Let's all have eggs!

[pinkspore]

Add me to the list of newbs with surprise eggs. I've been keeping my boys and girls segregated since everyone perked up this spring, so I was not at all prepared to find my prettiest girl digging a lovely hole last night. I now have four three-toe eggs sitting in a plastic tub of dirt atop my gecko cage. I've got an ice chest full of water, and I'll be adding a heater and a thermometer/hygrometer right after a trip to the store.

I'd like to incubate them at 89 degrees and hope for more girls if they're fertile. I've read a whole lot about ghettobaters and may replace the soil with vermiculite. My question for you is: what humidity range is best for the eggs?

 

[yagyujubei]

As far as humidity, enough so that the eggs don't start to deflate and dent . But not enough to cause them to expand. I don't meter them, so I can't give you a relative humidity. I would guess at about 75 to 80 percent rh.

 

[Keeblercop]

Congrats!

 

[Millerlite]

Go 86-88 89 might be a little warm even for female, I read 90 can kill embryos. I also use the foam ice cheat and heater works great have it set at 84 degrees. It jumps 2 degrees up or down depending on the weather.

 

[pinkspore]

Ok cool, thanks for the info.

 

[Pameladale]

Did you burmate your turtles? (hibernate) mine keep mating but have not laid eggs just wondering what im doing wrong lol

 

[pinkspore]

I didn't let mine hibernate, but my egg-laying girl did hibernate with her previous caretaker. Do your turtles have good places to lay?

 

[Pameladale]

I believe so they have lots of plants and hides. What did yours lay there eggs under?

 

[Millerlite]

How deeps your substrate? Also indoor or outdoor housing? Mine didn't hibernate them, I actually adopted them last winter she's laid two clutches already

 

[Pameladale]

Re: RE: Let's all have eggs!

5 inches on the warmer side about 3 on the cooler side. Indoor there enclosures about 4 feet. Oh wow thats awesome. I just dont understand why they mate like crazy but no eggs

 

[Millerlite]

You should add deeper substrate, I had 7-8 inches and she didn't lay till I made it 9-10 the nest they dig are 6-7 inches deep.

 

[Pameladale]

Holy crap thats a lot ill add some more. The thing is I built them a second level in the tank im assuming with that much subtrate in there they'll be too close to the lights?

 

[Millerlite]

How high are your sides? I would try ad make it at least 8 inches pack it down too so she can make a nest, keep it moist not wet, she needs a good spot to lay, mine made a best under a second heat light I put on one end, I packed down all the soil and made it 9 inches deep. She laid there twice

 

[Pameladale]

Re: RE: Let's all have eggs!

my sides are only 14" I have an undertank heater and the light on the one side. Ok perfect thanks for your help. Would you mind sending me a picture of your setup id love to see it.

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Should the whole tank be that deep?