Gravid or Just Ovulating?

[bo123]

I paired my male and female on the 9th and left them alone all night before separating in the morning. I'm not sure if they mated, but it looks like there might be eggs growing in my female. She would be 18 days along, but to me the eggs don't look very big, so I'm wondering if it's just ovulations? It's my first breeding season and I'm nervous lol
Thanks to any help.

 

[tb144050]

They are only 18 days along, but they look to be about the right size for this timeframe. Look around in this "breeding" section and you can find pictures of other ovulating and gravid females. Seeing the eggs better requires "just the right lighting and angle". I prefer a onehand approach: thumb under the chin and pinky wraps under the tail gently....after she stops squirming, you can gently move your other 3 fingers to see her belly.

Also, do you have your incubator set up and "at temp"? got everything: container, perlite/vemiculite/etc, etc? water? jk..hehe

 

[tb144050]

Oh and yes, she does look to be "more than ovulating"..

Here are some "day-to-day" photos: http://geckoforums.net/f131-leopard-gecko-breeding/99260.htm

 

[bo123]

yeah, I have two incubators, vermiculite for incubation medium, and one rack set up with two more ready to be assembled if needed. And my girl is off her food, but there's calcium powder and vitamin powder in her enclosure with a lay box and fresh water. I've been in the hobby for 8 years, just never bred. It's all so simple until you get in your own head about things lol I'm always worried something is wrong.
I guess I just expected them to be blatant eggs, you know? Like ultra white, but they seem still pinkish. I dunno, maybe I'm overthinking it haha...

 

[tb144050]

yeah, I have two incubators, vermiculite for incubation medium, and one rack set up with two more ready to be assembled if needed. And my girl is off her food, but there's calcium powder and vitamin powder in her enclosure with a lay box and fresh water. I've been in the hobby for 8 years, just never bred. It's all so simple until you get in your own head about things lol I'm always worried something is wrong.
I guess I just expected them to be blatant eggs, you know? Like ultra white, but they seem still pinkish. I dunno, maybe I'm overthinking it haha...

I know EXACTLY what you mean by "overthinking" and "getting in my own head." lol I've been paranoid too. I am OCD about everything else too though. I hope the pics that I posted (on that link) are of some help to someone.

Also, I have no information (from reading, not experience) supporting "keep a vitamin powder dish" but I have read that you don't want them to overdose on D3...probably Multivitamins too??

 

[Samantha12]

I can relate! I have worried-parent syndrome too waiting can be the hardest thing.

 

[bo123]

Every little thing has me thinking something is off haha hopefully I can calm down in a week or two when she's finally put down her first clutch.
The calcium I keep with my gecko is without D3 and I keep Vionate in a bottle cap in all enclosures too. Vionate is used by a lot of breeders like Ron Tremper as a supplement left in the tank. I usually don't keep calcium in the tank because between dusting feeders and the vionate I think it's overkill, but I want to make sure she has access to extra of anything she might need.

 

[tb144050]

When producing eggs, they need alot of extra calcium. I chose to leave the dish in there with calcium-d3 and she would occasionally go "eat it up".