I have a pancake group of 1.4 and of the group, 2 females are WC and 2 are CB. The 2 CB girls are still very young. One is 3 years old and the other will be 3 in May. I just had egg #9 for the year laid last night.
What I find interesting, is that the 2 young girls are laying more frequently and digging proper nest holes. The youngest just laid her 4th egg since October, last night. The 3 year old laid her 2nd egg in less than 4 weeks on Saturday. Also in a proper nest hole.
The 2 older WC girls have only laid their eggs on top of the substrate. One girl just laid egg #2 since February. Her first egg is the only one to hatch, so far. The largest WC girl has only laid one egg and that was in March, fertile but still incubating.
I find this species so fascinating. I learn something new about this group every day. Why do the CB young girls dig proper nests, while the older WC girls just lay on top of the substrate? Why are the youngest girls laying more eggs, more frequently? The girls that dig nests are doing so in the mulch along the rocks that are in the enclosure. The ones that lay on top, are doing so in the dirt on the opposite side of the enclosure. The enclosure is a 6x3 closed chamber and is half mulch and half topsoil. Where the rocks are is in the mulch and on the hotter side. The dirt side has cork bark hides and no "hot spot", but is under the CHE. I just find the different behavior between the CB and WC so interesting. What is also interesting is that the CB girls sleep in the rocks, where all of the WC sleep in the dirt. The humidity is higher on the dirt side and averages ~65%. Where the rock side has an MVB mounted above the rocks and is much drier.
All of the WC, including the male, have been with me for over 2 years. They are all very active, eat great and not one of them is shy about anything! I have to be very careful when doing anything in their indoor enclosure because they are all trying to climb up me or getting into the middle of whatever I am doing. I can't even open the enclosure when I find one nesting because it will cause all the others to come running to investigate why I'm opening the door. Just as a note, they also have a 7x14 yard they go out in, weather permitting.
Just thought I would share my observations.... I can't wait to see what 2015 brings with this group!
Cyndi
What I find interesting, is that the 2 young girls are laying more frequently and digging proper nest holes. The youngest just laid her 4th egg since October, last night. The 3 year old laid her 2nd egg in less than 4 weeks on Saturday. Also in a proper nest hole.
The 2 older WC girls have only laid their eggs on top of the substrate. One girl just laid egg #2 since February. Her first egg is the only one to hatch, so far. The largest WC girl has only laid one egg and that was in March, fertile but still incubating.
I find this species so fascinating. I learn something new about this group every day. Why do the CB young girls dig proper nests, while the older WC girls just lay on top of the substrate? Why are the youngest girls laying more eggs, more frequently? The girls that dig nests are doing so in the mulch along the rocks that are in the enclosure. The ones that lay on top, are doing so in the dirt on the opposite side of the enclosure. The enclosure is a 6x3 closed chamber and is half mulch and half topsoil. Where the rocks are is in the mulch and on the hotter side. The dirt side has cork bark hides and no "hot spot", but is under the CHE. I just find the different behavior between the CB and WC so interesting. What is also interesting is that the CB girls sleep in the rocks, where all of the WC sleep in the dirt. The humidity is higher on the dirt side and averages ~65%. Where the rock side has an MVB mounted above the rocks and is much drier.
All of the WC, including the male, have been with me for over 2 years. They are all very active, eat great and not one of them is shy about anything! I have to be very careful when doing anything in their indoor enclosure because they are all trying to climb up me or getting into the middle of whatever I am doing. I can't even open the enclosure when I find one nesting because it will cause all the others to come running to investigate why I'm opening the door. Just as a note, they also have a 7x14 yard they go out in, weather permitting.
Just thought I would share my observations.... I can't wait to see what 2015 brings with this group!
Cyndi
