Checking w Bonnie's progress!!

[Pinky81]

Hey everyone! So Bonnie seems to be doing well. She's not eating a whole lot..but has taken some crickets and a couple of waxworms. She was 59g at mating and now is 57g. She doesn't visibly look like she is losing weight tail is still nice and plump. So I am assuming this amount of weight loss is ok?!?

Ive attached a few pics of her tummy! I think im still a week or so out from actual laying WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Its weird tonight she seems to be very restless...she's cruising around her tank a lot...she is digging in her box because I come home and findthe box with divits in the vermic. Not sure what thats all about..any thoughts?

One more question...how do you know when to make your perlite?? I plan on using Albey's method of prepping my perlite...just worried that it will lose moisture if I prep it too early.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

If she's digging around it won't be long till she lays. I like to have my incubation containers fixed and waiting in the incubator, already up to temp that way and no mad dash to get everything ready. Good luck!

 

[Pinky81]

thx for the tip...I felt that way too like I should be ready but Im concerned with the perlite losing its moisture...but I guess everyday i can put it back on the scale and make sure it doesn't need to be sprayed. just prepped my perlite and put it into my incubator...got the incubator fired up and holding at 81 degrees (I want females) and I guess I'll be leaving it on from here out!!

Im super excited...I have 4 friends who are waiting for babies..so I keep posting pics on my FB page of her progress..and they are excited too!

 

[Taquiq]

Just make sure to seal the perlite container and when the eggs are in the incubator don't mess with them, open it for a few seconds once a week but don't touch them or hold them, be patient. Good Luck!

 

[Pinky81]

am I doing this right with the perlite.

you take your container and place on the scale..and tare it out. then you fill 2/3 up with perlite takes me to 41g. you times that by .8 and that comes to 32.8. then you add 32.8 to the 41g to get 73.8g. So you spray your perlite with water till it weighs 73.8grams.

does that sound right guys..it doesn't seem to be that moist?!?!

 

[JordanAng420]

I find using vermiculite is a lot easier...I moisten it and then squeeze the excess water out, just to the point where I can make a "snowball" out of the stuff but it's not dripping wet.

I tried perlite a few times but I had a lot of issues with the eggs I used it with, so I switched, and i'm glad I did. I find that vermiculite holds water much better than perlite.

Maybe someone more experienced with perlite will come along and give you some further advice...good luck, and good job for being prepared in advance.

 

[Pinky81]

I find using vermiculite is a lot easier...I moisten it and then squeeze the excess water out, just to the point where I can make a "snowball" out of the stuff but it's not dripping wet.

I tried perlite a few times but I had a lot of issues with the eggs I used it with, so I switched, and i'm glad I did. I find that vermiculite holds water much better than perlite.

Maybe someone more experienced with perlite will come along and give you some further advice...good luck, and good job for being prepared in advance.

Do you have to add water to the vermiculite at all during the incubation process??

I decided on the perlite because I didn't want to have to remoisten the medium during the process.

~~Also I woke up this AM and the lay box was a MESS!! this is a good sign!!!!! No eggs I checked!!! I just hope she doesn't lay tonight cause Im staying at a friends house over night....will the eggs be ok if laid at night and not put into the incubator for maybe 8-10 hours??

 

[softballstud_1099]

Do you have to add water to the vermiculite at all during the incubation process??

I decided on the perlite because I didn't want to have to remoisten the medium during the process.

~~Also I woke up this AM and the lay box was a MESS!! this is a good sign!!!!! No eggs I checked!!! I just hope she doesn't lay tonight cause Im staying at a friends house over night....will the eggs be ok if laid at night and not put into the incubator for maybe 8-10 hours??

I use vermiculite and I have not needed to add any water during the incubation period. Good luck and I hope all goes well.

Brent

 

[Taquiq]

I use vermiculite and before the females lay eggs I do a 1:0.9 ratio of vermiculite to water. I never add extra water during the process.

 

[Pinky81]

I use vermiculite and before the females lay eggs I do a 1:0.9 ratio of vermiculite to water. I never add extra water during the process.

Thank you very much guys...so instead of multiplying by .8 I would multiply by .9? following albeys method??

Im soooo excited guys...I know the first clutch will probably be infertile but still excited!

Thank you all for the help and direction!:main_thumbsup:

 

[Taquiq]

Yep, multiply by .9

 

[Pinky81]

Yep, multiply by .9

Thanks so much Joey...got home today and the tank was ripped up! Seems she took to digging up her humid hide..so I had sphagnum moss all over...and the lay box with the vermic was dug all the way to the bottom on one side. No eggs yet..but they do look very prominent in her belly!!! Right at this minute she is in her humid hide again diggin to china!! :main_laugh:

I did make up the vermiculite medium and have it in the incubator getting up to temp!!!

 

[Taquiq]

Sounds like she's really close to laying!

 

[Pinky81]

OMG Im getting impatient! Came home from work today and she is still in her vermic lay box...STILL DIGGING!!! If she were outside she would have gotten to china and back by now!!! Come on Bonnie pop those eggs out!!! LOL

 

[JordanAng420]

She will be laying any time now. Be patient, it will most likely happen when you are not expecting/thinking about it. That's Murphy's Law for ya! :main_laugh:

 

[Pinky81]

I did just take her out and did a bottom check just to make sure there were no obvious signs of straining. Her vent looks fine..but the eggs still look like they pretty far up in her...not sure if that makes a difference you would think that the eggs would be nearer to her tail if she were getting ready to lay. I know I know Im just being impatient...she's right back to digging right now.

Your right Maia the watched pot never boils!!!