Here is my situation and question

[LepoInc]

I have been trying to get my SHCT Lilly to ovulate so she could breed. We tried putting her with my male a while back and she freaked and got out of there. Tonight, after putting her upstairs for a natural Spring light cycle and temps, and also after adding the males moist hide for a bit, I put them together in a tank and he immediatly starting vibrating his tail. He nipped a few times then she excepted him. Last I checked for ovulation was a few days ago but I didn't check tonight just because I was putting her in there to trigger ovulation. With that said, if she accepted the male, does that mean she is ready to produce eggs and lay? I know that if they definitely aren't ready, they won't even let the male attempt, but since she let him go all the way, can I expect eggs in a few weeks?

 

[B&B Geckos]

If they mated, she will produce eggs in as 2-4 weeks. You can separate them now, as the females store sperm for about a year. One breeding session is usually sufficient.
Make sure to dust her food with vit D calcium 3-4 times per week. Make reg calcium and mealworms available at all times.

 

[LepoInc]

Okay. Yeah I seperated them as I found out Toothless is a driven little fella and one session wasn't enough. Five minutes later he was trying again and Lilly didn't want anything to do with him. But I will be sure to post pictures when things become visible to the eye

 

[Samantha12]

If she wasn't ovulating she can't be gravid. That being said, if she's particularly fat you may not be able to see what's going on in her tummy; ovulation or eggs. Hoping things work for you

 

[LepoInc]

She is due to lay any day now

 

[bfb345]

Awesome hopefully everything goes well

 

[LepoInc]

She is digging like her life depends on it. Half the medium I had in her laybox is outside now. She has been at this for a few days and there is still no eggs.... I am getting worried.

 

[B&B Geckos]

Gestation takes 2-4 weeks on average. I have geckos that lay every 10 or 11 days and at the other extreme one that took 14 weeks. IMO it's too soon to worry.

 

[LepoInc]

Thank you. I hear that people that have dealt with eggbinding that their geckos are just lazy and don't eat and show no sign of trying to lay so I'm not too worried, just getting impatient I guess

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Unles she's super fat you should be able to see bright pearly white eggs when she's getting close to laying. Once I've been able to clealy see eggs it has taken from 1-10 days or so for them to lay. They also seem to have one huge bout of digging a few days before and then another the day they lay. I check lay boxes every day just to be sure I don't miss anything. Good luck!

 

[LepoInc]

Thanks Lisa. I'm gonna post a picture of her latest creation in a bit on Facebook; you should check it out. It's rather funny.

 

[LepoInc]

She laid today. It's solid as a rock but squished as if she laid on it. I put it in the incubator and lets see what happens. Anyone think it is still good?

 

[scm133]

Definitely incubate! I have had some "squished eggs" that plumped up nicely in 3-4 days. The new mommas tend to do this...:main_laugh:

 

[LepoInc]

You're giving me hope, Sally! They won't candle pink for a week or so, right?

 

[scm133]

I don't use the candle method. I just incubate until I see they are bad.

 

[LepoInc]

Okay, makes sense. And I say you give me hope because as you know, Lily IS a first time momma so yeah. But I'm excited for more eggs to come in the next 2 weeks or so. Hopefully she won't lead me on for so long. But I think she will do better because as they were my first eggs, I would handle her way too much looking for eggs, checking the box, ect. So now that that is out of the way, I will be able to handle myself and let her be, reducing her stress levels.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Agreed with Sally, candling is not necessary. You'll be able to tell when they go bad when they deflate, mold up badly, or smell like rotten eggs.

You're in it for a long wait, I think you'll end up being more stressed out than your gecko :main_yes:

 

[LepoInc]

You bet your britches I will be. They know whats going on with their body and I don't. I wish I knew!

 

[B&B Geckos]

Are you sure it's not deflated from dehydration....make sure your lay box substrate is moist enough.

 

[LepoInc]

Well I thought it was, but I might switch from Eco Earth to some good quality sphagnum moss. None of my stuff holds moisture very well