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[Eric Koller]

Hello, I'm thinking about getting some klemmeri and had a few questions. First what is the best method of getting the bamboo to stay horizontal in the exo terras? And second, I've read that they lay their eggs in the bamboo so how do you get eggs out to incubate?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Tadeusz]

Welcome. I have several grandis and for my bamboo, I just simply cut it a few centimeters longer then the width and wedge it in. I've never had any issues doing this. I keep larger diameter (4") tubes with one capped end and one open for the females to lay. I lean these sideways and cut them about 10-12" long and that seems to work for me. I can collect the eggs or leave them to incubate inside the tubes.

 

[daggekko]

Welcome to Phelsuma!! And the forums! Do you keep any other reptiles/amphibians?

With bamboo, I too have done just slightly long enough to pin into place, but you do run the risk of breaking the glass. I've actually had a tank pop a few weeks after pinning the bamboo in place!! Recently I was suggested to use hot glue. It works VERY well. I have even had to pull a couple pieces out and the glue sticks some to the bamboo and walls so the bamboo can be pinned back in place.

I have not kept P. klemmeri, but from what I've heard they will lay eggs in places you do not realize they can fit into. The babies can also be hatched out with the adults and raised this way for a while. You will have to check the tank over to cover any gaps/holes because the babies will probably find a way out. One of the things I do with my Phelsuma is make sure I can get to any of the bamboo that could potentially have eggs in it without tearing the tank down. I use horizontal pieces- sometimes I'll use a hole saw and cut a couple holes in one of the segments. I also use vertical pieces. I try to make the end touching the ground fairly flush at the segment so that crickets and potential spiders cannot use it to hide in. The top end of this piece I will vary between a foot deep to just 3-4 inches deep. Depending on the female and tank temperatures you should be able to find where she'll typically lay eggs. Hopefully anyhow. A bunch of my females lay eggs in the same spots every time.

Good luck!

 

[Eric Koller]

Thanks for the replys. Yes I breed alot of pure/ local specific carpet pythons and liasis(olives, macklotts, waters, etc) and within the past few years geckos. My daughter really likes the geckos. We have,
1.2 cresties
1.1 leachies nu anna
1.1 chewies PI
0.1.2 gargoyles
a ton of pictus (xanthics, axanthics, stripes, etc)
1.1 f4 tokays
1.1 tokays dh calico/powder blue
1.1 c.b. halmahera
and coming at the end of the month... 1.1 oceanics and 1.1 angulifer


Thanks again,
Eric

 

[mkschaefer]

The good thing about klemmeri is that you can always tell when they are gravid. I have had other Phelsuma deposit their eggs in lower sections of the enclosure, but I can't recall a female klemmeri that didn't lay her eggs in a horizontal bamboo section near the top of the enclosure or in a vertical hollow near the top. I have never had klemmeri lay their eggs in the foliage, though many other species will. That doesn't mean it can't happen, but I have not witnessed. The picture below should display how to orient bamboo horizontally as the previous posters excellently described.

 

[Eric Koller]

Thanks! I was also curious on what wattage lights you use in those puck lights and what are your basking temps?

Eric