damp enough that it holds its form, but not dripping
wet. Simply piling up damp sand/coco peat mix to a
reasonable depth in one corner of the enclosure can
also act as a suitable laying site.
When the female is almost ready to lay, she will
become quite restless and begin pacing around the
enclosure and digging frantically. The nest box
should be positioned in a back corner of the enclo-
sure so that the female feels that it is a private and
secure spot in which to lay her eggs. If the female
does not have an appropriate laying site, she may
hold on to the eggs, which can be detrimental to her
health. She may dig a number of ‘test holes’ in the
days leading up to laying. Then, when she is ready,
she will dig a deep hole in the damp substrate,
deposit the eggs at the bottom, and cover them over
with the mix.
‘It is important to replace
lost condition by offering
the female plenty of
nutritious foods that are
high in calcium.’
After the female has laid, it is important to replace
lost condition by offering her plenty of nutritious
foods that are high in calcium, as well as treats such
as mealworms and pinkie mice to assist in
replenishing fat reserves.
Incubation.
Once the eggs are laid, they will need to be taken
from the lay box and placed in a suitable incubation
tub. The sand in the lay box can be gently exca-
vated, taking care not to puncture any eggs with
your fingers. Each egg can then be removed and
any damp sand that is stuck to it can be brushed or
blown off. You should be very gentle while handling
the eggs, but it doesn’t matter if they are rotated or
their orientation is changed at this time.
A rectangular plastic container can be used to hold
the eggs throughout the incubation period. Purpose-
made reptile incubation tubs can also be purchased
from most specialist reptile stores. The container
should be filled to approximately 60% capacity with
an incubation medium such as vermiculite or perlite.
The medium is mixed with water until it is slightly
damp to the touch, but not too wet, as this may
result in overly high humidity and the growth of
mould on the eggs. A ratio of 10ml of water to
100ml of vermiculite or perlite is a good starting
point. It is safer to use a mix that is slightly on the
drier side, as extra water can always be added
Kellyville
1/2 Page
Ad.