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I need some suggestions

M

mike panic

Member
usually I place an egg box inside the females enclosures filled with damp spagnum. This year, I am going to Florida and have several females that are about to lay. Since I got out there with my pants down so to speak, I was considering filling the bins with sterile potting soil so the eggs have a chance at surviving until I get back. Any suggestions out there? I'm sure at least one or two of these females will have layed before I get back. Please only respond if you have tried something and it has worked. Thanks.
 
mike panic said:
Please only respond if you have tried something and it has worked. Thanks.
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I understand you want specific advice but how about the rest of us who might have something good to add? :shrugs:



I was meant to be away in Norway this week but ended up staying home and I have a female due to lay any day/hour.

As well as having a friend come twice a day to check the lay box and move the layed eggs (if any) to the incubator, I'm using plastic tubs with coco fibre in them -same as forrest bed- which I've found holds it's moisture well and allows for burrowing.

My females have spent at least 3 weeks in the 'maternity ward' and I've only adjusted the moisture twice or so in the whole time they're in there.

You can use a probe thermometer to check that the temp in the lay box doesn't get too high and if you balance the moisture and the temperature well, I doubt it would give you problems in egg-sitting for a week or so until you get back.

My biggest concern would be a problem with a female (dystocia, etc) rather than the eggs. That is why I was going to have my friend (who lives in the same building) come each morning and night to check on them and call me if there was a problem.
 
When I had to be away for 5 days once, I put all my females that were due to lay in the smaller 15 quart Sterilites and completely filled them with sphangum peat moss. 3 of the layed while I was gone, and while I had no idea how long they had been in there, they were all OK.
 
carol said:
When I had to be away for 5 days once, I put all my females that were due to lay in the smaller 15 quart Sterilites and completely filled them with sphangum peat moss. 3 of the layed while I was gone, and while I had no idea how long they had been in there, they were all OK.
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Great idea. Did you also leave a small container of water? Also, did you keep part of the boxes on belly heat? Asking because I need to know myself.
 
Yes I had waters in there, but they were full of mud by the time I got back. I have heat strips going down the back wall of my rack, so no belly heat, but these containers were put right next to the heat tape on the wall for heat. I found this created a larger range of temps inside the enclosure, when I had heat tape under the boxes, it seemed to make the entire box hot.
 
Cover the bottom of the entire cage with dampened peat or sphagnum moss. Put in the egg laying box as well, because some females just will not lay their eggs out in the open. Put in a small water dish or one with only a small amount of water in it. Seal off most of the airholes in the cage to retain as much humidity as you can in the cage.

I have gone to shows in the middle of laying season and was gone for 4 days. Never lost any eggs yet by using the above method. The only REAL problems are when a female you didn't think was gravid lays eggs while you are gone.
 
thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I will fill the bins with dampened peat moss. And of course with a small container of water. I will definately follow Riches advice and put in the egg container as well. Thanks again.
 
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