Vazimba questions:

[hdavidf309]

hello to all! I have just started working with these species and have gotten a few clutches, but only 3/4 fertile and looking good. (+ there is 1 egg that is caved a little, but clearly fertile). Anyway, I was looking to set up their enclosure differently, but needed ideas on how you house yours. Please let me know the BEST way to house these. main questions that come to mind are:
1. Do I use a laybox (like I am now), or is there a substrate option that's better?
2. Substrate moist or Drier?
3. Egg incubation Temperature, Times, AND method(s)?
4. Specific temperatures/Humidity maintained in enclosures? Basking spot (specific temp)?
5. Anything else that comes to mind, or methods used?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR that I do not necessarily think any of the care requirements I am utilizing now are wrong, and I have done research.....however I like to improve on quality care if I can for all of my animals and theres little info on the Vazimba. Thanks!

 

[vgorst]

Everyone may disagree on what's 'best'.

1. I provide a lay box, which is often used, however my female will also lay in the substrate (sand/soil mix). Provide both, it'll reduce the chances of laying problems but may make it more difficult to find eggs.

2. I provide moist and dry patches in the cool and hot ends. They come from dry deciduous forests and lay in dry substrate so if in doubt keep it drier.

3. My eggs are usually incubated around 75F. My first clutch hatched very early (around 2 months) but the rest go for 3-4 months. I just use a polybox with a heat mat attached to thermostat. Dry substrate but a pot of water to provide mid-humid conditions.

4. I provide my guys with a hot spot of mid-90s going to mid-70's, ambients mid 80's. Humidity is maintained around 50-70%, spraying every other day.

 

[hdavidf309]

Big help, thank you!

 

[Jim]

Hey hdavidf309....presently I only have the picta species of the Paroeduras; however, I would very much like to work with the rarer species like masobe, vazimba, androyensis or bastardi. I keep my pictas on Eco earth on the left, cypress mulch in the center and gravel on the right. I use a square plastic lay box with Vermiculite mixed with a little eco earth. I have two tree trunks in there, one with radiating branches up toward the basking light...they love it and hang out up there. They lay in the plastic box which has snap arms. When they are not in there, I check for eggs, then spray it. I also mist the tank from the middle to the left of the tank which contains the trunk and the log with climbing branches. The right side I keep dry (except the lay box). My incubator stays around 86°F I just put my hand in there to check the humidity. Can you tell me where you found your Vazimbas and the price? I understand all the species I named are difficult to find in the U.S. Europe has quite a collection from what I see on line. Any information you can send me would be appreciated. kimo2211@epix.net......thanks.....jim