes in the enclosure you at least air them out once a week by opening the lid. And to see if they are fertile you can always put a light up to the egg about a week after it is laid to see if there is the tell-tale red circle in there, which denotes a fertile egg.

My first thought is that you had infertile eggs.

Good luck!

 

[abhaya]

Hi, I have bred hainanensis, araneas and luii with mixed results. My hatch rate for the hainans have been better. I soak perlite and top it off with eco earth so the humidity rate is constant without any water getteing on the eggs- I don't have a problem with mold and the temperature is about 80F.