Help with gravid beardie

[Ralphieeeee]

Hey guys, I have a gravid beardie and she has been digging and scratching for the past week. She has to be due any day now to lay her eggs. I was just wondering if there are any tips to help her out with laying her eggs. She seems very lethargic now and just lays down in a corner of her cage looking sick. She also refuses to eat anything. I did make a lay box for her in a corner of her cage that consists of damp potting soil and sand. I've soaked her in warm water a few times already this week. What should i do to help her out more?

[Ralphieeeee]

WOAH she just layed a ton of eggs XD

[West Coast Jungle]

Put her in the box, the dirt should be at least 5" deep. They usually lay in the afternoon. I use a 15 quart or larger tub with a mixture of topsoil and sand. I cover it with either a wide log hide or a small plastic kitty litter pan(from Walmart) with a cut out (the same pans I use for large Ball python hides)so she feels secure. You want the soil moist enough so it will clump when squeezed but not muddy. I put my girls in them so they know what it is.
Hope this helps.

[West Coast Jungle]

Wow I was typing while you posted.
When she is done remove the eggs, check her to make sure they are all out.
I incubate mine at 82-83 degrees in damp vermiculite. Like the soil you want the vermiculite damp so it clumps when you squeeze but no water wrings out. If it drips water when you squeeze it then you have too much water so you need to add more vermiculite. the eggs should hatch between 55-65 days. if you have any questions or concerns feel free to PM me. I have hatched hundreds of beardies. I seal my egg tubs with press-n-seal. Its ok if they are air tight so they dont dry out. With beardie eggs its better that the mix is a little dry as opposed to a little too wet.

[Ralphieeeee]

I have them on only damp perlite atm in a some kind of tackle box like container. I just realized that its not air tight like my smaller tupperware containers that have latches and a rubber lining around the edge that i have hatched cresteds/leos in. Should i take a drive out to walmart and see if i can find sum kind of large tupperware thats air tight and on top of that try to find some vermiculate there? i'll post pix in a minute of what i have them in so far.

[West Coast Jungle]

They will be fine overnight or even a few days. Beardie eggs are pretty resilient. Long term its nice to seal them so they dont dry out. My incubator has a fan so it can dry the mixture in a few days or so. Even if they get dry you can moisten them up again. Just dont let them get under 78 or over 88 degrees for long periods. this could cause deformities or death.
Congrats and good luck

[Ralphieeeee]

I just put water in the empty compartment of the container to keep the humidity up in there.
Does Walmart carry a vermiculite i could use?
Do you think they have air tight rubber outlined tupperware containers there?
Ug im so worried i want these eggs to be okay =[
Oh and an fyi, i sit my "incubators" on top of my dragons cage where it stays around 83-86 degrees.

[West Coast Jungle]

They should have it in the gardening center. Though you should be OK in that set up. Get some press-n seal and seal the container you got with that, you can put some tape around the sides of it doesnt sit good. If they wrinkle a little it means they are drying out so add more moisture.

86 is a little high. if they stay to warm you will get infertile dwarf females with an attitude. 82-83 is the best and if it goes over or under for a little bit you are fine as long as it it is in the range for the most part.

[West Coast Jungle]

The perlite is a little damp right?

[Ralphieeeee]

alright will find a spot on top of the cage that keeps it a bit cooler.
and ya the perlite is a little damp.
and also, what is this press and seal u speak of and where can i find it?