How low can I go?

[Azazel]

Hi guys, I have a few questions regarding incubation temp. Hope you guys can fill in some info.

On Jan. 28 2009, I received two good looking eggs from the pairing of 1.0 Vegas patternless with 0.1 patternless. I have been incubating the eggs at room temperature but ranging from 28C to 32C. This was during the first two days after the laying. The fluctuation was unintentional because I was finding it difficult to find places with a constant temperature. But rest assured that after the first two days of fluctuation, now they are being incubated at a constant 28C. That's the lowest I could find that time. The reason I am finding cooler temp instead of higher is because I would like to produce more females. Below is a picture:

Now, I managed to find an even cooler place. It ranges from 24C to 25C. My question would be:

1. Is it still safe to transfer the eggs to the new temperature? Will such fluctuation at this stage kill the eggs?
2. Is the new temperature safe or is it too low?
3. How long would it take for them to hatch at 28C? How about at 25C?
4. Would it be ok after incubating them at 25C for a month, I then turn up the temperature to be 32C-34C?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

p.s. Another batch from HG x HG incubating at 28C -

Regards
-Azazel-

 

[ajveachster]

For all of you who don't know the C temp gradients here is what those temps equate to:
24C=75.2F
25C=77F
28C=82.4F
32C=89.6F
34C=93.2F

The following website may help if you want to reply. Sorry I don't actually know the answer to your questions, but hope this helps others who do.

http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm

 

[Azazel]

Thanks for the conversion. Can anybody help me in finding out the answers to the questions? Thanks

 

[Okee Reps]

I would not incubate at 24C to 25C. Just my opinion but I think its too low and not really necessary either. 28C is fine for females.

 

[crotaphytidae]

Agreed 28 C is as low as you need to go to get increased female production.

 

[Azazel]

Thanks for the feedbacks guys. I guess I will let the eggs settle at their current temperature i.e. 28C. Really appreciate the help.

 

[shawn119]

If you want a lot of females keep the tank 25c to 28c.

 

[snowgyre]

I incubate between 28 and 29C for the first 2-3 weeks, then up the incubator to 32C for the remainder of incubation. I remember hearing somewhere that temperature sex determination in leopard geckos occurs in the first two weeks of incubation, and after hatching about 40 geckos I think that's a correct assumption.

I like incubating at cooler temps for the first two weeks to get females, and upping the temperature for the rest of the incubation really reduces the amount of melanin/pigment that is deposited in the skin of the developing gecko. My colony is almost exclusively Tremper albinos, and Trempers tend to get really dark (aka chocolate albinos) if exposed to cold temperatures during incubation or at any other time in the gecko's life. Incubating at a higher temperature after the first two weeks not only makes the colors better on hatchlings, but it also reduces incubation time.

Does anybody else use this method out of curiosity? I tend to get a >75% hatch rate of females this way, and never had I had issues with 'hot females' or 'cool males'.