Artificial Hatching of lizard eggs
Lizards lay their eggs in a clutch. The size of the clutch, or number of eggs in a female’s nest, determines the incubation period and temperature. Overall, incubation temperatures for hatchlings range from 70 to 90 degrees for most chameleons, up to 92 degrees for desert-dwelling species. Likewise, the temperature at which you incubate your lizard eggs will determine the gender of your baby reptiles if kept at an acceptable level. This is known as temperature sex determination or TSD.
Most reptiles’ shells have “shelter tubes” where they store heat and moisture when not in use. When choosing an appropriate incubator keep in mind that a heater tube must be placed on a heating pad rather than directly on the lizard eggs. The warmth generated by the pad must be able to generate a warm air space large enough for your hatchling lizards to move about comfortably inside. Your lizard hatchlings will need room to walk around so choose an incubator with a wheel or casters. Also, make sure that the incubator does not overheat the lizard eggs. A thermostat or temperature gauge is a good way to judge this.
For many pet lizards, there are two general types of lizards – leathery and snake eggs. Both types of lizards usually lay their egg in small groups called clutches. For the leathery types of lizards the clutch will usually be composed of one to five eggs. For the larger snakes, however, the clutch can be as large as twenty or more. All lizards, especially snakes, will feed on their own body heat.
In both species of lizards, the incubation period is very similar. Both begin laying their eggs in the morning and continue to do so through the day. They have distinct days that differ from the days of each other, but generally follow a week-long period known as the gestation period. During this time, the eggs will stay in a cool dark place until they hatch. It takes between four and eight weeks for the youngsters to reach adulthood. All lizards, not just those native to Australia, have some variation in their gregarious behavior and character traits.
Some of these variations include the color of the eggs, size and number of eggs, the location where the eggs are laid and the condition of the incubator. In most cases, there is only one incubator per cage for a particular species of lizard. That is, you will only see one egg in a clutched egg box for your own species of lizard. In another case, multiple incubators may be used to house multiple species of lizards. Such multiple incubators are usually placed in separate rooms of a large enclosure, preferably with small holes in the sides to allow air to circulate and keep the eggs moist while they are incubating.
The eggs remain in a dark, cool and moist environment for approximately eight weeks. You should check the incubation medium to watch for changes in color and pattern. The small holes in the sides of the incubator allow air to ventilate the space, and the incubation medium can be replenished by introducing fresh water daily. After it is ready, you will remove the lizard from its container to eat or lay its eggs. Usually, a lizard will take up residence in its own special ‘egg box’ for a couple of days before moving to the larger container. In the final stage, the lizard will enter its ‘egg’ container to start hatching.
Typically, hatch eggs are released from their containers at night after they have warmed up sufficiently. They will remain in a somewhat cooler temperature until the following morning. During the subsequent four to eight weeks of development, the young will begin to consume small quantities of food provided by you. As they become bigger, you may feed them once a day, but never after a full night of incubation. They will grow to full size within one year.
You should monitor the development of the eggs carefully to ensure that they are developing as expected. If there are any problems, you should quarantine the lizard from other species of lizards. You can purchase special incubators for hatchlings that will help you keep the temperatures appropriate and humidity levels stable. If the local pet store does not have what you need, you can find an artificial incubator for sale online. It is important to provide your new hatchlings with the right incubator so that they will grow up healthy and happy.
