Protective of eggs?

[Shera]

My leo just layed an egg. I knew something was up with her and I suspected she had eggs because she was getting fat, but I couldn't see them that well in her, like I see in the pics on here. I was thinking I should set up a lay box for her this weekend, but she just layed one on the papertowel. Anyway it's got to be infertile because to the best of my knowledge she has never even met another male leo (we got her 2 months ago from a family member who only had the 2 girls).

Anyway she's sticking right by it and acting agitated when I try to put my hand in to take it out. Is this normal or am I just misreading her? she is housed with another female (who spends most of her time in the warm hide) should I separate them?

 

[sammer021486]

My girl did the same thing to me last year, so I just left her, until she went into her hide. She would hiss and raise her tail at me while standing over the eggs. If you know that it is infertile there is no rush to remove it.

 

[T-ReXx]

Sometimes females will be a little protective of freshly laid eggs, but they almost always forget about them within an hour or so. Just go ahead and remove the egg. I would add a lay box because even though they'll be infertile, she could possibly lay more and you dont want her to retain them too long and possibly get egg bound. If you're worried about "hurting her feelings" lol just give her a couple hours and I think you'll find she'll find something else to do and you can remove the egg. Theres no real reason to remove her cagemate(assuming they already get along).

 

[Shera]

I got it out, I think she's trying to lay the other because she's wandering around digging the papertowel. She has calmed down and went back in the hide and chilled with the other female without incidence, so I think they are ok. I want to get a lay box for her, but what do i use in it, and where do I buy it?

 

[Shera]

DH said he thinks he has potting soil in the basement. If it doesn't have fertilizer in it would it work as a lay-box medium, or is in dangerous to use?

 

[sammer021486]

As long as it has no fertilizer or other chemicals then it is fine. If it does go to a pet store and pick up a brick of Zoo Med eco-earth/coco fiber. I find that it is less stringy and finer ground than Exo-terra's coco-fiber.

 

[Srt14292]

^^ that or vermiculite, works quite well but is very bitty.
As for the tub use a tupperwear box or something of the sort.

 

[Shera]

Ok, it says it contains peat moss, Humus, Compost, and perlite. It's called nature mix and implies that it's free of chemicals. Does it sound good? I guess I need to add some water eh? How much do you think?

ETA: I just went ahead and made a lay box. It says organic potting soil on the bag too, so it must be chem. free. I wet the soil and rung it out and used that. Hopefully she lays the egg soon. On the bright side she has been eating fine, she even ate a superworm this evening after laying the egg.

 

[sammer021486]

Ok, it says it contains peat moss, Humus, Compost, and perlite. It's called nature mix and implies that it's free of chemicals. Does it sound good? I guess I need to add some water eh? How much do you think?

Almost a combination of incubation mediums commonly used. I have not heard of anyone using compost before . Yeah that should be fine.

 

[Shera]

She hasn't found the lay box yet, but the other one did and likes it in there, lol. I hope that the next time she feels the urge to lay, and is pacing the cage digging, she checks it out. I'd put her in there, but she doesn't seem to want to be picked up right now.

Just for fun here is a picture I took yesterday when I found her with her egg: