Four days into owning P. Lineatus........
- Thread starter rtbaum
- Start date
Do you have one or a pair? If you only have one, was the female with a male before? I have found my Phelsuma are more likely to lay eggs without benefit of a male than any other species I've kept. Usually they eat the eggs (which are always infertile because my few phelsuma have not been with males). If there is a chance that the eggs are fertile, hopefully some Phelsuma keepers who have had experience will chime in here.
Aliza
Aliza
I bought them as a pair, the other is a male I am pretty certain. Hard to say if it is the father or not. They have only been in my possession four days.
My initial thought is to leave them as they sit at least for now. The vivarium has been stable at 76 degrees, 70-85% RH. Addition of the halogen basking light has raised the temp in this area to mid-80's. I don't think that I could do better in an incubator.
I know there are those on the forum that have far more experience than I. I am curious about incubation period for this species. I would also like to know if the female retains sperm for a period of time. The past few days, the female has been stressed and the male is chasing her around, I have actually been escape-proofing my other tank for separating the two. If I do so, will she continue to produce fertile eggs?
My initial thought is to leave them as they sit at least for now. The vivarium has been stable at 76 degrees, 70-85% RH. Addition of the halogen basking light has raised the temp in this area to mid-80's. I don't think that I could do better in an incubator.
I know there are those on the forum that have far more experience than I. I am curious about incubation period for this species. I would also like to know if the female retains sperm for a period of time. The past few days, the female has been stressed and the male is chasing her around, I have actually been escape-proofing my other tank for separating the two. If I do so, will she continue to produce fertile eggs?
Last edited:
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Are you planning to place the male in a separate vivarium? The female does retain sperm. She will probably continue to lay fertile eggs for a while.
I don't know the incubation period for Phelsuma lineata.
Set up the eggs on some incubation medium so they don't dry out. Maybe in a ventilated 16 ounce deli cup right inside the vivarium? Otherwise once the eggs hatch the youngsters could be devoured! :sad:
Last edited:
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Breeding:
"Breeding season is determined by temperature and photo period if the proper climate and diet are provided. As lighting hours and temperature increase in Spring, females should be provided additional food and supplements. Day geckos are either gluers or non-gluers. Non-gluers lay two or one calcareous hard-shelled eggs in a protected location such as a leaf joint or open bamboo section. Gluers attach the egg or eggs to leaves or other hard surfaces and are easily broken if an attempt is made to remove them. The eggs of gluers must be incubated in place unless the object to which they are attached can be moved to an incubator. Most fertile eggs can be incubated at a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees C) with small variations in temperature and will hatch in 38 to 90 days depending on the species. Eggs can be hatched in an incubator by placing them on a small plastic lid placed on top of a bed of slightly moistened vermiculite (1:1 ratio of vermiculite to water by weight)"
Click: Phelsuma Care Sheet
"Breeding season is determined by temperature and photo period if the proper climate and diet are provided. As lighting hours and temperature increase in Spring, females should be provided additional food and supplements. Day geckos are either gluers or non-gluers. Non-gluers lay two or one calcareous hard-shelled eggs in a protected location such as a leaf joint or open bamboo section. Gluers attach the egg or eggs to leaves or other hard surfaces and are easily broken if an attempt is made to remove them. The eggs of gluers must be incubated in place unless the object to which they are attached can be moved to an incubator. Most fertile eggs can be incubated at a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees C) with small variations in temperature and will hatch in 38 to 90 days depending on the species. Eggs can be hatched in an incubator by placing them on a small plastic lid placed on top of a bed of slightly moistened vermiculite (1:1 ratio of vermiculite to water by weight)"
Click: Phelsuma Care Sheet
Thank you, Elizabeth. The eggs should be easily transferred. I am thinking of transferring to pint container and placing them into the second terrarium (soon-to-be vivarium). The grown-ups are behaving better today.
I checked the temp where the eggs are laid.....86 degrees....Momma ain't dumb!
I checked the temp where the eggs are laid.....86 degrees....Momma ain't dumb!